Community Grants are made in support of social services, arts and culture, community economic development, education, environment, health and animal welfare, primarily within the Ottawa region. The average grant is approximately $7,000, with the largest grant of up to $10,000 being provided for projects which are particularly innovative and compelling. The next deadline for applications is February 1, 2009 (please see notice below).

IMPORTANT NOTICE

We are pleased to announce that we are making improvements to the Community Grants Program to align grantmaking priorities with our new strategic plan. We anticipate that we will be dedicating significant time to the planning and communication of these changes, including the provision of detailed grant guidelines.

At this time, we would also like to announce that we will not be offering a fall grants program this year. The deadline for the next round of applications is February 1st, 2009. Please note that an information session will be offered in November 2008 to provide detailed information and assistance to registered charities interested in applying for the 2009 cycle.

Strategic Impact Grants are broader than Community Grants and may include multi-year funding, larger amounts (over $10,000), project funding, as well as grants which focus on building organizational capacity or seeding new programs. The annual deadline for applications is February 1.

To be considered in each grant cycle, complete applications must be received at our office no later than 5 p.m. on the deadline date.

Ottawa Citizen Literacy Foundation
Funds of the Ottawa Citizen Literacy Foundation are invested and managed by the Community Foundation of Ottawa. Interest earned on the fund is used in support of literacy projects in the community. The Community Foundation manages the grant program on behalf of the Ottawa Citizen Literacy Foundation. Organizations are invited to apply for funds to support literacy and language training in geographical areas served by The Ottawa Citizen in Eastern Ontario and Western Québec. The annual deadline for applications is October 1.

World Exchange Plaza Arts Endowment Fund
This no longer exists as a unique grant program. However, earnings from the WEP Arts Endowment Fund will be used to fund Community Grants for which the fund was intended: to support professional, not-for-profit arts organizations in the production and presentation of performing arts activities by local artists in Ottawa's downtown.