Capital Grant

OTF invests in projects that help build healthy and vibrant communities. OTF’s funding priorities focus on areas that identify the types of change OTF invests in. Select the funding priority that best meets the goal of your project:   

• Foster physically active lifestyles
• Help people build stronger connections and a deeper sense of belonging in their community
• Enrich lives through arts, culture and heritage
• Support youth to develop stronger social, emotional and leadership skills
• Support participation in the conservation and restoration of the environment
• Enable economically vulnerable people to meet their basic needs and/or strengthen their financial stability

Explore these priorities as part of OTF’s Grant Investment Framework.

As you plan your application and gather your documentation, choose the main objective for your project:

• Maintain or increase access to a program or service
• Extend the life of a facility or space
• Improve a facility or space to make it more accessible

You can deliver your capital project and improve the infrastructure in your community through a maximum of three project activities:

• Purchase equipment  
• Repair, renovate and/or retrofit a facility structure or space
• Enhance or improve an outdoor structure or space 

Applicants that are installing fixed equipment, adding outdoor installations, or renovating, repairing, or retrofitting facilities or spaces are required to provide 1 of the following documents:  

• Proof of ownership, such as a current year tax bill with roll number, current year Property Assessment Notice with roll number, land transfer document, title or deed; or
• A lease agreement with at least 5 years remaining at the time of the grant application deadline date.

Learn more about Lease Agreement Requirements.

You can apply for funding to cover project costs across 3 budget categories. Prepare and complete a budget that meets application requirements.

Eligible amounts

Your project budget needs to be a minimum of $10,000 and cannot exceed $200,000.

Budget categories

For each category, you can have up to five budget items. Include a short description for each item and a detailed cost breakdown.

• Construction and renovation costs: This includes materials and/or contractor costs.
• Equipment costs: This includes fixed and non-fixed equipment.
• Developmental costs: Up to 20% of the total project budget can be for developmental costs associated with construction, such as the development of engineering plans, legal fees, or survey costs.

Ineligible costs

Certain activities and items are not eligible for funding. These include:    

• Taxes, such as GST and HST, for which the recipient is eligible for a tax rebate, and all other costs eligible for rebates.  
• Contingency costs: Funds that are reserved or set aside for an emergency.
• Costs incurred before the approval of the OTF grant.   
• General capital fundraising drives and/or capital campaigns.
  • Where OTF funding represents a component of a larger project, applicants must demonstrate either that the OTF funded components can be completed independently or that other funding sources have been secured, before OTF releases any funds to the grantee. If the funds to complete the project are not secured in full within one year of the signing of the Grant Contract, the grant will be rescinded.
• Program staff and program costs.
• Virtual spaces. This can include websites, apps, large scale custom software, programming.

Read the full list of what is not eligible for funding.

Where feasible, OTF encourages the purchase of Ontario or Canadian goods and services and recognizes the role local procurement plays in strengthening communities.

Quotes and estimates

For each goods and services valued above $5,000, a minimum of one quote or estimate is required. However, OTF prefers to receive two or more quotes or estimates from different suppliers to help your organization establish accurate budget amounts and demonstrate the best value for money.

Multiple sub-contracts with a supplier on the same project

Multiple sub-contracts with a supplier on the same project will be considered as a cumulative total.

This means if the total of these goods and/or services exceeds $5,000, a minimum of one itemized quote or estimate needs to be uploaded. An itemized quote or estimate breaks down the cost of each good and service into line items.

Acceptable documentation

• A PDF quote or estimate prepared by a third-party vendor or supplier.
  • For municipalities, documentation can be prepared by a specialized department within the municipality.
• A screenshot of an online shopping cart from a third-party vendor or supplier site.

All documents need to be:

• Dated and obtained within 6 months prior to the application deadline.
• Completed with information about the vendor or supplier.

Assessment criteria: Eligibility of applicants

All applicants need to: 

• Fit with who we fund.
• Demonstrate a primary purpose, presence, and reputation for delivering programs and services with direct community benefit in Ontario.
• Comply with requirements around certain political activities.
• Have the right type of complete financial statements based on its total revenues and fiscal year-end date. If needed, the application also includes required documentation for accumulated surplus and deficit.
• Have a minimum of 3 active board members as of the application deadline.
• Provide a clear organizational structure and have proper oversight for effective management of conflict of interest and accountability.
• Demonstrate strong financial capacity and the ability to manage the grant (if applicable, based on past OTF grants).

Note:

• Applicants that do not meet eligibility criteria will not have their applications proceed to a full review.
• OTF reserves the right to ask successful applicants for updated organization information at any time throughout the life of the grant.

Assessment criteria: Eligibility of projects

OTF reviews the eligibility of projects based on the following areas:

• The project complies with eligibility requirements outlined in OTF policies and on the Capital grant page.
• The project fits with the funding priority selected.
• The project fits with the purpose of Capital grants and the selected project objective.
• The necessary documentation meets requirements.
• The applicant has the capacity to deliver the project as outlined.

Assessment criteria: Clarity and strength of projects

Projects are evaluated and scored based on the following criteria:

Community benefit and relevance (30%)

• The application clearly explains the fit with the selected funding priority and the selected project objective.
• The project responds to a community need or opportunity.
• The anticipated local benefits are realistic and achievable.
• The project budget is appropriate to achieve the anticipated impact.

Project plan and feasibility (30%)

• The project plan is clear and provides details about how the project will be implemented including the deliverables, key tasks, and timelines for the project.
• The project plan is feasible, ready-to-go, can be completed within reasonable timelines and it demonstrates a high likelihood of success.

Project budget (30%)

• The project budget is clear and the identified costs correspond with the project plan, deliverables and key tasks.
• The costs are appropriate, reasonable and valid for the activities outlined in the project plan.
• All funds needed for the project are secured or there is a reasonable plan to secure the remaining funds.

Program participation for populations experiencing barriers (10%)

• The project will help populations experiencing barriers (e.g., socio-economic, geographic, cultural, gender, abilities and/or racial) to participate in the program.