OTF Sector Grant (Canada): Funding to Strengthen Ontario’s Non-Profit Sector (CAD $50,000–$300,000/Year) — Application Deadline 14 October 2026

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) offers the Sector Grant to support projects that strengthen the capacity and resilience of Ontario’s non-profit sector. OTF accepts applications for Step 1 from 23 September to 14 October 2026 (5:00 p.m. ET). Funding ranges from $50,000 to $300,000 per year, for 1, 2, or 3 years. Opportunity at a Glance

- Funding organization: Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF)

- Opportunity name: Sector Grant

- What it funds: Sector-wide capacity and resilience projects that address shared needs and emerging opportunities across Ontario’s non-profit sector

- Funding amount: $50,000 to $300,000 per year

- Grant term: 1, 2, or 3 years

- Application window (Step 1): 23 September to 14 October 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET

- Invited applicants complete Step 2: 10 November to 2 December 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET

- Who should apply: Eligible charitable or not-for-profit organizations (including eligible collaboratives) with a mandate, presence, and reputation supporting Ontario’s non-profit sector

About the Opportunity

The Sector grant stream is designed to strengthen the capacity and resilience of Ontario’s non-profit sector. OTF supports projects that respond to shared needs and emerging opportunities across the sector rather than initiatives limited to a single organization or narrow group. OTF’s description of Ontario’s non-profit sector includes: - Charitable and non-profit organizations, networks, and supporting organizations - Systems, relationships, and infrastructure that enable the sector to deliver public benefit Funding and Benefits

- Total support per year: $50,000 to $300,000 per year

- Duration: awards are made for 1, 2, or 3 years

- Project structure: OTF uses a two-step application process:

- Step 1: submit organization information and a high-level project overview

- Step 2: only for organizations that pass the initial assessment and are invited to provide more detailed information

Note on amounts: The source provides an annual range and grant term but does not specify a total sector-wide funding pool or how many grants will be awarded. Who Is Eligible? OTF accepts Sector grant applications from the following legal entities: - A charitable organization or foundation registered for at least 2 years with the Canada Revenue Agency - An organization incorporated as a not-for-profit for at least 2 years without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction Ineligible applicants The source lists the following as not eligible: - Individuals - For-profit organizations - Organizations with a primary purpose to deliver local programs and services - Private or corporate foundations and their affiliated agencies - Organizations primarily engaged in political activity - Agencies of the municipal, provincial or federal government - Universities, colleges, schools and hospitals and their affiliated agencies - Organizations with a primary purpose to deliver health care or education - Organizations with a primary purpose to own or operate residences that provide long-term housing and/or care for individuals (e.g., long-term care homes, cooperative housing, group care residence) Governance and financial capacity requirements OTF also requires organizations to meet additional capacity and governance requirements: Governance - At least three active board members - Board members must have term end dates on or after the grant application deadline date - More than 50% of board members must be in an arm’s length relationship with each other - Organizations must submit their most recent by-laws Arm’s length relationship (definition provided by OTF): Board members and organization executives should not be: - Married or related to each other - Business partners - Or in any other relationship where interests may be compromised Financial capacity - Applicants must have the financial capacity, stability, and diversified revenue to sustain operations beyond the OTF grant - OTF assesses financial capacity using submitted financial statements Sector grant–specific eligibility requirements Applicants must also meet these Sector stream requirements:

- Primary purpose requirement: demonstrated mandate, presence, and established reputation for supporting Ontario’s non-profit sector

- Minimum gross annual revenue: $500,000 or more in gross annual revenue in the last two fiscal years

- Collaborative projects:

- A collaboration of two or more organizations may be eligible if the lead organization meets OTF eligibility criteria - The lead organization accepts responsibility for application and administration, including financial and reporting accountability - Collaboratives may include eligible and ineligible organizations if all organizations are in good standing with OTF - All organizations in the collaborative cannot be engaged in political activity supporting or opposing any political party, elected representative, or candidate Eligible Activities or Priority Areas The Sector grant stream is intended for projects that create broad, sector-wide benefits. What projects should aim to do (as described)

Funding supports projects that:

- Develop and share strategies, tools, and approaches - Help the broader sector build capacity - Enable organizations to operate more effectively and adapt to changing conditions What the grant stream does not support Projects are generally not eligible if they fall into the following categories (as stated by OTF): - Limited reach or scope - Initiatives primarily benefiting a single organization - Projects benefiting only one community, region, or local network - Projects benefitting only one sector or population - Collaboratives where benefits are limited to named partner organizations - Projects addressing regional or community-specific capacity needs - Program or service delivery rather than shared capacity - Expansion or continuation of existing programs or services - Ongoing service delivery, regardless of scale - Training delivered to organizations without creating reusable too