Grants 101: Finding your Grants 101: Finding your way through the MCI, way through the MCI, MCL and MHP maze!MCL and MHP maze!

A presentation to Community Benefiting Organizations in A presentation to Community Benefiting Organizations in Dufferin County hosted by the DNFPCDufferin County hosted by the DNFPC

June 23, 2010June 23, 2010

Presented by: Barbara Elias, Regional AdvisorPresented by: Barbara Elias, Regional Advisor

It’s all about perspectiveIt’s all about perspective

►Funders see grants as community Funders see grants as community benefiting investments: benefiting investments: Community impactCommunity impact Effect use of limited resourcesEffect use of limited resources Addresses ministry prioritiesAddresses ministry priorities

►Applicants see grants as a means to Applicants see grants as a means to further their vision/missionfurther their vision/mission

►Ultimately, you both want the same Ultimately, you both want the same thingthing

TrendsTrends

►Away from operational and toward projectAway from operational and toward project►Focus on collaborations, partnerships and Focus on collaborations, partnerships and

service integrationservice integration►Capacity and sustainability are key criteriaCapacity and sustainability are key criteria►Community engagement is seen as an Community engagement is seen as an

important first stepimportant first step►Social enterprise/social innovation are the Social enterprise/social innovation are the

future.future.

Tips and tricks…Tips and tricks…

►Know your own vision, mission and Know your own vision, mission and long-term plan - first and foremost;long-term plan - first and foremost;

►Then aim to understand what funds Then aim to understand what funds want to fund – look for an alignment:want to fund – look for an alignment: Do your homework – read the grant Do your homework – read the grant

guidelines thoroughly.guidelines thoroughly. Talk to the grant advisor before you apply Talk to the grant advisor before you apply

(in some cases, this is mandatory).(in some cases, this is mandatory).

Start at the endStart at the end

► Start by gathering all the mandatory Start by gathering all the mandatory requirements or documents that must be requirements or documents that must be included in an eligible grant application, included in an eligible grant application, including:including: Proof of eligibilityProof of eligibility Insurance certificateInsurance certificate Financial statementsFinancial statements Evidence of approval to applyEvidence of approval to apply Letters from your partnersLetters from your partners Etc…Etc…

► The begin to craft a project description that The begin to craft a project description that answers the following questions:answers the following questions: Who are you? (brief background)Who are you? (brief background) What are you planning to do? (specifically)What are you planning to do? (specifically) Why are you planning to do this? (rationale and Why are you planning to do this? (rationale and

research, local and bigger picture)research, local and bigger picture) Who will be involved (partners)Who will be involved (partners) Who will benefit (target audience)?Who will benefit (target audience)? When will the project take place (start, end When will the project take place (start, end

date)date) How much will the project cost and how much How much will the project cost and how much

are you asking for from the grant?are you asking for from the grant? What will be achieved? (outputs and outcomes)What will be achieved? (outputs and outcomes)

►Use clear writing and plain languageUse clear writing and plain language►Follow directions and ask for clarificationFollow directions and ask for clarification

There is a difference between a “letter of There is a difference between a “letter of support” and a letter of commitment”support” and a letter of commitment”

►Ask for feedback before, during and Ask for feedback before, during and afterafter

►Don’t wait until the last minuteDon’t wait until the last minute► If you are not an experienced grant If you are not an experienced grant

writer, consider hiring a professional to writer, consider hiring a professional to “coach” you.“coach” you.

Grants available through the Grants available through the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Tourism and

Culture…Culture…►Creative Communities Prosperity Fund Creative Communities Prosperity Fund

(CCFP)(CCFP)►Cultural Strategic Investment Fund (CSIF)Cultural Strategic Investment Fund (CSIF)►Museum and Technology Fund (MTF)Museum and Technology Fund (MTF)►Celebrate OntarioCelebrate Ontario►Summer Experience Program (SEP)Summer Experience Program (SEP)►http://www.culture.gov.on.ca/english/http://www.culture.gov.on.ca/english/

index.htmlindex.html

Grant available through the Grant available through the Ministry of Citizenship and Ministry of Citizenship and

ImmigrationImmigration►Ontario Community BuildersOntario Community Builders►Summer Experience ProgramSummer Experience Program►http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/

english/english/

Grants available through the Grants available through the Ministry of Health PromotionMinistry of Health Promotion

►Healthy Communities FundHealthy Communities Fund►Summer Experience ProgramSummer Experience Program►http://www.mhp.gov.on.ca/en/http://www.mhp.gov.on.ca/en/

Talk to me if you are interested Talk to me if you are interested in…in…

► Health prevention programs focused on mental Health prevention programs focused on mental health, substance abuse/alcohol misuse, tobacco health, substance abuse/alcohol misuse, tobacco use, healthy eating, physical activity, sport and use, healthy eating, physical activity, sport and recreation, injury prevention;recreation, injury prevention;

► Seniors, children & youth, low income Seniors, children & youth, low income populations, persons with disabilities, new populations, persons with disabilities, new CanadiansCanadians

► Arts, culture and heritage;Arts, culture and heritage;► Settlement and inclusiveness;Settlement and inclusiveness;► Volunteerism and NFP organizational Volunteerism and NFP organizational

developmentdevelopment

Also check out…Also check out…

►Heritage Canada Heritage Canada http://www.heritagecanada.org/eng/links/fund.html

►Young Canada Works Young Canada Works http://www.pch.gc.ca/special/jct-ycw/index-eng.cfmhttp://www.pch.gc.ca/special/jct-ycw/index-eng.cfm

►Community and Business Community and Business Financing – A Guide to Funding Financing – A Guide to Funding Programs for Rural Ontario Programs for Rural Ontario http://www.reddi.gov.on.ca/financingresources.htmhttp://www.reddi.gov.on.ca/financingresources.htm

►Citizenship and Immigration Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada: www.settlement.org www.settlement.org

►Ontario Arts CouncilOntario Arts Council http://www.arts.on.ca/page11.aspxhttp://www.arts.on.ca/page11.aspx

►Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund http://www.ocaf.on.ca/en/index.aspxhttp://www.ocaf.on.ca/en/index.aspx

►Human Resources and Skills Human Resources and Skills

Development CanadaDevelopment Canada http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/community_partnerships/seniors/ihttp://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/community_partnerships/seniors/index.shtmlndex.shtml

Ministry ContactsMinistry Contacts

►Regional AdvisorRegional Advisor for culture, for culture, immigration (settlement) & citizenship, immigration (settlement) & citizenship, and health promotion:and health promotion: Barbara Elias, (519) 881-1264 or Barbara Elias, (519) 881-1264 or

barbara.elias@ontario.ca [City of Guelph, barbara.elias@ontario.ca [City of Guelph, Wellington County, Dufferin County]Wellington County, Dufferin County]

►Tourism Industry AdvisorTourism Industry Advisor:: Paul Paul Samson, (519) 571-6116 or Samson, (519) 571-6116 or paul.samson@ontario.capaul.samson@ontario.ca