The Musagetes Fund

Art is an integral part of our community. It provides an avenue to express emotions, communicate ideas and stories, and it has been a way to pass down knowledge from one generation to another. The presence of arts is linked to increased neighbourhood livability, community identity, and social wellbeing.

The Musagetes Fund provides grants to arts organizations located in Waterloo Region that support making the arts more central and meaningful in people’s lives by building community and culture. Since 2002, over $6.7 million has been distributed to support arts initiatives in the region. Approximately $124,000 will be distributed through the fund in 2024.

 
Artist painting a wall with a brush

How can our organization apply?

The Musagetes Fund accepted applications between February 26, 2024 and March 25, 2024 at 9:00 am (EST). Applications are now closed.

 

Guidelines to help you apply

  • The maximum amount to apply for is $20,000

  • Funding must be used for expenses incurred between April 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025

  • Organizations receiving funding must be located in and servicing Waterloo Region

  • Applications will be considered from:

    • Registered charitable organizations

    • Qualified donees recognized by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

    • Not-for-profit organizations through a partnership with a fiscal partner

      • This partnership allows WRCF to provide the fiscal partner with the funding on your behalf. If you plan to partner this way, they would be your organization’s “fiscal partner” for this funding. If you want more information about how this works, you can find information about qualified donees, fiscal partners, and/or download the fiscal partner form at: wrcf.ca/fiscal-partnership

  • To determine if your organization is eligible, and to understand how the funding can be used, access the Funding Guidelines (pdf). If you want to download a copy of the application so you can see all the questions before you apply, you can access it here: Application (pdf). If you want to see the evaluation form you would complete if you received a grant you can access it here: Evaluation (pdf).

Note: The Musagetes Fund is a Donor Advised Fund held at Waterloo Region Community Foundation, and may choose to fund initiatives outside of the eligibility criteria outlined in the Funding Guidelines. If your initiative doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria, but you believe it should be considered for funding, please reach out to us at grants@wrcf.ca.

The Guelph Community Foundation is also accepting applications for The Musagetes Fund. If you know of an organization in Guelph-Wellington that might be interested in applying, please direct them to The Guelph Community Foundation: grantsassistant@guelphcf.ca.

 
 

UN Sustainable Development Goals

WRCF gathers data to connect local impact to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Applications to The Musagetes Fund will ask charities to indicate which one(s) your funding requests align with. (Note: Responses to this question will not be a factor in the review and potential funding of an application.)

Visit the United Nations website to learn more about the 17 UN SDGs by clicking the button below.