Grants to Ontario Nonprofits and Artists in Eligible Locations to Provide Programming and Services

Community, Youth and Cultural Funding Program - Operating and Sustaining Grants

Agency

Local

GrantWatch ID#

157588

Funding Source

City of Thunder Bay
Recreation and Culture Division

Geographic Focus

Canada:Ontario: Thunder Bay;

Important Dates

Deadline: 06/23/23 11:59 PM Receipt

Grant Description

Grants to Ontario nonprofit organizations and individual artists in eligible regions for projects that benefit local communities. Funding is intended for programs and activities within the focus areas of youth, culture, and social services. Eligible applicants are located in Thunder Bay.

Operating Grants are designed to support a variety of nonprofit community, youth, and cultural organizations that have an ongoing presence in Thunder Bay and a track record of providing quality programming and/or services. Operating Grant eligible expenses include:

Employee compensation and development
The space in which the organization operates (rent, insurance, utilities, maintenance)
Non-capital program and office equipment and supplies necessary for the ongoing operation and development of the organization.
Marketing
Fees (legal, accounting, etc.)

Sustaining Grant: In order to assist with an organization’s ongoing operation, this Grant is intended to support an organization with a proven track record. An applicant must successfully complete five (5) years of operating funding from the City, then City Council may consider placing the applicant into the Sustaining Grant category. It is available on an ongoing basis in terms ranging from one (1) to five (5) years. Sustaining Grants are allocated to well-established non-profit organizations that work to provide a service to the City of Thunder Bay, its residents, and visitors.

The City of Thunder Bay has deemed those community, youth, and cultural organizations which receive sustaining grants to be an integral part of the City’s identity. These organizations fill a void in service provision in the City, positively affect the quality of life of the residents of the City, and/or generate an economic benefit for the City.

For more information about organizations' funding criteria, see: https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/recreation/resources/Funding-Program/CYCFP-2024-Guidelines-Criteria-Operating-Sustaining.pdf#page=5

For information about the City of Thunder Bay Strategic Plan, see: https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/recreation/resources/Funding-Program/CYCFP-2024-Guidelines-Criteria-Operating-Sustaining.pdf#page=10

Recipient

Additional Eligibility Criteria

The Community, Youth, and Cultural Funding Program allocates funding every year to various nonprofit organizations in the social service, youth, and cultural sectors, as well as to individual artists undertaking projects in the community.

To be eligible for an Operating Grant, the applicant must:
- Have a community, youth or culture sector focus/mandate.
- Be an incorporated nonprofit organization or non-incorporated collective which operates on a non-profit basis.
- Have a clearly stated purpose and function and be fully responsible for the planning and provision of its services.
- Operate from a location in the City of Thunder Bay and carry out programs in this community for the benefit of its people.
- Extend its services to the general public in Thunder Bay, and accommodate for needs related to race, ancestry, place of origin, color, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status and disability, unless to do so would cause undue hardship.
- Have an independent, active governing board composed of volunteers and a considerable volunteer component.
- Demonstrate need for the requested funding and provide evidence that funds are confirmed/projected from a variety of other sources, e.g. donations/sponsorships, user fees, other government sources.

To be considered for a Sustaining Grant, an organization must have:
- At least five (5) years of successfully completed operating funding from the City
- Many years of demonstrated administrative competence,
- Budget practices and financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles,
- A track record of providing quality programming and/or services
- Employment practices that comply with applicable legislative requirements, as the case may be, such as the Employment Standards Act of Ontario, the Pay Equity Act of Ontario, and the Ontario Human Rights Code
- A Board of Directors which will assume full responsibility for the administration of the funds or an agent acceptable to City Council
- Evidence that funds are confirmed/projected from a variety of other sources clearly stated in the application.

Sustaining Grant applications will only be accepted from those organizations notified of their eligibility for a Sustaining Grant prior to the application deadline.

Ineligible

Operating Grant Ineligible Expense:
- Equipment for personal use by individual members of the organization (i.e. uniform/costume), or equipment which becomes part of the physical plant/structure (i.e. workstations, storage units, lighting, etc.)

An Operating Grant application may not be considered if:
- The organization receives 80% or more of its funding from other government sources.
- The organization possesses an operating surplus in excess of three (3) months of operating expenses.
- The organization acts in the capacity of a funding body for, or makes grants to, any other group or organization that is eligible for funding through this program. Funds received through this program cannot be granted to another organization.
- The request includes capital or deficit funding.
- The applicant is in default to the City due to failure to account satisfactorily for previous Grants, or to refund Grant overpayments.
- The organization’s programs/services primarily benefit organization members as opposed to the general public, e.g. sports clubs, professional associations.

A Sustaining Grant application may not be considered if:
- The organization is funded 80% or more by other government sources
- The organization possesses an operating surplus in excess of three (3) months of operating expenses.
- The organization intends to act in the capacity of a funding body for, or makes grants to, any other group, organization or individual as part of their operations.
- The request includes capital or deficit funding.
- The applicant is in default to the City due to failure to account satisfactorily for previous grants, or to refund grant overpayments.

Pre-Application Information

The deadline for funding is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 23, 2023 for 2024 funding.

Organizations applying for operating funds must complete a full application every new funding term (i.e. every 1-3 years).

Multi-Year Funded Organizations: An initial advance of up to 25% of recommended annual funds will be provided in January. If the City budget is not ratified by the end of March, a second advance of up to 25% of recommended annual funds will be provided. In no case will more than 50% of the recommended annual funds be distributed as an advance.

Estimated Size of Grant

Operating Grant: The maximum total funding available for allocation among all Community, Youth. and Cultural groups in the Operating Category is $220,000. The City reserves the right to allocate less than the maximum available based on applications received.

Term of Contract

- Operating Grant: The maximum term for this grant is three years and it may be renewed from term to term, but not necessarily at the same level of funding.
- Sustaining Grants are up to a 5-year term.

Contact Information

Please submit your grant application and supporting documentation to grants@thunderbay.ca.

You may also mail a hard copy* to:
Community, Youth & Cultural Funding Program
c/o Community Services Department
Victoriaville Civic Centre - Main Floor
111 Syndicate Ave.
S. Thunder Bay, ON P7E 6S4

* An electronic copy of your complete application and supporting documentation must be included with your hard copy submission. For example, a USB may be included with the hard copy package.

Direct questions to the email address above or call 807-632-2485.

Grants to Ontario Nonprofits and Artists in Eligible Locations to Provide Programming and Services

Community, Youth and Cultural Funding Program - Operating and Sustaining Grants

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