Grant Recognition Policy

Type: Granting

Target audience: Applicants, Grantees

1.0 Rationale

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) requires its grantees to publicly recognize both OTF and its funder, the Government of Ontario for any funds received. This grant recognition also provides an opportunity for grantees to promote and celebrate the work they do in communities.

2.0 Purpose

This policy outlines how grantees are to publicly recognize their OTF funding.

3.0 Policy

All OTF grantees are required to publicly recognize OTF and its funder, the Government of Ontario in a variety of ways.

3.1 Recognition Activities

All OTF grantees are required to publicly acknowledge their funding through recognition activities. As such, OTF grantees are to:  

  • Follow OTF’s Grant Recognition Requirements. 
  • Host a recognition event for each grant. This includes:
    • Contacting their assigned OTF Communications contact prior to event planning to ensure appropriate protocols are followed.
    • Inviting their local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), regardless of party affiliation, to participate.
    • Completing required event documents.
  • Use the OTF logo and name according to OTF Brand Guidelines. Any use of OTF logo requires approval from OTF prior to publishing or posting.
  • Report on all public recognition activities and media coverage in their Progress and/or Final Reports.
  • Remove any acknowledgements of OTF funding on website and external communication activities within three months of the grant closing.

3.2 Additional Requirements

In addition to the requirements above, some grant streams may require additional recognition activities. In those instances, OTF will advise grantees of the additional requirements.

3.3 Communications Embargo Period

OTF requires that new grants observe a Communications Embargo Period. During this period grantees must not make any public/media announcements about their new grant unless initiated by the Minister or their MPP. The embargo period starts once the grantee has been informed of their grant and ends when notified by OTF.

4.0 Definitions

Event documents: Includes an event planning form, event agenda, media advisory and media release. Templates and instructions for creating these documents are provided on the How to Plan a Recognition Event page.

Media release: A written communication sent to members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something newsworthy.