Grant Program Will Ensure Royal Canadian Legions and Other Non-Profits Can Continue to Deliver Vital Services

TORONTO ― The Ontario government is investing $83 million through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to provide grants to help eligible non-profit organizations, including food banks, child and youth programs and Royal Canadian Legion branches, recover from COVID-19 and continue the delivery of vital programming in their communities.

The announcement was made today by Premier Doug Ford and Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.

“I am proud of the hundreds of volunteer organizations and thousands of volunteers who have stepped up over the last few months and shown the Ontario spirit in caring for others through these difficult times,” said Premier Ford. “Our local non-profits, including our local Legion branches and food banks, are the bedrock of our communities and their work will be absolutely critical in helping people to rebuild their lives as we restart our economy and reopen the province.”

The OTF’s Resilient Communities Fund will provide grants of up to $150,000 to help eligible non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 with support for:

• Equipping board members and employees with supports to implement new approaches, prepare for change and build resiliency (e.g. organizational training and coaching, strategic planning and implementation, research & development, mental and physical health and wellbeing supports);
• Improving and increasing ability to access financial resources and develop new and/or alternative sources of revenues (e.g. develop fundraising plans, identify fundraising and financial technology resources, seek opportunities for public-private partnerships and social finance);
• Adapting or re-imagining the delivery of programs and services to meet the needs of the community, employees and volunteers (e.g. identify new health and safety processes and required personal protective equipment, technology supports, staffing and volunteer recruitment and training);
• Procuring equipment or renovating spaces to meet the changing needs of the organization, its programs and services, and adapt to new ways of working (e.g. equipment and/or renovations to meet changing technology health and safety, and service delivery requirements); and
• Creating and/or adopting new approaches for organizations to work together to meet the needs of communities (e.g. peer learning, professional development, networking, resource, knowledge and data sharing).

“The Resilient Communities Fund is a tremendous example of the innovation and flexibility of Ontario agencies,” said Minister MacLeod. “While we work towards the province’s economic and social recovery, we’re proud to support programs like the OTF Resilient Communities Fund that are making a positive contribution in communities across Ontario.”

“Due to the significant impacts of COVID-19 on the non-profit sector, the Ontario Trillium Foundation saw an opportunity to respond to the needs of non-profit organizations that have been struggling to deliver their programs and services,” said Katharine Bambrick, CEO of the Ontario Trillium Foundation. “The Resilient Communities Fund will support the recovery and rebuilding of non-profits and help them as they return to building healthy and vibrant communities.”

For more information, visit the Ontario Trillium Foundation website on eligibility requirements and application deadlines.