Some financial assistance for not-for-profit organizations to weather the pandemic.
The province is earmarking $83-million through the Ontario Trillium Foundation for groups like food banks, youth programs and Royal Canadian Legions to tap into.
Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Minister Lisa MacLeod says the pandemic has been hard on them.
“That’s why we’re taking action to support initiatives like the Resilient Communities Fund that are making such a positive contribution to communities across Ontario during this trying time,” says MacLeod.
Eligible groups will be able to apply for grants of up to 150-thousand dollars.
McLeod sees it being valuable to organizations like the Royal Canadian Legion.
“The Royal Canadian Legion is a valued part of Ontario’s history and our culture, not to mention an integral part of many communities, communities that Ontario’s nonprofits work to strengthen.”
The Royal Canadian Legion had expressed concerns to the federal government last month that some branches would close without some form of financial assistance.
The provincial money can be used for things such as:
- Equipping board members and employees with supports to implement new approaches, prepare for change and build resiliency (e.g. organizational training and coaching, strategic planning and implementation, research & development, mental and physical health and wellbeing supports);
- Improving and increasing ability to access financial resources and develop new and/or alternative sources of revenues (e.g. develop fundraising plans, identify fundraising and financial technology resources, seek opportunities for public-private partnerships and social finance);
- Adapting or re-imagining the delivery of programs and services to meet the needs of the community, employees and volunteers (e.g. identify new health and safety processes and required personal protective equipment, technology supports, staffing and volunteer recruitment and training);
- Procuring equipment or renovating spaces to meet the changing needs of the organization, its programs and services, and adapt to new ways of working (e.g. equipment and/or renovations to meet changing technology health and safety, and service delivery requirements);
- Creating and/or adopting new approaches for organizations to work together to meet the needs of communities (e.g. peer learning, professional development, networking, resource, knowledge and data sharing).
Eligibility requirements and application deadlines can be found on the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s website.
