Grant Programs

Grant Programs

Stratford Perth Community Foundation provides grants to local organizations that are vital to our community’s well-being and help our residents live better lives in Stratford, St. Marys, and throughout Perth County.

To support our community, we have created two funding streams, our  Community Grants and our Regional: Smart & Caring Community Grants. Please read below for more information about each funding stream.

For grants received in 2023, log in to access your application and complete your final reports.

GRANTS PORTAL LOGON

Community Grants 

Applications for the 2023 Community Grant Program will be OPEN from October 12, 2023 – November 6, 2023.

The Community Grants Program provides funding to support the valuable work and creative initiatives that local charities and not-for-profits deliver across Stratford, St. Marys, and Perth County.

Annual grants are made possible through the Community Foundation’s caring family of endowed Donor Advised, Field of Interest, Unrestricted Funds, Flow-through Funds, Designated Funds and Scholarship Funds. The annual Community Grants Program supports a broad range of projects and initiatives that serve our region.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM  

Regional: Smart & Caring Community Grants

Smart & Caring Communities is a landmark effort that brings together community foundations from across Canada in response to the Former Governor General, David Johnston’s challenge to build a ‘smart and caring nation’ in celebration of Canada’s sesquicentennial. Smart & Caring Community Grants are available for the six regions of the Stratford Perth Community Foundation’s geographic footprint – Stratford, St. Marys, North Perth, Perth East, Perth South and West Perth. Grants will be awarded to charitable organizations that demonstrate a ‘smart and caring’ approach to addressing key priorities in their community.

Since 2021, funding has focused on addressing the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan‘s Priority Area #4 Social Inclusion.

Application is now closed.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SMART & CARING COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM

 

Eligibility Guidelines for Grant Applicants

To be eligible to apply for a grant from the Community Foundation, the applicant must: 

  • Be registered as a charity with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for at least one (1) year and have filed at least one (1) T3010 with CRA, or be sponsored by same
  • Provide services for or within Perth County, Stratford and/or St. Marys
  • Provide services without discrimination

 

Projects not eligible for grants from the Community Foundation include:

  • Programs that have direct religious or political activity
  • Programs that are mandated by another funder
  • Expenses incurred prior to awarding the grant
  • Deficit reduction, debt retirement, reserves, mortgage pay-down
  • Endowment and fundraising campaigns
  • Individuals

How are grants chosen? The following criteria is used by our Grant Committees to evaluate each application:

Impact on Community Services:

  • Does the project significantly improve the service provided?
  • Will a significant number of people be served by the improvement of services provided by this project?
  • Will it make a significant difference in the lives of people, especially those with particular need in the area addressed by the project?

Inspiring Community Change/Impact Investment:

  • Does the project strengthen the organization’s and the community’s capacity?
  • Does it fill a gap in existing community programs?
  • Does this project address root causes through an innovative and practical approach to a problem?  Does it contribute new understandings to an existing problem?
  • Can other organizations learn from this project?

Financial Need:

  • How much funding does the organization require for the project?
  • Is the Foundation’s support critical for the success of this project?
  • Is the project viable, well-planned and achievable?
  • Are community partnerships and/or other sources of funding identified?

Stratford Perth Community Foundation’s Requirements:

  • Do these projects, in total, meet geographic considerations to ensure distribution of funds over the six (6) regions served by the Foundation?
  • Do these projects fit with the Foundation’s binding objectives as set out in the Letters Patent and reflect equitable distribution over time throughout the seven (7) objectives?

All grant applications are reviewed by the Foundation’s Grant Advisory Committee with final approval by the Board of Directors. All decisions are final. The Community Foundation reserves the right to extend the deadline dates at any time.