Community & Cultural Funding
In December 2007, Thunder Bay City Council adopted a new model for Community & Cultural Funding. This new funding model replaces both the Financial Assistance Review Grant and the Cultural Funding program.
Grants under the cultural funding portion of the Community and Cultural Funding Program are allocated every year to various non-profit cultural groups and individual artists. As indicated in the Cultural Policy, adopted by Council in 2005, these grants are an investment in the cultural assets of our community. Municipal investment is critical to a cultural organization's ability to leverage thousands of dollars from provincial and federal sources. Cultural organizations not only contribute to the economic viability of our community but they are integral to the quality of life which makes Thunder Bay a great place to live, work and play.
Grants under the community funding portion of the Community and Cultural Funding Program are allocated every year to various community non-profit organizations in the health and social services sectors.
The Funding Program has three components: sustaining grants, operating grants and project grants. A detailed grant application process is in place and each application is evaluated based on a criteria rating system.
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Application Deadline for 2010 Funding:
4 pm, Friday August 21, 2009.
Please Note: The Community & Cultural Funding Program is currently under review. Guidelines and criteria are subject to change. Applicants may be asked to provide additional information.
Cultural funding program contact:
Leah Bayly, Supervisor - Cultural Services
Tel: (807) 625-2416
Fax: (807) 625-3395
E-mail: lbayly@thunderbay.ca
Community funding program contact:
Donna Sippala, Supervisor - Special Services Operations
Tel: (807) 625-2418
Fax: (807) 625-3395
E-mail: dsippala@thunderbay.ca
Sustaining Grant (Up to a 5 year term)
Sustaining Grants are operational in nature and can be expected to be renewed from year to year as long as an organization continues to meet the established criteria.
The City of Thunder Bay has deemed these organizations to be an integral part of the City's identity. These organizations fill a void service provision in the City, positively affect the quality of life of the residents if the City and/or generate an economic benefit for the City. City Council determines which organizations fit into the sustaining grant category with input from Administration.
Organizations determined to fit into this category must complete a full application every new funding term (5 year maximum). Forms will be provided to those organizations that City Council has placed in this category.
Operating Grants (1 to 3 year Term)
This program is intended for organizations that have an ongoing presence in Thunder Bay and a track record of providing quality programming or services. It is designed to support a range of arts and heritage organizations.
Applicants in this category must submit a complete application for each new funding term (every 1 to 3 years).
2010 Operating Grant Guidelines & Criteria 
Operating Guidelines & Critera
2010 Operating Grant Application Form - Electronically Fillable Operating Application
2010 Operating Grant Application Form Adobe PDF, 20 pages, 690 KB
OAC Financial Form - Excel Spreadsheet
OAC Statistical Form - Excel Spreadsheet
Notes on filling in the OAC Forms for arts groups:
Please disregard dates on the OAC Financial/Statistical forms. Fill in columns as follows: Last Year Actuals - 2008, Current Year Projected - 2009, Request Year(s) - 2010 (2011, 2012).
Project Grants (1 year term)
Project grants are one-time, short term funding awarded to non-profit community and cultural organizations and individual artists. These grants are meant to be part of the financial support of a project but not the sole support. Projects must meet the established criteria. As of 2007, organizations and individual artists use the same project grant application form.
2010 Project Grant Guidelines & Criteria Project Guidelines & Criteria
2010 Project Grant Application Form - Electronically Fillable Project Application
2010 Project Grant Application Form Adobe PDF, 11 pages, 566 KB
2009 Community & Cultural Funding Program Allocations
Organization
Funding
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
$ 590,000
Thunder Bay Historical Museum
314,500
Thunder Bay Art Gallery
228,700
Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra
205,000
Shelter House
125,000
Magnus Theatre
118,500
Definitely Superior Art Gallery
46,400
Total Sustaining Grants
$ 1,628,100
Organization
Funding
Children's Aid Society
$ 65,000
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
65,000
United Way Youthscape
55,000
Lakehead Social Planning Council
30,000
Clothing Assistance Mission
20,000
Underground Gym
20,000
Community Arts & Heritage Education Project
11,000
Total Operating Grants
$ 266,000
Organization
Funding
Volunteer Action Centre
$ 11,500
Capitol Arts Group
2,000
Total Project Grants
$ 13,500
