Grants to Ontario Nonprofits for Events and Programs to Foster Community Inclusivity and to Attract Visitors

Celebrate Markham Grant Program

Agency

Local

GrantWatch ID#

164692

Funding Source

City of Markham

Geographic Focus

Canada:Ontario: City of Markham;

Important Dates

Deadline: 01/17/22 4:00 PM

Grant Description

Grants to Ontario nonprofit organizations in eligible locations to support local events and programs to encourage community inclusivity and to attract tourists. Funding categories include cultural programs and events, festivals, sporting events, and seniors' clubs. Eligible applicants are located in the City of Markham.

Each of the four possible categories have different criteria in order to be eligible. Review the categories on the URL for Full Text (RFP) to determine which one applies to your event, activity, or program.

Grant Goals:

Supports community events and programs;
Encourages community inclusivity;
Enhances Markham’s reputation as a destination City for visitors and tourists.

The following are the key underlying Principles that will be considered by the Staff Review Committee when evaluating applications:

The event, festival, or activity provides cultural, recreational, community building and/or tourism benefits to the residents and businesses of the City of Markham;
The event, festival, or activity promotes inclusivity, cross-cultural collaboration, and aligns with the City of Markham’s “Everyone Welcome” Diversity Action Plan;
The event, festival, or activity supports the goals/outcomes of the City of Markham’s Strategic Plan (“Building Markham’s Future Together”), Culture Plan, Integrated Leisure Master Plan and Public Realm Strategy;
The event, festival, or activity increases participation of a diversity of groups and organizations in City of Markham events.

Eligible activities and expenses include Project-specific costs for the planning, organization and implementation of events, activities and programs, as well as limited administration costs, as follows:

Rental space
Rental equipment
General liability insurance
Event/activity/program management
Event marketing
Performer or instructor fees
Delivery and materials costs
Interpretation and translation for
events and communications
Up to 20% of the approved expenses in Administration Costs including: bookkeeping, office supplies and associated auditing costs.

All events and activities taking place on City property, both indoor and outdoor, require the necessary permits and approvals. Due to continued uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, City permits and approvals are not guaranteed, and cancellations, postponements and altered/revised/virtual programming may be required

Recipient

Eligibility

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Criteria

The fund is intended for not-for-profit organizations based in the City of Markham. Not-for-profit organizations operate without financial gain for its members or directors.

Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be a not-for-profit organization, either incorporated or unincorporated;
- Events, activities, and programs must take place in the City of Markham;
- Events, activities and programs must not be eligible or funded through other City of Markham funding programs;
- The organization must be supported by a volunteer Board of Directors, Steering Committee or similar body;
- A majority of the organization’s Board of Directors must be residents of the City of Markham unless significant community benefits can be demonstrated as part of the application review process;
- Applications are required to be completed and submitted by the Celebrate Markham Program deadline;
- Applications must be made through the official application process;
- Only 1 grant will be awarded per organization per funding cycle;
- Subject to extensions granted by the City of Markham, the event/activity/program must be completed by the date as stated on the Application form, otherwise the funding must be returned;
- Recipients must submit a Project Outcome/Financial Report for approval within two (2) months from the stated Project completion date. New grant applications that have received funding in the past will not be accepted unless the Project Outcome/Financial Report is approved and the organization is in good standing with the City of Markham;
- Membership in the organization and the organization’s activities must be open to the public.

Faith-based organizations that are registered charities, or incorporated nonprofits, are eligible to receive City of Markham grants for the delivery of programs or services that serve the broader community in which they are located and that are not religious activities.

Funding requests in the Sports Events category for the following are not eligible:
- Events that are unconfirmed or still in the bidding process;
- Sports festivals or participation focused events;
- York Region Elementary, Middle, and high School Championship events;
- Hosting multi-sport events (i.e. multi-sport Games);
- Sport development/training camps;
- Provincial, national or international conference, congresses, symposiums, Annual General Meetings, Etc.;
- Capital Expenditures, gifting and prize money.

The following entities are ineligible:
- For-profit organizations;
- Schools, universities, hospitals, daycares, group homes, or any group that has a mandate/activities covered under provincial/federal legislation;
- Political parties and lobby groups;
- Religious groups where services/activities include promotion, or require adherence to a faith (in the event religious services are provided, there must be clear separation between religious and community service functions at event and budget levels);
- National and provincial organizations, unless they have an affiliate club or local chapter within the municipality;
- Landlord/tenant/condominium corporations;
- Organizations in major deficit or debt positions as a result of financial mismanagement;
- Individuals.

For information on Ineligible Expenses, see: https://www.markham.ca/wps/wcm/connect/markham/409822f3-9ccd-4af4-a62e-ba8b6a9afab5/2022+2023+Celebrate+Markham+Grant+Guidelines+November+2021.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CONVERT_TO=url&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_2QD4H901OGV160QC8BLCRJ1001-409822f3-9ccd-4af4-a62e-ba8b6a9afab5-nSlPwan#page=7

Pre-Application Information

- Applications for the 2022-2023 funding cycle will be available starting on December 10, 2021.
- Funding applications are due on January 17, 2022 at 4:00 PM.
- The approval process from application deadline to the decision is between 3 to 5 months.
- If a grant is successful, an organization will be advised that a grant is offered.
- Payment of the grant is made after the grant conditions have been accepted/fulfilled.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to cost-share or seek assistance from other funding sources.

Only one grant will be awarded per organization per funding cycle.

Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$370,000

Estimated Size of Grant

- Cultural Events and Programs - Maximum per recipient is $5,000
- Major Community Festivals - Maximum per recipient is $10,000
- Sports Events - Maximum per recipient is $10,000 (Note: for International/World level sports events: up to $20,000);
- Seniors’ Clubs - Maximum per recipient is $3,000

Up to 50% of the Cultural Events and Programs category allocation is available to new organizations that have not received funding from the Celebrate Markham Fund in the past three (3) years for events, activities and programs that promote the objectives of the City of Markham’s Culture Plan, as determined through the Application assessment process.

Term of Contract

Projects and events must be delivered between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.

Contact Information

Application: https://markhamgrants.smapply.io/

City of Markham
Markham Civic Centre
101 Town Centre Boulevard
Markham, Ontario, L3R 9W3
905.477.5530

Grants to Ontario Nonprofits for Events and Programs to Foster Community Inclusivity and to Attract Visitors

Celebrate Markham Grant Program

We have foundations for

We have grants for