Community Grants Program

Deadline: Monday, October 17, 2023  at 4:30 PM EST

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

Fall 2022 Grant Recipients
Spring 2022 Grants Recipients

Application Guide and Portal

We strongly encourage you to review the Grant Applicant Guide.

Ready to Apply? Submit through our CFKA Grant Portal.

Deadlines

Applications are accepted until 4:30 PM EST 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 **

❱ Community Grants Program

❱ Regina Rosen Food First Fund

❱ The Stark Family Fund

❱ Nan Yeomans Grant for Artistic Development