The City of Guelph is inviting not-for-profit organizations to apply for funding to support the work they do to improve community well being.

The City of Guelph believes that community benefit organizations play an essential role in improving the quality of life of Guelph residents. The City’s role in supporting these organizations is guided by the Community Investment Strategy (CIS).

The Community Grant Program is part of this strategy and enables the City to proactively invest in this important work which contributes to achieving the City’s Strategic Plan and the community’s goals.

Program Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

• Improve the quality of life of individuals, neighbourhoods and Guelph as a whole through directing City grant funding to eligible organizations that can demonstrate their positive contribution to the achievement of community and City goals.
• Provide eligible organizations with up to three year operating and one year project grants to support operations, activities, programs, and services.
• Ensure that the process to review and allocate grant funding is transparent, consistent and achieves the maximum impact for the investment provided.
• Involve Guelph residents in the process of allocating grant funding.

Program Goals

The Community Grant program is designed to support community goals. These community goals are based on extensive consultation with residents and stakeholder in Guelph as part of the City’s Community Plan in 2019. The process followed in the community plan ensures that the goals are responsive to the community, the CIS and the Community Grant Program.

• We Are Home
• We Create Value
• We Feel Well
• We Move Around Freely
• We Play and Explore
• We Protect Our Environment

Funding Information

Funding requests cannot exceed $15,000 per application per year.

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to apply to the grant program, applicant organizations and funding request must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:
  • Both the organization and the investment sought must benefit Guelph residents.
  • The organization must be an incorporated not-for-profit organization. This means that it is incorporated under provincial or federal legislation, with or without charitable status.
  • The organization must have a volunteer board of directors with the exception of ex-officio members.
  • The organization has been in operation for at least one year.
  • The organization must have either a location in Guelph or over half of the participants be from Guelph
  • The organization is in good standing with the City and, if applicable, its own governing bodies.
• The Community Grant Program will not fund the following:
  • Individuals
  • For profit organizations
  • Organizations that have a current signed agreement with the City that states that they are not eligible for other City funding sources
  • Other levels of government
  • Political organizations
  • Organizations whose activities may breach the Ontario Human Rights Code or Charter of Rights

For more information, visit Community Grant.