The Community, Youth & Cultural Funding Program provides municipal funding every year to non-profit organizations in the social service, youth, and cultural sectors, as well as to individual artists undertaking projects in the community. These grants benefit the community and help to leverage other provincial and national funding sources.
Grant categories
The Funding Program has three categories. Select a category below to view the grant guidelines/criteria and application forms. Organizations can only receive funding in one category per funding term.
Note: If you open application forms in Google Chrome, please save a copy before editing.
Project grants |
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Project grants are one-time, short-term funding for special activities, training and development, or seed funding for new organizations. There are two intakes for project grants with the following deadlines:
Maximum request: $10,000 (cannot be 100% of total project budget)
Guidelines and Application FormsTo apply, review the Guidelines & Criteria document and complete the Grant Application Form. Applicants may choose to submit their own budget with all project revenues and expenditures listed, or fill out the Budget Statement template provided. Application form and budget statement will be available shortly.
A limited amount of funding is available for project grants, and applications will be evaluated based on how well the application meets the evaluation criteria.
Applicants must connect with a program contact below prior to applying to discuss eligibility.
Program ContactsPlease direct your inquiry to the appropriate representative based on the focus of your grant. General inquiries/Culture: Callie Hemsworth (807) 632-2485 or grants@thunderbay.ca Community Safety & Well-Being: Louisa Costanzo (807) 627-4216 or louisa.costanzo@thunderbay.ca Youth: Nina Arcon (807) 629-7051 or nina.arcon@thunderbay.ca Sport: Paul Burke (807) 625-2305 or paul.burke@thunderbay.ca Anti-Racism, Truth & Reconciliation: Tanis Thompson (807) 630-8278 or tanis.thompson@thunderbay.ca
Email completed applications to: grants@thunderbay.ca
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Operating grants |
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Operating grants are for organizations that have an ongoing presence in Thunder Bay and a track record of providing quality programs or services. Organizations must show diverse funding sources. Deadline for funding applications: 2025 funding has been allocated. Applications for 2026 funding are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025. 2026 application forms, guidelines and criteria will be available in May.
Eligible Expenses
Full guidelines and criteria:View program guidelines below:
Multi-year Funding Term ReportIf your organization has been approved for a multi-year term, you do not need to fill out a full new application. Instead, multi-year grant recipients must submit the following mid-term report. Relevant organizations will be notified about this process directly. |
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Sustaining grants |
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Sustaining grants are provided to organizations that the City has deemed as being integral to its identity, provided the organization has received at least 5 years of consecutive funding in the Operating category. These grants are operational and are often renewed from year to year, provided that the organization meets the criteria. These organizations fill a void for services or programming in the city and positively affect quality of life. Organizations must show diverse funding sources. City Council has final approval on any recommendations to move an organization to the Sustaining category.
Deadline for funding applications: 2025 funding has been allocated. Applications for 2026 funding are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025. 2026 application forms, guidelines and criteria will be available in May. Funding term: Up to 5 years To be eligible for a Sustaining Grant, the applicant must demonstrate:
Please note that there are also specific criteria depending on the focus area of the grant (Community Safety & Well-Being, Youth, or Culture). Eligible Expenses
Full guidelines and criteria:View program guidelines below:
Multi-year Funding Term ReportIf your organization has been approved for a multi-year term, you do not need to fill out a full new application. Instead, multi-year grant recipients must submit the following mid-term report. Relevant organizations will be notified about this process directly.
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Program Contacts |
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All Project applicants and first-time Operating/Sustaining applicants must contact a program supervisor to discuss eligibility. Please direct your inquiry to the appropriate representative based on the focus of your grant.
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Grant review team
The funding program has a Grant Review Team comprised of City staff and citizen members. If you are interested in learning more about how to become a member, please email grants@thunderbay.ca.
Evaluation
Applications are evaluated on based on the following:
- Ability to meet grant criteria
- Completeness of application (application is complete and properly filled out)
- Community impact and support
- Program/service enhances the quality of life for residents
- Quality of activities and services
- Organizational competence and level of self-sustainability
- Financial stability
- Evidence of a variety of funding sources*
- Evidence of partnerships
- Consistency with priorities in the City's Strategic Plan or other relevant plans (e.g. Inspire Thunder Bay Culture Plan, Youth Services Plan, Community safety and Well Being Plan)
* Evidence of other funding sources is often missing in applications that are not successful. When applying for funding, organizations should outline their own fundraising activities, as well as confirmed or potential grants from other funders.
Submitting applications
Please submit your grant application and supporting documentation via email to grants@thunderbay.ca.
Funding acknowledgment
Please use the City of Thunder Bay corporate logo when acknowledging the City of Thunder Bay's funding support.
Questions?
Email: grants@thunderbay.ca
Phone: 807-632-2485
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