The Community, Youth & Cultural Funding Program provides municipal funding every year to non-profit organizations in the social service, youth, and cultural sectors, as well as to individual artists undertaking projects in the community. These grants benefit the community and help to leverage other provincial and national funding sources.

Grant categories

The Funding Program has three categories. Select a category below to view the grant guidelines/criteria and application forms. Organizations can only receive funding in one category per funding term.

Note: If you open application forms in Google Chrome, please save a copy before editing.

Project grants

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

Deadline for funding for Fall/Winter 2023 and Spring 2024 projects:

Spring intake: Friday, March 24, 2023

Fall intake: Friday, October 13, 2023

Maximum request: $10,000 (cannot be 100% of total project budget)

 

Guidelines and Application Forms

To apply, review the Guidelines & Criteria document and complete the Grant Application Form and Budget Statement below.

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.

 

Email completed applications to: grants@thunderbay.ca 

 

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: Alain Joseph (807) 630-8278 or alain.joseph@thunderbay.ca

Community Safety & Well-Being: Cynthia Olsen (807) 625-2942 or cynthia.olsen@thunderbay.ca

Youth: Amanda Prien (807) 629-7051 or amanda.prien@thunderbay.ca

Culture: Louisa Costanzo (807) 628-5250 or louisa.costanzo@thunderbay.ca

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

Operating grants

Operating grants are for organizations that have an ongoing presence in Thunder Bay and a track record of providing quality programs or services. Organizations must show diverse funding sources.

 

Deadline for funding applications: 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 23, 2023 for 2024 funding. Applications are now closed.

Funding term: Up to 3 years

Applications, Guidelines & Criteria 

To apply, review the Guidelines & Criteria document and complete the Application Form and Budget Statement below once available.

Submitting your application

Email completed applications/reports and any attachments to: grants@thunderbay.ca

Sustaining grants

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.

 

Deadline for funding: 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 23, 2023 for 2024 funding. Applications are now closed.

Funding term: Up to 5 years

 

To apply, review the Guidelines & Criteria document and complete the Application Form and Budget Statement below once available.

Submitting your application

Email completed applications/reports and any attachments to: grants@thunderbay.ca

Program Contacts

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

Anti-Racism, Truth & Reconciliation (Projects only): Alain Joseph (807) 630-8278 or alain.joseph@thunderbay.ca

Community Safety & Well-Being: Cynthia Olsen (807) 625-2942 or cynthia.olsen@thunderbay.ca

Youth: Amanda Prien (807) 629-7051 or amanda.prien@thunderbay.ca

Culture: Louisa Costanzo (807) 628-5250 or louisa.costanzo@thunderbay.ca

Grant review team

The funding program has a Grant Review Team comprised of City staff and citizen members. If you are interested in learning more about how to become a member, please email grants@thunderbay.ca.

Evaluation

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.

Submitting applications

Please submit your grant application and supporting documentation via email to grants@thunderbay.ca. You may also mail a hard copy* to:

Community, Youth & Cultural Funding Program
c/o Community Services Department
Victoriaville Civic Centre - Main Floor
111 Syndicate Ave. S. Thunder Bay, ON P7E 6S4

* An electronic copy of your complete application and supporting documentation must be included with your hard copy submission. For example, a USB may be included with the hard copy package.

Funding acknowledgment 

Please use the City of Thunder Bay corporate logo when acknowledging the City of Thunder Bay's funding support.

Questions?

Email: grants@thunderbay.ca 

Phone: 807-632-2485

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