Deadline: 02-Apr-24
The Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) is currently accepting applications for its Community Grants.
Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) is focused on ensuring the communities are equitable, connected, and sustainable; and people are thriving. They are dedicated to assisting those most impacted by inequalities, and supporting organizations that work to remove barriers, build community, and increase opportunities for Waterloo Region residents across the three cities and four townships.
WRCF is focused on improving social infrastructure in Waterloo Region. They define social infrastructure as the system of organizations, spaces, and experiences that enable people to connect with each other, the bridges necessary to build trust and civic participation, to create a sense of belonging and wellbeing. It’s the system that enables sustainable widespread community development.
In 2024, WRCF’s Community Grants funding will support organizations that deliver initiatives that respond to four core themes:
- Fostering inclusion
- Breaking down barriers to community participation
- Creating opportunities for engagement
- Developing collaborative relationships between individuals, groups, organizations to strengthen and broaden “community
Funding Information
- Approximately $650,000 in total funding is available in 2024
- Note: $566,000 of the funds available are from the WRCF Community Fund and are eligible to be distributed to organizations located anywhere in Waterloo Region. $84,000 of the funds available are from the Cambridge Community Fund and the North Dumfries Community Fund and are eligible to be distributed to organizations located in Cambridge or North Dumfries. The Trinity United Church Legacy Fund is partnering with WRCF again in 2024 and is providing additional funding.
- There are two granting levels for funding:
- Level 1 – up to $10,000
- Level 2 – $10,001 – $40,000
- Funding must be used between July 1, 2024 and July 31, 2025 for expenses incurred over the same period
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations must be located in Waterloo Region and providing services and/or programming to individuals in Waterloo Region, including Cambridge, Kitchener, North Dumfries, Waterloo, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich
- The types of organizations that can apply for funding include:
- Registered charitable organizations
- Qualified donees recognized by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
- Non-Profit organizations through a partnership with a fiscal partner. This partnership allows WRCF to provide the fiscal partner with the funding on your behalf. If you plan to partner this way, they would be your organization’s “fiscal partner” for this funding.
- If you have an outstanding evaluation report from a previous Community Grant, you will need to submit it prior to applying. If your initiative received funding from WRCF’s Community Grants last year, you may apply again for the same initiative, but provide the progress of your initiative to date in your application.
- Applying organizations must be able to provide financial statements that show their financial viability for the duration of the initiative, and an initiative budget that is viable, balanced, and reasonable.
- Organizations may submit only one application. Organizations who are qualified donees can be fiscal partners for other organizations.
- Note: Municipalities, hospitals, and organizations that operate as a school (private and public; elementary, secondary, or post-secondary) are not eligible to apply.
For more information, visit WRCF.