Community Grants Program
Deadline: Monday, October 16, 2023 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time
APPLY NOW: CFKA Grants Portal
Our Community Grants Program is our broadest and largest granting program which provides grants to support projects, programs, and initiatives undertaken by qualified donees such as registered charities within Kingston & Area.
It is funded from earnings on our pooled Community Fund, Smart & Caring Community Fund, and over 50 individual endowment funds established by our thoughtful donors.
Twice a year, we invite organizations to submit proposals to our Community Grants Program, which are reviewed by our local volunteer Grants Committee. In 2022, The Community Grants program granted $1,022,045 to 79 projects.
Our Fields of Interest
The Community Grants program provides grants to qualified donees in all the CFKA’s Fields of Interest:
- Arts & Culture
- Children’s Mental Health
- Community Development
- Education & Literacy
- Environment
- Health & Social Services
- Heritage Preservation
- Recreation
- Youth
Our Funding Priorities
Build resilience in individuals, families, and communities by supporting initiatives such as those that:
- Promote strong early childhood development (prenatal to 6)
- Support youth in achieving success in education, employment, and life pursuits
- Address mental health and substance use
- Increase food security
- Assist local charities to adapt to and recover from the pandemic
Increase belonging and wellbeing within our community by supporting initiatives such as those that:
- Strengthen social connection and engagement to reduce loneliness and isolation
- Foster community connection and cohesion by recognizing and celebrating diversity
- Support the Truth and Reconciliation process
- Connect and welcome newcomers to our community and help them access services to thrive in their new home
- Amplify voices and participation of equity-deserving groups and commit to continuous learning and action surrounding anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion through policies and practices
Geographic Area
All projects must support communities defined by CFKA’s geographical catchment area:
City of Kingston
Loyalist Township
Township of Central Frontenac
Township of Frontenac Islands
Township of North Frontenac
Township of South Frontenac
Exceptions:
- Environmental projects: Either operating in our catchment area and/or in the Cataraqui Watershed.
- Children’s Mental Health projects: Either operating in our catchment area or in Lennox & Addington County.
Specific Eligibility Criteria
All projects must:
- Have a well-defined purpose
- Clearly explain and demonstrate financial need
- Meet the eligibility criteria that applies to all CFKA’s granting programs
- All funds must be spent within one year of receiving the grant.
- If applicable, final reports for completed projects previously funded by the Foundation must have been received and approved.
Types of Grants CFKA Provides
There are three types of grants organizations may apply for:
1. Equipment Only Grant
2. New, Enhanced, or Expanded Project/Program Grant
3. Operational or Ongoing Program Grant (Maximum: $16,000)
Grants for the following will not be considered:
- to cover deficits or retire debts;
- to provide endowment funds;
- for sectarian, religious, or political purposes;
- for any political campaign or attempts to influence legislation by any government body;
- to individuals;
- to respond to annual fund drives for sustaining support;
- to contribute to major renovation or capital construction costs;
- to provide money for fundraising activities.
Recently Funded Projects
Application Guide and Portal
We strongly encourage you to review the Grant Application Guide.
Ready to Apply? Submit through our CFKA Grant Portal.
Deadlines
Applications are accepted until 4:30 PM Eastern Time on March 15th (for the Spring Community Grants round) and October 15th of each year (for the Fall Community Grants round). In years in which a submission deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline will move to the first business day following these dates.
Expect to receive a confirmation email within one business day of submitting your application. If the applicant does not receive a confirmation email, it is the responsibility of the applicant to follow up with the Grants Officer at grants@cfka.org.
Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Next Steps
Once you submit your application on our application portal, it is reviewed for completeness and eligibility by our Grants Officer. If all is in order, the application is reviewed by our experienced and knowledgeable Grants Committee who make a recommendation to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Board make the final approval.
Applicants will be notified of the results of their application. The entire process, from deadline to the receipt of funds takes approximately 3 months.
2023 Spring Selection Committee
Patricia Orser (Chair), Willa Henry (Co-Chair)
Lucinda Bray, Denise Cumming, Dale Dilamarter, Paul Elsley, Jane Errington, Susan Furino, Jung-Ah Kim, Steve Knechtel, Julia Laidlaw, Vivien Ludwin, Paul Mackenzie, Ghislaine Marcotte, Margaret McGowan, Martha Reid, Maurice Smith, Bridget Steele, and Cherrilyn Yalin
Grant Agreements & Final Reporting
If you are awarded a grant, you will be required to sign a Grant Agreement Form outlining the Terms and Conditions of the grant before you receive your cheque.
You are required to complete a Final Report within 30 days after completion of your project. The Final Report is intended to help you evaluate the initiative and help us evaluate the effectiveness and impact of our grants on enhancing and strengthening the quality of life in our community.
See Next Steps for more information.
Contact
If you have questions, please contact Alyce Soulodre, Grants Officer in advance of the deadline at grants@cfka.org or 613.546.9696, ext 105.
** Never miss an update about granting opportunities! Sign up for our Grants Email List **
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275 Ontario Street Suite #100
Kingston, ON K7K 2X5
Phone: 613.546.9696
Fax: 613.531.9238
Email: info@cfka.org
Donate
When you give to the Community Foundation you can have confidence that your community will continue to benefit from your gift for many years to come.
2023 Year End Tax Tips
Both the federal and provincial governments offer donations tax credits that, in combination, can result in tax savings of up to 55% of the value of your gift in 2023, depending on your province or territory of residence. With total cash donations up to $200 in a year, the federal donation credit is 15% of the donation amount. For total donations exceeding $200 in a year, the federal donation credit jumps to 29% (33% to the extent taxable income exceeds $235,675) of the donation amount. Provincial donation credits are also available and the total credit may be up to 55% once total annual donations exceed the $200 in a calendar year.
December 31 is the last day to make a donation and get a tax receipt for 2023. You can help a wide range of charities with a single gift to our endowed Community Fund, support your favourite charity or cause by giving to one of our over 225 funds, or establish your own fund.
Credit Card or VISA Debit Card
If you’re ready to make your gift now, then use our secure online giving page. You have the option of choosing any one of our funds, giving ‘in memory of/in honour of’ instructions, and more. Or, if you prefer, you can simply call 613-546-9696 to make your donation over the phone using your Visa, MasterCard, or AMEX, or VISA Debit card. You can make a one-time gift, or sign up to make a regular monthly donation.
Cheque
Please make your cheque payable to Community Foundation for Kingston & Area (or “CFKA”), and write your intended fund in the memo line. Drop it off or mail to: 275 Ontario Street, Suite #100, Kingston, ON, K7K 2X5.
Publicly-Traded Securities
Gifting publicly-traded securities, including mutual funds and segregated funds, with accrued capital gains “in-kind” to a registered charity or a foundation not only entitles you to a tax receipt for the fair market value of the security being donated, it eliminates capital gains tax too. You should plan gifts in-kind well before year end, to allow for sufficient time to make arrangements. A gift of publicly-traded securities is the transfer of ownership of stocks or bonds to the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area. If you own shares that have increased in value, 50 per cent of the capital gains are taxable. However, if you donate these shares in-kind to CFKA, the gain is tax-exempt. Learn more.
Form 1: Direction to Transfer Securities or Mutual Funds Electronically as a Charitable Donation Complete Form 1 to give your financial advisor/broker the instructions to make the gift to CFKA. The form contains all the information your advisor will need to make the transfer. They will then submit this form to our broker at CIBC Wood Gundy to advise that the transfer is pending.
Form 2: Notice of Transfer of Securities
Complete Form 2 and send it to CFKA to advise us of your gift, and instruct as to what you would like your donation to support.
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Your AMT may be higher in 2024 (compared to 2023) if your taxable income is over about $173,000, and you have income taxed at lower rates than ordinary income, or deductions or credits that reduce taxes payable, including: Capital gains, Stock options, Canadian dividends, Unused non-capital losses, net capital losses, or limited partnership losses from prior years, and Non-refundable tax credits, including the donation tax credit. Speak to your tax profession to see how AMT could affect your situation in 2024, and, if appropriate, to consider triggering a gain or exercising employee stock options.
Contact us at 613.546.9696 or giving@cfka.org if you need any further assistance.