Community cash grants

The cash grants program is available to organizations that encourage recreation, sports, arts, culture, festivals and neighbourhood participation. The intent is to support not-for-profit and community organizations that play important roles in providing programs and services to our community. 

On this page

  1. Start date and deadline to apply
  2. Eligibility requirements
  3. Types of grants
  4. Application requirements
  5. Apply online
  6. Approval process
  7. Other grants

Start date and deadline to apply

Apply for the Cash Grant starting on October 12 for the 2023 funding cycle. Applications are due December 1 2022. at 2 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.

Attend a training session: How to submit a successful grant application on Wednesday, November 2 2022 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.

Register for the workshop by RSVP to lynn.dicksegley@waterloo.ca by Thursday, October 27 2022.

Eligibility requirements

  • the organization must benefit the community through recreation and sports, arts and culture, festivals and events or neighbourhoods
  • be organized for a minimum of 1 year and be in compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations and bylaws for all levels of government
  • must submit a complete application form providing all documents by required deadline

For complete grant information see the Community Cash Grant Policy (PDF).

If you have any questions regarding your organization's eligibility please contact:

Types of grants

The maximum amount of funding a group can receive for either an operating or a project grant is $5000 for this grant cycle.

Requests in excess of $5000 for either an operating or a project grant will not be considered. It is possible to apply for both an operating and a project grant. The total maximum amount any one organization can request is $10,000.

If a grant request total is $7500 or more organizations must provide:

  1. Professionally reviewed financial statement for the previous year.
  2. Must show proof of incorporation or proof of incorporation under an umbrella organization.

Operating grants are:

  • ongoing costs that support day-to-day working of your organization
  • growing or expanding your programs and/or copying an existing program in another location, or at another time
  • programs funded as a project in a past year

Examples of operating grants are: rent, insurance, telephone and Internet service, equipment for core services / community programs, salaries for staff or services, volunteer recruitment, training and office supplies / equipment. 

Project grants are:

  • one time, temporary projects with a specific objective
  • are completed in a set timeframe with a clear beginning and end
  • do not take longer than a year
  • they must differ from your core services or programs 

Examples of projects grants are events or activities.

Application requirements

Before beginning the cash grant application form, below is a list of the main sections of the form for your organization to prepare.

Documentation and information required in the Community Cash Grant application
  1. Know what type of grant you are applying for and how much funds you are asking for.
  2. If your organization is developing or in transition:
    • Developing: formed within the past 3 years and have been operating for at least 1 year prior to the deadline of the application
    • Organizations in transition: established organizations or organizations undergoing a substantial change in direction over the next 1-3 years in order to enhance organizational resiliency
  3. If your organization is developing, describe how it meets this definition in up to 750 characters.
  4. Information describing services you provide to the community through your activities, projects and events, including demographics and the future goals of your organization using up to 2400 characters.
  5. The year your organization was established, if it is directed by an elected volunteer board of directors or executive committee, and the list of those members.
  6. How your organization accommodates / subsidizes low income residents using up to 750 characters.
  7. How you accommodate those with disabilities using up to 750 characters.
  8. How you keep community members safe using up to 750 characters.
  9. If you have paid staff, whether they are full or part time and if you have any volunteer staff, and how many of each.
  10. How many members you serve (whether directly or as audience members) and in what area(s) of Waterloo you provide service.
  11. How your organization benefits the community of Waterloo through engaging citizens, reaching diverse populations, improving quality of life, economic impact, building community and offering unique programming using up to 2400 characters.
  12. How you will evaluate your programs success using up to 750 characters.
  13. Organization's income statement and balance sheet for the most recent year-end financial statements.
  14. A list of all other funding requests or sponsors you have applied to and if your request has been approved or not. 
  15. A list of any partner organizations you collaborate with, the purpose of collaboration and when the relationship began.
  16. If planning to use funds for COVID-19 purposes, you will be asked how it will be used, using up to 750 characters. 
  17. Based on the funding request you choose, you will be required to:
Operating grant Project grant

Describe how the grant will assist your organization to attain your goals and objectives using up to 3000 characters.                              

Proposed project and description including a brief timeline/work plan using up to 4800 characters. Projects must be different from/or in addition to current core services or programs. Must include a project name.
You will need to provide an operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year, an income statement and a balance sheet for the most recent fiscal year.

You will need to provide an operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year, an income statement and a balance sheet for the most recent fiscal year.
 

You will need to provide a revenue and expenses budget breakdown directly associated with the project.
  If your project is intended to be ongoing, explain how you will support continuation using up to 750 characters.

 

Apply online

You will be able to apply online starting in Fall 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.

Any questions regarding the application process can be directed to Lynn at lynn.dicksegley@waterloo.ca

Approval process

The volunteer grants committee will only consider an application that is complete, fits a funding category, includes all required information and meets the deadline. 

Applicants to the 2023 grant cycle will be notified about the outcome of their application in February 2023.

Other grants

Visit our neighbourhoods page for information on other types of grants.