Town of New Tecumseth Community Grant Program 2025 (Canada)

Deadline: 28-Feb-25

The Town of New Tecumseth is seeking applications for its Community Grant Program to support the Town’s strategic objective of creating a Complete Community by encouraging activities that meet the diverse needs of the community, fostering a sense of belonging for all residents.

This policy strives to generate Community Engagement, encouraging active participation making everyone feel like an integral part of New Tecumseth. They promote the diversity of cultural activities, and active and passive recreational opportunities which reflect the range of lifestyle interests, ages, and states of health and mobility of residents.

Purpose

• The New Tecumseth Community Grant Program is available to support not-for-profit organizations, whose initiatives add to the quality of life within the community.

Categories

• The Town’s Community Grant Program is awarded under one of three categories:
  • Community Fee Waiver Grant
    • Funds provided in this category are available to offset Town established user fees to rent space, equipment or provide supplies. This may include but is not limited to, space rental, signs, equipment (e.g. tables, chairs, sound system, etc.) or in-kind services (e.g. staff set up/take down, re-locating picnic tables, etc.).
  • Community and Events Grant
    • This category provides funding to assist organizations that provide services or events to the community, which are beneficial to the community, not currently provided by the Town and consistent with the Town’s strategic objectives. This category will support a variety of community celebrations, festivals and specials events. Funds provided in this category will include requests for initial start-up funding, equipment, material and supplies purchased.
  • Community Arts, Culture and Tourism Grant
    • This category supports local not-for-profit organizations promoting activities and initiatives that enhance the cultural and artistic landscape of their community through education and participation. This includes visual, performing, and literary art. Educational Programs can include cultural learning opportunities for all ages, workshops, classes and outreach programs. The Tourism component support initiatives that provide community festivals, cultural celebrations, tourist attractions and special events whose efforts attract visitors to the community. This category can provide funding for the operation of significant cultural facilities that provide core services to the community.

Funding Information

• Community Fee Waiver Grant
  • The maximum amount of funding a group can receive for a Community Fee Waiver Grant is $1,000.
• Community and Events Grant
  • The maximum amount of funding a group can receive for a Community and Events Grant is $2,000.
• Community Arts, Culture and Tourism Grant
  • The maximum amount of funding a group can receive for a Community Arts, Culture and Tourism Grant is $25,000.

Ineligible Activities

• The following activities will not be eligible for funding:
  • Services which are clearly within the mandate of other levels of government;
  • Services which are primarily educational (in particular, academic or technical training);
  • Transportation expenses;
  • Legal expenses;
  • Loans or previous deficit.
  • Attendance at or fees for conferences;
  • Workshops or other forms of training;
  • Expenses funded by other organization or government grants.
  • Discriminatory activities as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code.
  • Activities whose purpose is to promote religious doctrines.
  • Political and/or advocacy activities.
  • Fundraising activities where the proceeds do not remain for use within the Town of New Tecumseth.
  • Flow-through funding where the proceeds do not remain for use within the Town of New Tecumseth.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Town of New Tecumseth Grants are intended to support not-for-profit organizations and groups whose programs and services are aligned with the goals of the Town’s strategic priorities. Priority will be given to organizations that provide recreation, artistic and cultural programs and services for the benefit of the New Tecumseth community. To be eligible for financial support organizations must:
  • Be a registered charity and/or not-for-profit organization.
  • Meet the objectives within the three categories of funding.
  • Provide financial and bank statements from the previous 2 (two) years.
  • Have a demonstrated record of regular, ongoing successful programming/events that are not in direct competition of the Town programming events.
  • Demonstrate sufficient resources to be able to deliver the services and programs for which funding is being sought.
  • Provide an operating budget for the organization’s operating year in which funds received would be utilized.
  • Have completed all program requirements associated with previous grants received from the Town.
  • Be contributing at least 50% of the project amount being requested in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. Utilize awarded grants by December 31st of the year in which the grant was issued.
  • Post event, supply a financial accounting comparing actuals or forecasts to budget with written commentary on the success of the event to be considered for future grants.
  • For grants over $2,000 be administered directly by a volunteer board, executive, or organizing committee with a minimum of 3 arms-length members.
  • In the case of grants $2,000 or less there must be an event bank account or the event supported in writing by a minimum of 2 arm’s length members of the community.
  • For grants over $2,000 hold an annual general meeting and have a board of directors or executive committee elected from the general membership.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following applicants will not be eligible for funding:
  • Individuals.
  • For-profit organizations.
  • Foundations, groups or individuals whose sole purpose is to raise funds for organizations whose mandate is broader in scope than the New Tecumseth community.
  • Universities, colleges, schools and their associated/auxiliary groups or agencies;
  • Organizations considered to be within the social service sector and funded through other levels of government.
  • Organizations whose purpose is related to political or religious activity;
  • Organizations which are not in good financial or reputational standing with the Town.
  • Applicants who are in receipt of dedicated line-item budgets outside of the Grants and Donations program.

Evaluation Criteria

• To ensure funds are allocated effectively and equitably the following criteria will be used to evaluate each application:
  • The alignment with municipal, strategic goals and priorities
  • The impact on the community, including the number of people who will benefit, the significance of the benefits, and how the service addresses specific community needs
  • The extent of contribution to the enrichment of community life
  • The feasibility and sustainability of the project with proposed timelines, budgets, resources and experience with measurable, identifiable outcomes
  • The innovation and creativity of approaches to solving community issues and needs, projects that stand out
  • The collaboration and partnerships required with other organization or community groups which can influence the reach and impact of the initiative
  • The marketing of the programs and services provided and how the community can participate
  • The amount of funding requested and financial need, compared to the organization’s annual budget and financial reserves
  • The demonstrated ability to manage a successful operation that may result from a grant

For more information, visit Town of New Tecumseth.