COMMUNITY GRANTS
HOW WE GIVE
COMMUNITY ACTION GRANTs are now OPEN!
Our grant funds are dedicated to supporting Ontario-based organizations who are using sport and recreation to build a more equitable tomorrow. Community Action Grants enable us to grant up to $50,000 to organizations that are creating positive outcomes for youth in physical health, mental health, academic achievement, and work readiness.
View our 2022 Community Action Grant recipients here.
View our 2022 Community Action Grant recipients here.
WHO WE FUND
Governed by the Income Tax Act, MLSE Foundation is only able to grant funds to organizations that are classified as a Qualified Donee by the Canadian Revenue Agency as follows:
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered charity
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered Ontario amateur athletic association
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered housing corporation in Ontario
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered Ontario municipality
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Metis, Inuit or First Nation community/Band
Organizations that do NOT have Qualified Donee status are still eligible to apply in partnership with a Trustee Organization who has Qualified Donee Status. Schedule a call (closed) with MLSE Foundation staff to review your options
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered charity
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered Ontario amateur athletic association
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered housing corporation in Ontario
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered Ontario municipality
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Metis, Inuit or First Nation community/Band
Organizations that do NOT have Qualified Donee status are still eligible to apply in partnership with a Trustee Organization who has Qualified Donee Status. Schedule a call (closed) with MLSE Foundation staff to review your options
WHAT WE FUND
Project Proposals that align with one of the four (4) areas of impact: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Ready For School, Ready for Work and serve youth aged 6-29 who face barriers.
MLSE Foundation prioritizes the following demographics:
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Youth who face socio-economic barriers
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Black youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀First Nations, Inuit and Metis youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Newcomers/Refugee youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Girl-identified youth (in the case of gender-specific programming)
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀2SLGBTQ+ Identified youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Youth who identify as having a disability- intellectual or physical
Read more about what we fund in the Grant Guidelines 2023.
MLSE Foundation prioritizes the following demographics:
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Youth who face socio-economic barriers
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Black youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀First Nations, Inuit and Metis youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Newcomers/Refugee youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Girl-identified youth (in the case of gender-specific programming)
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀2SLGBTQ+ Identified youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Youth who identify as having a disability- intellectual or physical
Read more about what we fund in the Grant Guidelines 2023.
APPLICATION PROCESS INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Once you confirm your organization is eligible, follow the prompts to register and create an Organization Profile in our Online Portal.
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If you have applied for a Community Action Grant in the past, your login information should be unchanged and you can skip directly to the Expression of Interest.
Step 2: Once your Organization is accepted (1-2 days), complete the short Expression of Interest questions that will become available in your Online Portal.
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Read the Grant Guidelines to help in completing your application. It has valuable information about how applications are evaluated.
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Book your spot for a group grant writing support session once you have completed the first draft of your expression of interest for feedback, questions, or concerns.
Every Tuesday and Thursday from 1 pm- 2 pm from January 10th - March 9th 2023
Every Tuesday and Thursday from 1 pm- 2 pm from January 10th - March 9th 2023
Step 3: Once submitted, a diverse Selection Circle will evaluate every Expression of Interest and short-list top applicants.
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Learn more about how we evaluate applications in the Grant Guidelines 2023
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Organizations not shortlisted can sign up for a feedback call after April 30th here (closed) and will be provided feedback to improve their application for next year
Step 4: Shortlisted Organizations will be contacted to complete a Full Application that will become available in your online portal.
Step 5: Full Applications will be evaluated by the Selection Circle.
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Organizations not selected for a grant can schedule a call (closed) to review comments from the Selection Circle
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST OPEN - Jan 2nd, 2023 @ 9 a.m.
DEADLINE FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – March 9th, 2023 @ 5 p.m.
DEADLINE FOR FULL APPLICATIONS - SHORTLISTED APPLICATIONS ONLY – April 28th, 2023 @ 5pm
- If you did not receive an email inviting your organization to join the Full Application round and you would like feedback, please email Marshia.Maxwell@mlse.com for a feedback report.
- Feedback reports will begin June 6th, 2023
FINAL DECISIONS – June 2nd, 2023
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST OPEN - Jan 2nd, 2023 @ 9 a.m.
DEADLINE FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – March 9th, 2023 @ 5 p.m.
DEADLINE FOR FULL APPLICATIONS - SHORTLISTED APPLICATIONS ONLY – April 28th, 2023 @ 5pm
- If you did not receive an email inviting your organization to join the Full Application round and you would like feedback, please email Marshia.Maxwell@mlse.com for a feedback report.
- Feedback reports will begin June 6th, 2023
FINAL DECISIONS – June 2nd, 2023