About Grants
As a charity, that is a public foundation and a funding organization, Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) helps community organizations make a difference by providing them with funds for new programs, capital needs, student financial assistance and much more, through WRCF funds and grant streams.
When you make a donation or gift to WRCF, we invest that gift into a permanent endowment fund. Your original gift is not spent. It generates income that is then distributed through grants to support a wide range of charitable causes within our community. It is through these grants that we help Fundholders and donors contribute to organizations and issues they care about. To learn more about the different types of funds available through WRCF click here.
Types of Grants
Grants are distributed in two ways:
Fundholders select the charitable organizations they want to support through their fund.
WRCF manages a variety of grant streams on an annual basis, that organizations can apply to for funding based on specific funding priorities.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our grants, contact us at grants@wrcf.ca
WRCF Annual Grant Streams
Here is a brief summary of the grant streams that are currently available on an annual basis through WRCF. We’ve listed them according to the month that they typically open during the year. Any grant streams that are open right now will be available in the Grants drop down menu, so you can easily access more detailed information to be able to potentially apply for funding.
The Waterloo Region Record - Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Kids to Camp Fund
The Kids to Camp Fund provides grants to camps enabling children and youth who reside in Kitchener, Waterloo, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich and area who are in need of financial assistance to attend a variety of day, overnight, recreational and educational camps. Applications typically open in January.
Community Grants
The Community Grants program supports initiatives intended to create caring communities where everyone thrives in Waterloo Region. Applications typically open in February.
The Musagetes Fund
The Musagetes Fund provides grants to registered charitable organizations that support making the arts more central and meaningful in people’s lives by building community and culture. Applications typically open in March.
Waterloo Region International Plowing Match 1995 and 2012 Fund
The IPM Fund provides grants to organizations whose services benefit the citizens of Waterloo Region and that focus on agriculture, health and/or education. Applications typically open in March.
The Woolwich Community Fund
The Woolwich Community Fund was established to meet a wide range of changing needs that exist across Woolwich Township now, and in perpetuity. Grants specifically focus on enhancing the quality of life for children and youth who reside in Woolwich. Applications typically open in March.
Racial Equity Fund
Racialized communities are being disproportionately affected by inequities. The Racial Equity Fund supports organizations that are led-by and serve people across Waterloo Region who are Indigenous, Black and people of colour. Applications typically open in July.
Arts Grants Fund
The Arts Grants Fund assists small to medium sized arts organizations and collectives in Waterloo Region due to the ongoing challenges that local arts organizations face and overall needs of the sector. Applications typically open in August.
Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund
The Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund provides grants to organizations that encourage broad participation in healthy and safe community recreation activities for children and youth in Waterloo Region. Applications typically open in August.
Granting Resources
We know that applying for a grant is not always easy. We want to make sure you have all the information you need. If you have questions about navigating the application process, we’ve created videos to help. These videos are hosted on WRCF’s YouTube channel, and available 24/7.
Recognition guidelines
If your organization receives funding from WRCF, we appreciate public recognition wherever possible. We understand that the type of recognition you are able to provide will depend on the nature of how you handle recognition at your organization, and we would not expect you to do anything that doesn’t align with your organization’s values.