2020 Muskoka Community Grants

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

The District Municipality of Muskoka (the District) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2020 Muskoka Community Grant Application Form.

The District supports the enhancement of community well-being with a focus on improving a positive quality of life for our most vulnerable population. One way of helping to achieve this goal is through community-funded programs.

Grassroots community groups, not-for-profit organizations and registered charities are eligible to complete the 2020 Muskoka Community Grant Application to help deliver projects and/or programs aimed to strengthen and enhance the vitality and well-being of the Muskoka Community throughout the 2020 calendar year.

Available grant opportunities include the following:

  1. The Pay it Forward (PIF) Grant Program has been available to Grassroots Muskoka Community Groups since 2012 and offers grants of up to $2,500. Grants are awarded to projects that fill a strategic need in the community, enhance community support and leadership, and create positive change. Grant funds cannot be used for the construction of permanent structures.

  2. The Community Enhancement (CE) Fund is new for 2020 and is available to not-for-profit/charitable community groups. The program will offer grants up to $10,000. Grants will be awarded to groups that focus on improving a positive quality of life for vulnerable populations which address areas such as poverty reduction; food security; housing and living conditions; education and training opportunities; volunteer and job development; and citizen engagement.

  3. The Social Service Relief Fund (SSRF) is a direct result of COVID-19and is supported by the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI). Through grants of up to $5,000, this fund intends to provide financial assistance to community groups that offer essential services such as food programs or other necessary programs to help vulnerable populations during COVID-19.

The District has consolidated the grant opportunities into one online application (below) and applicants will be guided through the appropriate funding stream based on the answers provided throughout the application.

The application deadline has been extended to Friday July 10, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.

Application Guidelines:

  • Preference will be given to projects that demonstrate community support by engaging volunteers, partners, funders and donors.
  • Grants are not intended to be used toward staffing costs, honorariums, consultant fees, etc.
  • Grants are not intended to provide direct financial assistance to individuals or families.
  • Grants are not intended to duplicate services that fall within the mandate of an upper or lower tier municipality or a local agency.
  • Preference will be given to programs that have the capacity to utilize the funding requested in an urgent manner to support vulnerable residents during COVID-19.
  • The program/project will operate as per Provincial and Municipal COVID-19 regulations in place at time of application submission and throughout the delivery of the project/program.
  • The applicant must have the capacity to utilize the funding requested before Dec 31, 2020.

Which Grant Do I Apply To?

Applicants will be guided through the appropriate funding stream based on the answers provided throughout the application. The grant review committee will ensure that your project/program has been considered under all available funding streams as in line with grant eligibility requirements.

Am I a Grassroots Community Group, Non-Profit or Registered Charity?

Grassroots Community Groups are made up of individuals within the community who look to encourage other community members to get involved in contributing to the well-being of their community. They are most often not registered as an organization, but rather are a group of people looking to make change within their community from the ground up.

If you are a Not-for-Profit Organization, you typically have a registration number associated with your organization.

If you are a Registered Charity, you will have a charitable registration number.


Stay Informed!

To receive updates and stay informed of the outcomes of the 2020 Muskoka Community Grant Application please click the subscribe button under the "Follow Project" section on this page (on the top right hand of your desktop screen, or scroll down on your mobile device).


BEFORE YOU COMPLETE AN APPLICATION:

Through the application process you will be asked for the following information:

  1. Type of applicant (Grassroots Community Group, Non-profit or Charitable organization)
  2. Primary & Secondary Contact Information
  3. Do you currently partner with the District to deliver programs/services? If so what capacity?
  4. Name of project/program, if it is new or existing and if it is one-time or reoccurring.
  5. The municipality your project/program will be running in (view the Muskoka map here if unsure)
  6. Provide a concise description of the project/program including how the funding will strengthen and enhance the well-being of our community members (500 words or less)
  7. Describe the need or gap addressed by your project/program (500 words or less)
  8. Describe how the project/program will provide services and supports to vulnerable citizens (500 words or less)
  9. The number of people your project/program plans to serve and in what capacity
  10. The number of volunteers your project/program will engage and in what capacity
  11. How many paid staff are involved in your project/program (keep in mind grant funds may not be used to pay staff)
  12. How will you promote your project/program?
  13. A list of community partners and how you plan to work together (if applicable)
  14. How much money you are requesting to fund your project/program
  15. A list of any other funding you have applied for, the amounts for you applied and the status of the application
  16. Confirmation that the applicant has the capacity to utilize the funding requested before Dec 31, 2020 and deliver the program/project as per Provincial and Municipal COVID-19 regulations in place at time of submission of application and throughout the project delivery
  17. Successful applicants will be required to adhere to project/program reporting guidelines as set by the District.

We will ask for the following documents to be uploaded during the application process:

  1. Completed Budget Worksheet (Instructions are located on the first tab in the worksheet).
  2. Any quotes/estimates for costs you may have to support your budget (You can submit as one file or up to 10 separate files)
  3. Up to 5 letters of support towards your project/program (You can submit as one file or up to 5 separate files)
  4. Most recent audited financial statement for organization (Not-for-profits and charitable organizations only)
  5. Current fiscal year budget including projected cash and in-kind revenues and expenses (Not-for-profits and charitable organizations only)
  6. List of Board of Directors (Not-for-profits and charitable organizations only)



The District Municipality of Muskoka (the District) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2020 Muskoka Community Grant Application Form.

The District supports the enhancement of community well-being with a focus on improving a positive quality of life for our most vulnerable population. One way of helping to achieve this goal is through community-funded programs.

Grassroots community groups, not-for-profit organizations and registered charities are eligible to complete the 2020 Muskoka Community Grant Application to help deliver projects and/or programs aimed to strengthen and enhance the vitality and well-being of the Muskoka Community throughout the 2020 calendar year.

Available grant opportunities include the following:

  1. The Pay it Forward (PIF) Grant Program has been available to Grassroots Muskoka Community Groups since 2012 and offers grants of up to $2,500. Grants are awarded to projects that fill a strategic need in the community, enhance community support and leadership, and create positive change. Grant funds cannot be used for the construction of permanent structures.

  2. The Community Enhancement (CE) Fund is new for 2020 and is available to not-for-profit/charitable community groups. The program will offer grants up to $10,000. Grants will be awarded to groups that focus on improving a positive quality of life for vulnerable populations which address areas such as poverty reduction; food security; housing and living conditions; education and training opportunities; volunteer and job development; and citizen engagement.

  3. The Social Service Relief Fund (SSRF) is a direct result of COVID-19and is supported by the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI). Through grants of up to $5,000, this fund intends to provide financial assistance to community groups that offer essential services such as food programs or other necessary programs to help vulnerable populations during COVID-19.

The District has consolidated the grant opportunities into one online application (below) and applicants will be guided through the appropriate funding stream based on the answers provided throughout the application.

The application deadline has been extended to Friday July 10, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.

Application Guidelines:

  • Preference will be given to projects that demonstrate community support by engaging volunteers, partners, funders and donors.
  • Grants are not intended to be used toward staffing costs, honorariums, consultant fees, etc.
  • Grants are not intended to provide direct financial assistance to individuals or families.
  • Grants are not intended to duplicate services that fall within the mandate of an upper or lower tier municipality or a local agency.
  • Preference will be given to programs that have the capacity to utilize the funding requested in an urgent manner to support vulnerable residents during COVID-19.
  • The program/project will operate as per Provincial and Municipal COVID-19 regulations in place at time of application submission and throughout the delivery of the project/program.
  • The applicant must have the capacity to utilize the funding requested before Dec 31, 2020.

Which Grant Do I Apply To?

Applicants will be guided through the appropriate funding stream based on the answers provided throughout the application. The grant review committee will ensure that your project/program has been considered under all available funding streams as in line with grant eligibility requirements.

Am I a Grassroots Community Group, Non-Profit or Registered Charity?

Grassroots Community Groups are made up of individuals within the community who look to encourage other community members to get involved in contributing to the well-being of their community. They are most often not registered as an organization, but rather are a group of people looking to make change within their community from the ground up.

If you are a Not-for-Profit Organization, you typically have a registration number associated with your organization.

If you are a Registered Charity, you will have a charitable registration number.


Stay Informed!

To receive updates and stay informed of the outcomes of the 2020 Muskoka Community Grant Application please click the subscribe button under the "Follow Project" section on this page (on the top right hand of your desktop screen, or scroll down on your mobile device).


BEFORE YOU COMPLETE AN APPLICATION:

Through the application process you will be asked for the following information:

  1. Type of applicant (Grassroots Community Group, Non-profit or Charitable organization)
  2. Primary & Secondary Contact Information
  3. Do you currently partner with the District to deliver programs/services? If so what capacity?
  4. Name of project/program, if it is new or existing and if it is one-time or reoccurring.
  5. The municipality your project/program will be running in (view the Muskoka map here if unsure)
  6. Provide a concise description of the project/program including how the funding will strengthen and enhance the well-being of our community members (500 words or less)
  7. Describe the need or gap addressed by your project/program (500 words or less)
  8. Describe how the project/program will provide services and supports to vulnerable citizens (500 words or less)
  9. The number of people your project/program plans to serve and in what capacity
  10. The number of volunteers your project/program will engage and in what capacity
  11. How many paid staff are involved in your project/program (keep in mind grant funds may not be used to pay staff)
  12. How will you promote your project/program?
  13. A list of community partners and how you plan to work together (if applicable)
  14. How much money you are requesting to fund your project/program
  15. A list of any other funding you have applied for, the amounts for you applied and the status of the application
  16. Confirmation that the applicant has the capacity to utilize the funding requested before Dec 31, 2020 and deliver the program/project as per Provincial and Municipal COVID-19 regulations in place at time of submission of application and throughout the project delivery
  17. Successful applicants will be required to adhere to project/program reporting guidelines as set by the District.

We will ask for the following documents to be uploaded during the application process:

  1. Completed Budget Worksheet (Instructions are located on the first tab in the worksheet).
  2. Any quotes/estimates for costs you may have to support your budget (You can submit as one file or up to 10 separate files)
  3. Up to 5 letters of support towards your project/program (You can submit as one file or up to 5 separate files)
  4. Most recent audited financial statement for organization (Not-for-profits and charitable organizations only)
  5. Current fiscal year budget including projected cash and in-kind revenues and expenses (Not-for-profits and charitable organizations only)
  6. List of Board of Directors (Not-for-profits and charitable organizations only)