Foundation for Black Communities – Black Ideas Grant (B.I.G.) 4.0 (October 20, 2026)
Focus: Strengthening the capacity, sustainability, and long-term impact of Black-led, Black-mandated, and Black-serving organizations across Canada through three strategic funding streams.
Eligibility: Black-led, Black-mandated, and Black-serving organizations across Canada that meet the Foundation for Black Communities’ funding requirements.
Grant Amount: At least $8 million in total funding available through B.I.G. 4.0, with individual grant amounts determined by the applicable funding stream.
Deadline: October 20, 2026.
Apply for Black Ideas Grant (B.I.G.) 4.0
Ontario Creates – Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF) Live Music Stream (October 29, 2026)
Focus: Supporting the production and promotion of live music events in Ontario featuring Canadian artists, including concerts, festivals, and music series.
Eligibility: Eligible Ontario-based businesses and organizations involved in producing or promoting live music events featuring Canadian artists.
Grant Amount: Funding varies based on eligible project costs and program guidelines.
Deadline: October 29, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST (as stated in the supplied information).
Apply for OMIF Live Music Funding
Community Grant Program — NBA Foundation
What’s offered:
Funding to support organizations that create employment, career advancement, and economic opportunity pathways for Black youth (ages 14–24) in the United States and Canada. Grants prioritize programs focused on job readiness, skills training, mentorship, paid internships, and workforce placement that lead to sustainable income and long-term career success.
Who’s eligible:
U.S.-based and Canadian registered non-profit organizations and charitable entities that directly serve Black youth and can demonstrate measurable employment and economic outcomes.
Funding range:
Grant amounts vary by project scope and impact. The NBA Foundation has awarded multi-year grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000+ depending on organizational capacity and scale.
Status / Deadline:
October 31st Organizations must submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) before being invited to apply.
WIL Digital – Work-Integrated Learning Wage Subsidy (February 15, 2027)
Focus: Supporting Canadian employers in hiring post-secondary students for work-integrated learning opportunities, particularly in digital and technology-related roles.
Eligibility: Eligible Canadian employers offering qualifying student work placements, subject to program requirements.
Grant Amount: Up to $5,000 per student, per work term.
Deadline:
- Winter 2027: February 15, 2027
- Fall 2026: November 15, 2026
- Winter 2027 applications opened October 5, 2026.
Funding is subject to availability and program capacity.
Apply for WIL Digital Wage Subsidy
WES Ecosystem Fund – Call for Proposals (November 9, 2026)
Focus: Strengthening Canada’s women entrepreneurship ecosystem by supporting organizations that provide business development services, resources, mentorship, and other assistance to women entrepreneurs.
Eligibility: Eligible organizations that deliver entrepreneurship support services to women in Canada, including qualifying nonprofit and community-based organizations.
Grant Amount: Up to $80 million in total non-repayable contribution funding will be available to successful applicants over four years, beginning in 2027–2028.
Deadline: November 9, 2026 (interpreting the incomplete year in the supplied information as 2026).
Apply for WES Ecosystem Fund
Canada Media Fund – Program for Black and Racialized Communities (December 8, 2026)
Focus: Supporting Black and racialized creators in film, television, and digital media through development and predevelopment funding.
Eligibility: Black-owned and controlled production companies and other eligible racialized-owned production companies meeting Canada Media Fund requirements.
Grant Amount: Funding varies depending on the project and applicable program guidelines.
Deadline: December 8, 2026.
Apply for Canada Media Fund Development and Predevelopment Funding
Innovative Solutions Canada – Challenge and Testing Streams (Various Deadlines)
Focus: Supporting Canadian innovation, technology research, development, testing, and commercialization. The program helps businesses develop innovative solutions to challenges and test technologies with government partners.
Eligibility: Eligible Canadian startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developing innovative technologies, products, or services.
Grant Amount: Funding varies depending on the specific challenge, testing opportunity, and program requirements.
Deadline: Various deadlines depending on available funding opportunities and open calls.
Explore Innovative Solutions Canada Funding Opportunities
Note: The deadlines and program descriptions above are based on the information you provided and have not been independently verified against current program pages. Since these opportunities serve different applicant types, organizations should confirm eligibility, available funding, and application status before applying.
ScotiaRISE — Scotiabank
What’s offered:
Funding through Scotiabank’s 10-year, $500-million ScotiaRISE initiative, which focuses on promoting economic resilience among disadvantaged groups by removing barriers to advancement and increasing access to opportunities. Applications are assessed for strategic alignment, measurable impact, organizational financial health and governance.
Who’s eligible:
Registered charities and non-profit organizations operating in countries where Scotiabank does business. Organizations should have a sustained record of achievement and propose programs with measurable impact.
Funding range:
Funding amounts vary according to the organization and proposed initiative. Scotiabank does not list a standard minimum or maximum grant amount on the current funding-guidelines page.
Status / Deadline:
Ongoing — applications are reviewed throughout the year. Scotiabank advises applicants to allow at least 90 days for a response.
Sector Grant — Ontario Trillium Foundation
What’s offered:
Funding for projects that strengthen the capacity and resilience of Ontario’s non-profit sector. Projects can develop or adapt tools and approaches, improve how sector data is collected and shared, or strengthen organizations’ understanding of and access to diverse and non-traditional funding sources.
Who’s eligible:
Non-profit organizations with a demonstrated mandate, presence and established reputation for supporting Ontario’s non-profit sector. Organizations that solely provide direct programs and services to their communities are not eligible for this particular stream.
Funding range:
$50,000–$300,000 per year for projects lasting 1, 2 or 3 years.
Status / Deadline:
Upcoming — Step 1 opens September 23, 2026 and closes October 14, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Organizations invited to Step 2 can submit detailed project information from November 10–December 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET
Link: https://otf.ca/our-grants/community-investments-grants/sector-grant#get-support
Community Development Grants — Jumpstart (Canadian Tire)
What’s offered:
Grants that support community sport and physical activity initiatives through two streams:
- Program Support: Helps deliver or sustain sport/physical activity programs.
- Operational Support: Helps organizations build capacity and enhance inclusive, safe programming.
Who’s eligible:
Qualified donees (e.g., registered charities and non-profits) that deliver programming for children aged 4–18 in financial need or youth 4–25 with disabilities.
Funding range:
Varies by project need and stream; grant amounts are determined through the intake process. (Specific ranges aren’t published on the main program page.)
Status / Deadline:
Check the Jumpstart site for current intake windows and deadlines.
Professional Development Assistance — SOCAN Foundation
What’s offered:
Financial assistance to support the professional development of Canadian music creators and publishers. Funding can be used for career-advancing opportunities such as workshops, mentorships, showcases, conferences, travel for industry events, and skill-building initiatives that strengthen long-term sustainability in the music sector.
Who’s eligible:
Canadian songwriters, composers, and music publishers who are SOCAN members in good standing. Applicants must demonstrate professional activity and a clear development plan aligned with career growth.
Funding range:
Grants typically provide up to $2,000 per application, depending on the activity and available funding.
Status / Deadline:
Applications are generally accepted on a rolling basis, subject to funding availability. Check the SOCAN Foundation website for current intake timelines.
Jim Button Youth Grant — Jim Button Foundation
What’s offered:
Funding for youth-led community and inclusion-focused projects.
Who’s eligible:
501(c)(3) organization, a school, a religious organization or a registered Canadian charity
Funding range:
$500 grants for promotional products.
Status / Deadline:
Rolling intake.
Grant Programs — McConnell Foundation
What’s offered:
Funding for innovative, systems-change initiatives across Canada. Our three main focus areas of Communities, Reconciliation and Climate.
Who’s eligible:
Non-profits and social enterprises.
Funding range:
Varies (often large, multi-year).
Status / Deadline:
Rolling.
Grants — Webster Foundation
What’s offered:
The R. Howard Webster Foundation’s funding interests are within the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Medical, and Social Services.
Who’s eligible:
The R. Howard Webster Foundation only makes grants to qualified donees under the Income Tax Act Canada.
Funding range:
Varies.
Status / Deadline:
Periodic cycles.
Black Entrepreneur Financing — Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
What’s offered:
Financing solutions and advisory services tailored to Black entrepreneurs, including business loans, growth capital, and strategic support. BDC provides flexible financing options to help launch, scale, modernize, or acquire businesses across Canada.
Who’s eligible:
Black entrepreneurs who own or lead a Canadian business seeking financing for start-up, expansion, acquisition, or modernization.
Funding range:
Loan amounts vary based on business needs, ranging from small business loans to multi-million-dollar growth financing.
Status / Deadline:
Applications accepted year-round.
Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund — Alterna Savings
What’s offered:
Affordable financing designed to support Black-owned businesses in launching, stabilizing, and growing their operations. The program provides access to capital alongside financial guidance and community-based support.
Who’s eligible:
Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses operating in Canada that meet Alterna’s lending criteria.
Funding range:
Loans typically range up to $250,000, depending on business eligibility and needs.
Status / Deadline:
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Funding for Organizations that Help Businesses Grow — Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)
What’s offered:
Funding to support not-for-profit organizations that help businesses scale, adopt innovation, access new markets, and strengthen regional economic ecosystems across Southern Ontario. Projects may include business advisory services, sector development initiatives, innovation hubs, and entrepreneurship programming that accelerates growth and competitiveness.
Who’s eligible:
Not-for-profit organizations, including innovation centres, accelerators, industry associations, Indigenous organizations, municipalities, and post-secondary institutions located in Southern Ontario that support business growth and regional economic development.
Funding range:
Funding varies by program stream and project scope. Contributions are typically repayable or non-repayable, depending on the initiative and organization type.
Status / Deadline:
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, subject to available funding.
Community Initiatives Program (CIP) – Project-Based — Government of Alberta
What’s offered:
Project funding for short-term initiatives that strengthen communities, inclusion, and engagement.
Who’s eligible:
Alberta-based non-profits, First Nations, and Métis Settlements.
Funding range:
Up to $75,000.
Status / Deadline:
Multiple intakes throughout the year.
Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) Family Innovation Test Grant — Ontario Trillium Foundation
What’s offered:
Funding to pilot innovative programs that improve outcomes for children, youth, and families facing systemic barriers.
Who’s eligible:
Ontario-based non-profits working with youth and families.
Funding range:
Up to $600,000.
Status / Deadline:
Periodic intakes.
