Community, Youth and Cultural Funding

Project grants are one-time, short-term funding for special activities, training and development, or seed funding for new organizations.

There are two intakes for project grants with the following deadlines:

• April 2, 2026
• October 23, 2026

Maximum requests:

• Seed funding for new organizations: 80% of total project fees to a maximum of $3,000.
• Special one-time activities/community projects: 80% of total project fees up to a maximum of $10,000.

Program Guidelines

A limited amount of funding is available for project grants, and applications will be evaluated based on how well the application meets the evaluation criteria.

*Applicants must connect with a program contact below prior to applying to discuss eligibility or the application may be deemed incomplete.

Project Budget

Projects must include a budget statement that includes all revenues and expenses related to the project. While applicants may submit their own budget, the following template may be used as a guide.

Budget template

Program Contacts

Please direct your inquiry to the appropriate representative based on the focus of your grant.

General inquiries: Callie Hemsworth (807) 632-2485 or grants@thunderbay.ca

Anti-Racism, Truth & Reconciliation: Louisa Costanzo (807) 627-4216 or louisa.costanzo@thunderbay.ca

Community Safety & Well-Being: Louisa Costanzo (807) 627-4216 or louisa.costanzo@thunderbay.ca

Culture: Laurie Abthorpe (807) 628-5250 or laurie.abthorpe@thunderbay.ca

Youth: Nina Arcon (807) 629-7051 or nina.arcon@thunderbay.ca

Sport: Paul Burke (807) 625-2305 or paul.burke@thunderbay.ca

Guidelines & Criteria

View Project Grant Guidelines

Applications

Applications are available on through the new online Application Portal:

Application Portal

The portal provides information on available programs, deadlines and applications.

Recent Grant Recipients

2025 Project Grants

Project funding was awarded to the following recipients in 2025:

• Crow's Path Project (resources and packages for youth ageing out of foster care)
• ENAGB youth arts mentorship
• Just Two Ghanaian Girls Podcast 
• Navigate Together (seed funding)
• NNEC - Wake the Giant Workshops
• Rowan Tree Collective (Life Skills Through Drama Project)
• Sisters for Canadian Black Community (seed funding)
• Willow Springs Creative Centre - Cultivating Creativity in the Simpson St. Community Garden
• ENABG Youth arts mentorship program

The following Sport Development Projects were funded through the Ontario Winter Games Legacy fund:

• Fort William Curling Club Women in Curling Summit
• Superior Fencing Academy - Electric scoring system/event hosting improvements
• Thunder Bay Chill - Game Leader Program
• Thunder Bay Rowing Club - High school rowing project
• Thunderwolves concussion clinic and equipment for youth

2024 Project Grants

Project funding was awarded to the following recipients in 2024:

• Autism Northwest - Autism Club Skateboard Program
• Nokiiwin - Reconciliation training for community groups
• Thunder Pride - Queer Coffee Nights
• The Coalition for Waverley Park - 150th Anniversary of Waverley Park Celebration
• Youth Climate Action Council - youth engagement 
• CréAction Collective - Upcycled Voices: Crafting Stories of Healing

2023

In 2023, project grants were awarded to the following 8 groups and individuals:

• DEK Addiction Recovery Foundation (basic living backpacks)
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario (nightly drop-in program)
• Our Kids Count (collaboration with Thunder Bay Police and Skate Coalition for youth skate camps)
• Kamryn Asmunt (collaboration with RMYC to youth photography/mentorship program)
• Damian Rivers-Moore/Tamarack Wind Quartet (Science and Athleticism of Music Making, in collaboration with Science North)
• Mindful Makers Collective (collaboration with CréAction Collective for community artist workshops)
• Northwestern Ontario Writers' Workshop (TBay Reads workshop and pilot project)
• Thunder Bay Cricket Council (cricket camp for children and youth)

Feature grant: Dayna Elizabeth Karle (DEK) Foundation

With the help of a Community, Youth & Cultural Funding Program project grant, the DEK Foundation program delivered 62 backpacks filled with hygiene products, sleep clothes, hoodies, journals, hats, mitts, and more to people that are homeless, have addiction and mental health issues and heading into treatment residences.

"DEK believes strongly in acts of kindness that show vulnerable people Thunder Bay cares about them and this City of Thunder Bay grant allowed DEK to continue to share kindness!" - Jan Thompson, DEK Foundation

The Operating grant category supports a variety of non-profit community, youth and cultural organizations that have an ongoing presence in Thunder Bay and a track record of providing quality programming and/or services.
Deadline: Friday, June 26, 2026 for 2027 funding requests.

Maximum budget available: The maximum total funding available for allocation amongst all community, youth and cultural organizations in the Operating Category is $220,000. The City reserves the right to allocate less than the maximum available based on the number and quality of applications received.

General Criteria

Applicants must:

• Have a community, youth or culture sector focus/mandate.
• Be an incorporated not-for-profit organization or non-incorporated collective which operates on a non-profit basis.
• Have a clearly stated purpose and function, as well as be fully responsible for the planning and provision of its services.
• Operate from a location within the City of Thunder Bay and carry out programs in this community for the benefit of its people.
• Extend its services to the general public in Thunder Bay and accommodate for needs related to: race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status and disability, unless to do so would cause undue hardship.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses include the costs incurred to deliver the organization’s programs and services, such as:

• Employee compensation and development.
• The space in which the organization operates (rent, insurance, utilities, maintenance, etc.).
• Non-capital program and office equipment and supplies necessary for the on-going operation and development of the organization.
• Fees (legal, accounting, etc.).
• Marketing.

This program does not provide capital funding.

Apply

Visit the Application Portal to apply for an Operating & Sustaining Grant:

Application Portal

The following will be requested through the portal as uploads:

• Budget Statement - please fill out and included in the uploads section of the application. Note that budget statements must match financial statements where relevant (e.g. prior year actuals). Culture organizations may provide CADAC financial forms instead if preferred.
• Most Recent Available Financial Statements
• Strategic/Business Plan
• Organization's Statistics

Sustaining grants are provided to organizations that the City has deemed as being integral to its identity, provided the organization has received at least 5 years of consecutive funding in the Operating category. These grants are operational and are often renewed from year to year, provided that the organization meets the criteria. These organizations fill a void for services or programming in the city and positively affect quality of life. Organizations must show diverse funding sources. City Council has final approval on any recommendations to move an organization to the Sustaining category.

Deadline for funding applications: 2026 funding has been allocated. Applications for 2027 funding are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026.

Funding term: Up to 5 years

General Criteria

To be eligible for a Sustaining Grant, the applicant must demonstrate:

• Many years of demonstrated administrative competence.
• Budget practices and financial statements in accordance with generally accepted Canadian accounting principles.
• A track record of providing quality programming and/or services.
• Employment practices that comply with applicable legislative requirements, as the case may be, such as the Employment Standards Act of Ontario, the Pay Equity Act of Ontario, and the Ontario Human Rights Code.
• A Board of Directors which will assume full responsibility for the administration of the funds or an agent acceptable to City Council.
• Evidence that funds are confirmed/projected from a variety of other sources clearly stated in the application.
• At least five (5) years of successfully completed operating funding from the City.

Please note that there are also specific criteria depending on the focus area of the grant (Community Safety & Well-Being, Youth, or Culture). 

Full Guidelines & Criteria

Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses include the costs incurred to deliver the organization’s programs and services, such as:

• Employee compensation and development.
• The space in which the organization operates (rent, insurance, utilities, maintenance, etc.).
• Non-capital program and office equipment and supplies necessary for the on-going operation and development of the organization.
• Fees (legal, accounting, etc.).
• Marketing.

Apply

Visit the Application Portal to apply for an Operating & Sustaining Grant:

Application Portal

The following will be requested through the portal as uploads:

• Budget Statement - please fill out and included in the uploads section of the application. Note that budget statements must match financial statements where relevant (e.g. prior year actuals). Culture organizations may provide CADAC financial forms instead if preferred.
• Most Recent Available Financial Statements
• Strategic/Business Plan
• Organization's Statistics 

Applications are evaluated on based on the following:

• Ability to meet grant criteria
• Completeness of application (application is complete and properly filled out)
• Community impact and support
• Program/service enhances the quality of life for residents
• Quality of activities and services
• Organizational competence and level of self-sustainability
• Financial stability
• Evidence of a variety of funding sources*
• Evidence of partnerships
• Consistency with priorities in the City's Strategic Plan or other relevant plans (e.g. Inspire Thunder Bay Culture Plan, Youth Services Plan, Community safety and Well Being Plan)

* Evidence of other funding sources is often missing in applications that are not successful. When applying for funding, organizations should outline their own fundraising activities, as well as confirmed or potential grants from other funders.

Applications must align with the City's Strategic Plan and focus area plan/initiatives where applicable*.

• Maamawe - Growing Together Stategic Plan

Focus area plans/priorities include:

Community Safety & Well-Being

Community Safety & Well-Being Plan

Culture Plan

Create. Connect. Grow. / Zhitoon. Anakoobideh. Maachiigiih.

Youth Services Strategy

Vision for Thunder Bay: A youth driven, safe and collaborative environment that is accepting and respectful of all youth, allowing for their development and success.

Principles and Values

The principles and values upon which services and programs for youth will be shaped include:

1. Accessibility and Inclusiveness
2. Collaboration and Partnerships
3. Engagement and Empowerment
4. Evidence Based / Best Practice

Strategy Goals

1. Improving access to City recreational and cultural programs
2. Increasing participation in recreational and cultural programs
3. Improving opportunities for youth involvement and/or participation in decision-making

Anti-Racism, Truth & Reconciliation

Applications may reference one or more of the following for Project Grants in the Anti-Racism, Truth & Reconciliation stream:

• Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action
• Indigenous Relations & Inclusion Strategy 
• National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Operating & Sustaining Grant applicants may also reference any of these plans in addition to the plans above, if applicable.

All Project applicants and first-time Operating/Sustaining applicants must contact a program supervisor to discuss eligibility. Please direct your inquiry to the appropriate representative based on the focus of your grant.

• General inquiries/Culture: Callie Hemsworth (807) 632-2485 or grants@thunderbay.ca

• Anti-Racism, Truth & Reconciliation (projects only): Louisa Costanzo (807) 627-4216 or louisa.costanzo@thunderbay.ca

• Community Safety & Well-Being: Louisa Costanzo (807) 627-4216 or louisa.costanzo@thunderbay.ca

• Youth: Nina Arcon (807) 629-7051 or nina.arcon@thunderbay.ca 

• Sport Development (projects only): Paul Burke (807) 625-2305 or paul.burke@thunderbay.ca

Please use the City of Thunder Bay corporate logo when acknowledging the City of Thunder Bay's funding support on websites and communications. Funding recipients may be asked for proof of this acknowledgment.

In 2025, the following were approved for funding through this program:

Sustaining Grants

Community Safety & Well-Being Organizations:

• Regional Food Distribution Association - $105,900
• Roots Community Food Centres - $37,800
• Shelter House Thunder Bay - $330,800

Youth Organizations: 

• Boys & Girls Club - $123,400

Cultural Organizations:

• Definitely Superior Art Gallery - $70,800
• Magnus Theatre - $145,000
• Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame - $70,900
• Thunder Bay Art Gallery - $408,100
• Thunder Bay Community Auditorium - $836,900
• Thunder Bay Historical Museum - $485,000
• Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra - $244,700

Operating Grants

Community Safety & Well-Being Organizations: 

• Community Clothing Assistance - $25,000
• Lakehead Social Planning Council - $32,600
• Northwestern Ontario Women's Centre (Good Food Box Program) - $12,000

Youth Organizations: 

• Evergreen A United Neighbourhood - $30,000
• Female Boarder Collective (Cinema 5 Skatepark) - $20,000
• Multicultural Association of Northwestern Ontario - $15,000

Cultural Organizations:

• Community Arts & Heritage Education Project - $21,000

Project Grants (to date)

 Project grants have two intake periods per year. The following have been awarded to date:

• ENAGB Youth Program (Gi-ga-wiijii-ozhichigemin niibing) - $10,000
• Navigate Together (Seed funding/workshop) - $3,000
• NNEC/Wake the Giant (Youth art workshops) - $10,000
• Rowan Tree Collective (Life skills through drama) - $5,700
• Sisters for Canadian Black Community (Seed funding/anti-racism initiatives) - $2,500
• The Champions Writers Collective (Human rights forum) - $2,500
• Willow Springs Creative Centre (Community Garden/Youth Training Program) - $5,000

The following are funded through the Ontario Winter Games Legacy funding:

• Thunder Bay Chill (Game leader program) - $1,000
• Thunder Bay Rowing Club (High school rowing development program) - $10,000