2025 Muskoka Community Grant Recipients Announced

The District of Muskoka is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Muskoka Community Grant Program, which provides funding for local projects that strengthen the community and support Muskoka’s most vulnerable residents.

This year, $65,105 in funding has been awarded to 20 recipients through two grant streams: the Pay It Forward (PIF) program and the Community Enhancement (CE) Fund.

Pay It Forward (PIF) Grants offer up to $2500 to projects that fulfill one or more of PIF’s strategic goals including:

Supporting a healthy, vibrant community

Building community capacity and leadership

Creatively problem-solve to fill a community need

Fostering volunteerism and encouraging community engagement

Community Enhancement (CE) Grants offer up to $10,000 to non-profit organizations. Grants are awarded for projects that address one or more of the CE grants’ strategic needs such as:

Poverty reduction

Food security

Housing and living conditions

Education and training opportunities

Volunteer and job development

Citizen engagement

Funded projects include initiatives focused on social connection, food security, housing stability, and community well-being. Successful Projects are listed in the chart below.

The District extends its thanks to all applicants for their commitment to building up their communities and making a difference.

Pay It Forward (PIF) Grant

Organization	Area Served	Funding Allocated	Project Description
Corner Lighthouse	Huntsville and area	$2,500	Empowers individuals and families facing hardships by providing the foundational support they need to achieve independence by providing them with food.
Family Council, Muskoka Landing	Huntsville and area	$1,000	A celebration of cultural diversity and inclusion. Event for seniors, youth, and all ages, celebrating cultures, foods and inclusion.
Free Stuff 4 Daily Needs	Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes	$2,500	Provides emergency humanitarian aid services in a timely fashion when other programming may not be able to support the individuals.
Friends of the Mactier Library	Mactier, Georgian Bay, Muskoka Lakes and Seguin.	$1,000	Two workshops to take place with local Parry Sound (Wasauksing First Nation) author Waubgeshig Rice. There will be one hands on literary event for children and one for adults. Waubgeshig Rice will share his ‘art of storytelling’.
Loan Cupboard	Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Muskoka Lakes	$2,500	The program supports community health and well-being by ensuring individuals have access to the required equipment and assistive devices that keep them safe in their home. Supporting low-income individuals and those in need.
Meals on Hold	Muskoka Lakes, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Port Carling, Georgian Bay, Minett, Wahta First Nation, Moose Deer Point, Bala, Torrance, Mactier	$2,500	Group has been sourcing and providing meat through a local butcher to provide quality meals for food insecure individuals, as well as community programs such as Alex's Place, West Muskoka Food Bank, Interval house and Wahta Mohawks community food bank.
Sewing Camp	Bracebridge, Huntsville, Lake of Bays, Dwight, Port Sydney	$1,000	Free volunteer run sewing program teaching skills in communities in Muskoka. Projects include inclusive sewing workshops to those in schools, rehab, children with Autism, LGBTQ+, transgender community, library, Indigenous programs.

Community Enhancement (CE) Grant

Organization	Area Served	Funding Allocated	Project Description
Enliven Cancer Care	Bracebridge, Huntsville, Lake of Bays, Dwight, and online	$3,060	Support and provide tools to families dealing with a cancer diagnosis, move forward and engage in supportive opportunities while navigating cancer journey.
FaithWorks Ministries	Gravenhurst	$3,300	Visiting Seniors in their homes as well as encourage them to get out and socialize. Sustain and grow volunteer base and increase the activity and spirits of older seniors in Muskoka.
Food4Kids-Muskoka	Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes	$5,000	Summers Without Hunger. Support food-insecure children across Muskoka during summer vacation, remove barriers associated with accessing and preparing healthy food.
Gravenhurst Against Poverty (G.A.P.)	Gravenhurst	$5,000	Offering children healthy food (during a time when nutritious school-based food programs, such as the Breakfast Program, are not available.) - two (2) snack bags assembled and delivered by G.A.P. volunteers each week in July and August.
Hospice Muskoka	Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Muskoka Lakes	$4,500	Caregiver Education. Provide training to caregivers so that they know how to care for someone who is dying.
Lake of Bays Curling & Bocce Club	Lake of Bays, Baysville, Dorset, Newholm	$1,245	One day event to invite, welcome, teach, and play bocce. All community members are welcome of all ages and abilities.
Manna Food Bank of Bracebridge Inc	Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes	$5,000	Step Up Initiative. The provision of personal care products, contribute more to the health, well-being and esteem of users.
Mission Committee of Knox Presbyterian Church	Bracebridge, and rest of Muskoka	$3,000	Emergency Food Box and Community Garden Programs. Funds to supplement program and ensure they can continue throughout the year.
Rotary Club of Bracebridge	Bracebridge	$5,000	Meals for the Manna Food Bank. Pre-cooked, packaged meals once a month to the Manna Food Bank.

Ryde Community Co-operative Inc.	Gravenhurst, Ryde, Bracebridge	$2,000	Heritage Day Celebration addressing a demonstrated community need for intergenerational fun and socializing. Promoting strong community participation and support, reliable volunteers all ages who step up to help.
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions	Bracebridge, Huntsville, Gravenhurst, Georgian Bay, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes, (and all over Muskoka)	$5,000	Beds for Muskoka Kids. Providing beds, mattresses, and bedding for children. Ensuring children have a comfortable and dignified environment to sleep in during emergency placements and in their family homes.
The Children's Foundation of Muskoka	Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes, Kilworthy, Dwight, Port Carling	$5,000	Send a Kid to Camp 2025! Provide funding for both residential and day camp experiences for under-resourced children and youth living in the Muskoka District.
The Salvation Army South Muskoka Ministries	Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville (and all over Muskoka)	$5,000	Emergency meals food truck service.