Event Development Grant

Application form and deadlines

Please read the Event Development Grant package carefully to determine your organization's eligibility. The ability to meet eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding.

Application package: Event Development Grant 2025 Application Package 

(2026 Application Package coming soon)
 
2026 Deadlines: 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026 and Monday, September 28, 2026

Eligibility checklist

In order to be eligible for the City of Thunder Bay Event Development Grant, your event must satisfy ALL of the following criteria:

• Not-for-profit organization (incorporation required)
• Sanctioning governing body endorsement (i.e. from Provincial or National Association)
  • or Resolution of your Board of Directors
  • or Letters of support from your partners
• Special one-time event
  • or Inaugural event
• Event is regional, provincial, national, international in scope
• Event will attract spectators/participants from out-of-town
• Event is a championship, tournament, festival or sporting in nature
• Applicant organization is based locally

Requests for financial assistance must originate from organizations and not from individuals.

Who can access the grant?

1. Incorporated not-for-profit organizations who are bidding to host or have won the right to host regional/provincial/national/international events.
2. Incorporated not-for-profit organizations who are staging a new or inaugural event, tournament or festival.

Note: Conferences, conventions, workshops, concerts/shows and fundraising events are not typically eligible.

Eligible costs

• Expenses related to event bid preparation and presentation. i.e. Travel (airfare, mileage @ .30cents/km, ground transportation), printing of bid documents, or bid fees.
• Bond or holding fees required to secure an event once a bid has been won.
• Start-up costs for organizing committees to begin the process of planning, sponsorship campaigns, volunteer recruitment & training or marketing campaigns prior to revenue generation.
• Legacy items that can be utilized for other events.
• Costs associated with the contract of professional services or the lease of office equipment.
• To lever for additional/matching funding from other sources i.e. public or private sectors.
• Associated expenses related to staging the event.

What are the steps?

1. Carefully read the Event Development Grant package information and complete the application form including budget information. The application should be submitted at a minimum of two months prior to the commencement of the event or bid submission.
2. Consult with Recreation & Culture Division staff before completing your application.
3. Enclose letters of intent or support, Board resolution, and/or letters of confirmation from governing body.
4. Recreation & Culture Division staff and the Review Committee will review the application form and budget information.
5. Your organization will be contacted with the final decision.
6. If your organization is successful in receiving grant monies, then applicants must submit a post-project report complete with copies of receipts for any monies distributed within 60 days of the completion of the project.

Recent grant recipients

• 2026 U SPORTS Wrestling Canada Championships
• 2026 All-Ontario U15 AAA Hockey Championships
• 2026 OFSAA Boys and Girls Curling Championships
• 2026 South Core Roar
• 2026 Senior Men's and Women's Northern Ontario Provincial Curling Championships
• 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
• 2025 Ontario 3D Archery Championship
• 2024 and 2025 Cross-Country Biking Marathon National Championship
• 2025 Diwali Night