Ontario Resilience Fund – COVID-19 Funding for Not-for-Profits and Municipalities

To help support Ontario municipalities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the provincial government has created the Ontario Resilience Fund. Administered through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the fund will invest in projects from eligible non-profit organizations to aid in medium- to longer-term recovery efforts.

Eligible municipalities and non-profit organizations can receive between $5,000 to $150,000 in non-repayable grants.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on not-for-profits and municipalities throughout Ontario. Funding from the Ontario Resilience Fund – alongside other emergency funding programs already put in place by local, provincial, and federal funders – will work to help these communities address medium- to longer-term impacts. The deadline to apply for this program is December 9, 2020.

Who is Eligible to Apply for the Ontario Resilience Fund?

Organizations that meet the following eligibility criteria may be eligible to receive between $5K to $150K in government grants through the Ontario Resilience Fund:

• Organization must be community-based or a provincial non-profit delivering services and programs in Ontario that are looking ahead to recovery planning with the aim of rebuilding their capacity. Eligible organizations must have:
  • An established presence and positive reputation in Ontario with a primary purpose of delivering community programs and services to benefit people in Ontario; and
  • Experienced a sizable disruption to their operations, programs, and service delivery due to the impacts of COVID-19.
• Must provide at least one fiscal year of financial statements. Organizations with less than twelve months of financial history will not be eligible to apply to OTF for funding.
• Must identify which one of the following six Action Areas the organization’s mission is most aligned with:
  • Active People: Fostering more active lifestyles
  • Connected People: Building inclusive and engaged communities together
  • Green People: Encouraging people to support a healthy and sustainable environment
  • Inspired People: Enriching people’s lives through arts, culture, and heritage
  • Promising Young People: Supporting the positive development of children and youth
  • Prosperous People: Enhancing people’s economic wellbeing

What Projects Are Eligible for Funding?

All projects and services eligible for funding must take place in and benefit people in Ontario communities. The Ontario Trillium Foundation will choose to fund projects that will have the maximum impact in supporting communities in the aftermath of the novel coronavirus.

Eligible organizations can apply for projects that achieve one or more of the following: 

• Improving your organization’s access to financial resources and developing new and/or alternative sources of revenues.
  Project examples – Develop fundraising plans, identify fundraising and financial technology resources, seek opportunities for public-private partnerships, and social finance.
• Creating and/or adopting new approaches for organizations to work together to meet the needs of communities.
  Project examples – Peer learning, professional development, networking, resource, knowledge, and data sharing.
• Adapting or re-imagining your organization’s delivery of programs and services to meet the needs of the community, employees, and volunteers.
  Project examples – Identify new health and safety processes and required personal protective equipment, technology supports, staffing, and volunteer recruitment/training.
• Equipping board members and employees with supports to implement new approaches, adapt to change, and build resiliency.
  Project examples – Organizational training and coaching, strategic planning and implementation, research and development, mental and physical health.
• Procuring equipment or renovating spaces to meet the changing needs of the organization, including changes to programs, services, and adapting to new ways of working.
  Project examples – Equipment and/or renovations to meet changing technology, health and safety, and service delivery requirements.

Apply for the Ontario Resilience Fund

Eligible Ontario not-for-profits and municipalities can apply for the Ontario Resilience Fund until its deadline of December 9, 2020 or until funding is exhausted. Due to the overwhelming number of applicants for this COVID-19 business grant program, we strongly encourage you to reach out to a member of the Mentor Works team to get started on an application with our team of government funding planners.

Looking for other forms of government COVID-19 support funding? View our coronavirus business support page to learn about the latest updates, find infographics, and resources. We also offer free COVID-19 business support webinars.