Grants and Support Programs

Microgrants for Green Initiatives

Toronto-based community groups, organizations and small grassroots initiatives can now apply to receive up to $1,500 alongside training and support to organize one environmentally focused event in their local park, green space or ravines before November 2024. Details here. If you have questions about the grants, email [email protected].

InTO The Ravines Microgrants

Groups interested in or already working within their local ravines and with communities facing barriers to accessing ravine spaces are welcome to apply. Apply here. Deadline: April 22, 2024.

Sparking Change Microgrants

Community groups and non-profits, including park friends groups, neighbourhood associations, artists and other collectives are welcome to apply. Park People will be prioritizing applications from equity-deserving communities. Apply here. Deadline: April 22, 2024.

Getting Started Microgrants

Available for groups newer to hosting community events in green spaces or wishing to host a smaller-scale event. The application process is simplified for these Getting Started microgrants and is conducted through phone or video calls. Apply here. Deadline: April 19, 2024.

Arts at the Market Accepting Applications

Are you an artist, craftsperson, or designer? Do you want to sell your high-quality handmade goods at one of the world’s top markets? Arts at the Market celebrates the unique talents of local artisans who offer high-quality handmade goods for sale at the St. Lawrence Market. These artisans will fill the outdoor spaces of the Market with fresh, new, lively, and creative energy from April through October, animating and adding vivacity to the complex.

Apply by April 1st, 2024 for early admission to the 2024 program. Details here.

Cybersecurity Toolkits

March is Fraud Prevention Month in Canada. The Canadian Bankers Association has provided cybersecurity toolkits that can help identify and avoid fraud and scams, including:

Recognizing phishing scams and suspicious emails or texts
Avoiding One-Time Passcode scams
Identifying phone scams, including fraudulent calls from supposed government officials or financial institutions
Understanding tax season scams and legitimate communications from the Canada Revenue Agency
Protecting against ransomware through preventive measures
Identifying fake websites and apps designed to steal personal or financial information

All fraud prevention toolkits are accessible in English and French on the CBA’s website:

Outdoor Work Assistance for Seniors

Spring in the air! If you are a senior in need of some assistance with outdoor work like grass cutting, leaf raking, or even light gardening, there are workers to assist. Toronto Intergenerational Partnerships in Community, a non-profit service agency that has been in existence since 1986. For more information visit the website here.

Summer Company Grant for Ontario Students

Are you an Ontario student with a business idea? The Summer Company program supports eligible young student entrepreneurs, aged 15 to 29, looking to launch and operate a small business during the summer.

The program provides business fundamentals training, mentorship sessions with a trained business professional, and an opportunity for a grant of up to $3,000 to help launch your small business. Deadline for applications is May 17, 2024. Apply here.

My Main Street Funding for Business

My Main Street is a $15-million investment to foster the stabilization and revitalization of main streets across southern Ontario. The program will offer streamlined direct-to-business supports and complementary programming for community projects that will encourage growth and economic prosperity. Application deadline is March 31, 2024.

Business Sustainability Stream

Assists brick-and-mortar businesses located on main streets across southern Ontario
Supports productivity enhancements through direct-to-business non-repayable contributions of up to $20,000
Available to businesses that employ between 1 and 50 staff
Provides a solid business case describing how the funding will strengthen their existing capacity and support their growth
Details here

Community Activator Stream

Assists community not-for-profit projects focused on high-impact placemaking activities
Provides non-repayable contributions of up to $250,000
Supports a variety of initiatives, such as events and festivals, community enhancements and streetscape improvements
Details here

Alex Amaro Cycling Kindness Award

Cycle Toronto is calling for nominations for the Alex Amaro Cycling Kindness Award. Alexandra Mary Orme Amaro was 23 years old when she was killed in front of Dufferin Mall December 2, 2020 while riding her bike. The award was created to recognize an individual or group whose efforts exemplify a positive approach to making the city cycling friendlier, safer, more accessible, inclusive and environmentally healthier and sustainable for everyone. Details on how to submit a nomination are available here.

Call for Performing Artists

Are you an artist with a passion for reaching young people through the performing arts? Prologue Performing Arts is seeking professional performing artists to join their 2024-2025 company of artists working in schools and communities across Ontario.

Each season Prologue reaches over 300,000 children and youth through 1,000 performances and workshops across Ontario. Prologue works with performing artists in all relevant disciplines (dance, theatre, music, storytelling, spoken word, puppetry and others) who reflect the diversity of Ontario to deliver performances and workshops in schools and community venues. Apply here.

TTC Fair Pass Transit Discount Program

The City of Toronto announced that low-income residents ages 20-64 will qualify for the newly expanded Fair Pass Transit Discount Program. This also includes those on the waitlist for subsidized housing and child care. Eligible applicants must live in Toronto, have an activated PRESTO card and with an after-tax income below $20,514 (single) or $41,028 (family of 4). Apply here.

EV Station Fund Grants for Multi-Family Building Residents

The Atmospheric Fund has just reopened their program to support the installation of up to 800 EV charging stations in GTHA apartments, condos and publicly accessible places. Details here.

Achēv Free Employment Programs

Are you looking for a job? Is your business hiring? Achēv can help. Achēv connects job seekers and employers. Achēv offers job search support, interview and resume-building seminars and programs to help people find jobs. For employers, Achēv offers job fairs, and recruitment and retention services. Services are FREE. Learn more here.

Become a GEM Mentor

The Girl E-Mentorship (GEM) program helps girls break through barriers to success by connecting them with a female mentor for a 9-month mentorship relationship. GEM mentors support mentees in navigating key personal and professional development areas including goal setting, time management and confidence building. Mentors help their mentees seek new opportunities, develop a professional network and stay committed to achieving their goals. Full details here.

Employment Support for Job Seekers with Developmental Disabilities

The Family Support Network for Employment (FSNE) provides support for individuals with developmental disabilities looking for paid employment. For more information, email [email protected] or visit the website here.

Professional Access into Employment Program

The Professional Access Into Employment (PAIE) is a 9-month program of Employment Ontario that caters to newcomers trained in the environmental sector looking to start their career. The February 2023 registration page is now open to applications from eligible residents.

Diversity Training for Employers

Funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada, Businesses Breaking Barriers works with employers in the skilled trades and STEM fields to strengthen their teams by introducing the practice of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Starting with a company-wide culture assessment, Times Change offers FREE tools and resources as part of an individualized DEI plan focused on increasing the recruitment, retention and advancement of underrepresented employees/candidates on your team.

Please email Larysa at [email protected].

Hospitality Youth Program

The Hospitality Workers Training Centre is presenting this free fast-track program for youth who are interested in working in the hospitality industry. With daily support from trainers, employment specialists, and a youth engagement and success specialist, Fast Track can help you discover a variety of hospitality career paths, and give you the opportunity to earn important industry certifications at no cost. For more information, call toll-free at 1-888-777-4982. Details here.

Women Breaking Barriers Program

Women Breaking Barriers works to strengthen company practices around recruitment, retention, and advancement using free tools and resources with the goal to help small to medium-sized employers find qualified candidates for their open positions and help women find sustainable, high-paying employment. More information on their programs can be found here.

Income Tax Assistance from CRA

Tax filing may be more challenging for some people this year because of COVID-19. Filing a tax return is very important as it will let the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) determine if someone is eligible for certain benefit and credit payments, such as the Canada Child Benefit and the GST/HST credit. To help, the CRA will offer extra support to eligible individuals who have previously received support through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). Individuals who need help completing their income tax return can call 1-833-995-2341. Visit Canada.ca/tax-filing-assistance.

Ukrainian Relief in Ontario

The Ontario government is launching a suite of supports for Ukrainian families arriving under the new emergency travel authorization to connect new arrivals with job search supports and local employers in the community.

Hotline: 1-888-562-4769
Email: [email protected]
Ontario Webpage: https://www.ontario.ca/ukraine

Ukrainian Canadian Congress-National (UCC)

The UCC is working with Canadian government officials at all levels to learn what programs and assistance will be provided for displaced persons coming to Canada from Ukraine.

Ukrainian Displaced Persons Support Committee: [email protected]

If you want to help a new arrival, complete the survey at ucc.ca

Government of Canada Resources: Click here

Education Funding Opportunities

Annual Studentship for Mental Health Program

Mental Health Research Canada is providing funding opportunities for university and college students. Click here for more information.

Tuition Programs for Foster Kids

Are you a current or former foster kid? Did you always want to go to college or university but money got in the way? Click here for participating schools.

Ontario Arts Council Grants

For more than 55 years, the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has provided vital support to the professional arts community in Ontario. The OAC is financed through an annual grant from the Ontario government’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Visit the website here for information on the grants available or email [email protected].

Toronto Arts Council Grants

Supporting the city’s artists and arts organizations through an established and effective granting program since 1974. Visit the website.

Art and Creative Skills Collective

An arts-based non-profit organization that offers free arts programming including story-writing, photography and film-making. Each program is designed to:

Provide a safe space for youth to express themselves
Build 21st-century skills among youth
Give youth a platform to voice their opinion, artistically
Deconstruct the stigma around mental illness
Facilitate the development of positive and peer-learning support
Help participants explore new career options and push their artistic inclination
Support participants to work in a group setting and learn as a collective, fostering a deep sense of community

Visit the website.

Pathways to Success Program for Indigenous Youth

The Indigenous Professional Association of Canada’s Pathways to Success Program creates new opportunities for internships and summer work experiences for Indigenous youth (17-29) in Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton. They are currently looking for employers and Indigenous youth to participate in the program. For more information, visit the Pathways to Success website and signup page.

Private Refugee Support Network Ontario

The Private Refugee Sponsor Network Ontario (The Network) is a volunteer-driven organization with 260 sponsors working together in response to community need, offering information, education, problem solving, and networking opportunities to enable private sponsors to better support refugee families. The Network is playing a significant role in resolving post-arrival issues, addressing potential sponsorship breakdown and creating relationships with settlement agencies that will lead to more effective service delivery in the sector. To learn more about the Private Refugee Sponsor Network Ontario, email [email protected], or visit the website at www.refugeesponsornet.ca.

Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance Program

Do you need help around your home? This program enables older adults and individuals with disabilities to continue to live independently and safely in their own homes with support from brokered home maintenance workers. Services at reasonable prices include: lawn and garden maintenance, snow shovelling, light housekeeping, odd jobs around the house. For more information, visit www.tigp.org, email [email protected] or call 416-676-5993.

Toronto Rent Bank Program

Toronto Rent Bank Program is currently offering grants of up to $4,000 or 3 months of rent to eligible low-income households who are facing eviction. Toronto residents may be eligible for an interest-free rental arrears or rental deposit grant if they:

Live in Toronto
Pay market rent for a rental unit covered by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA)
Fall within the low-income household eligibility requirement
Are not currently in receipt of social assistance such as Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)*
Can satisfy other Toronto Rent Bank Program requirements, as required

Please call 416-397-RENT (7368) for more information on how to apply. Operating hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This program is offered by Neighbourhood Information Post and funded by the City of Toronto. Visit www.torontorentbank.ca for more details.

*Residents in receipt of social assistance should contact their Ontario Works or ODSP office as they may qualify for the Housing Stabilization Fund.

Chris Glover MPP, Spadina–Fort York