Up to $900,000 OTF Sector Grant

The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario, has opened a new Sector grant stream for non-profits whose job is supporting Ontario's non-profit sector as a whole. It funds projects that build shared tools, data systems, frameworks or funding-readiness resources many organisations can pick up and use on their own, not programmes delivered to a community. Applying takes two steps, and only organisations that pass Step 1 are invited to Step 2.

What you get:

• $50,000 to $300,000 a year, for 1, 2 or 3 years (between $50,000 and $900,000 in total)
• Funding for project staff salaries and benefits, purchased services, workshops and meetings, supplies, non-fixed equipment and travel
• Up to 15% of the budget for overhead and administration tied to the project
• Free support before you apply: live webinars on the Sector grant and a 20-minute coaching call with an OTF Program Manager

What you'll do:

• Pick one of three objectives: build or adapt shared tools and approaches for the sector, improve how sector data is collected, shared and used, or strengthen the sector's access to diverse and non-traditional funding
• Create outputs other organisations can adopt independently, such as shared platforms, sector-wide frameworks or standards, training systems, or data and evaluation infrastructure
• Engage stakeholders and measure project success, the two deliverables OTF requires of every Sector grant
• Submit Step 1 (organisation information and a high-level project overview) by 14 October, then, if invited, a full project plan and budget in Step 2

Key dates:

• Step 1 (Organization Information and High-level Project Information): 23 September to 14 October 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET
• Step 2 (Detailed Project Information), by invitation only: 10 November to 2 December 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET
• OTF says applicants are generally notified of final decisions about 4 to 5 months after the deadline date

More information:

• Full eligibility, assessment criteria and the Step 1 and Step 2 question overview are on OTF's Sector Grant page
• OTF publishes a preview of the Sector grant application questions and a financial statement requirements page
• Applications are submitted through OTF's Granting Portal, which needs an OTF account and a pre-screening questionnaire

• A charity registered with the Canada Revenue Agency for at least 2 years, or a not-for-profit incorporated without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction for at least 2 years
• Based in Ontario
• A demonstrated mandate, presence and established reputation for supporting Ontario's non-profit sector, judged partly from your website and social media
• Gross annual revenue of $500,000 or more in each of the last two fiscal years, with audited financial statements from a licensed public accountant
• At least three active board members, with more than 50% at arm's length from each other, plus your most recent by-laws
• Not eligible: individuals, for-profits, organisations whose primary purpose is delivering local programmes and services, private or corporate foundations, government agencies, universities, colleges, schools and hospitals
• Projects must create broad, sector-wide benefit; projects serving one organisation, community, region or population are not eligible
• Collaboratives of two or more organisations can apply if the lead organisation meets OTF's eligibility criteria