Non-Profit Funding Sources for Ontario Businesses: 10 Sources You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Did you know that besides government and private sector funding, there are also many non-profit organizations that can help your business grow?
In this comprehensive guide, we cover ten types of non-profit organizations that provide financial and in-kind support to Ontario businesses, along with lists of specific organizations that you can reach out to for help:
At the end of this article is an infographic of 10 Non-Profit Funding Sources for Ontario Businesses.
Associations
Associations are typically trade groups based on a specific industry or area of an industry. Their membership consists of established companies that represent an industry or sector, such as manufacturing, construction, health services, food service, and many others.
The overall objective of associations is to promote the interests of the industry they represent. This can include:
- Serving as a go-between with various levels of government
- Holding educational events such as seminars and workshops to advance knowledge of best practices and new techniques in the industry
- Sponsoring (through wage subsidies) apprenticeship programs to encourage young people to enter the industry
Examples of Associations that Support Business in Ontario
Business Development Corporations
Business development corporations are non-profits that are funded by government and focus on economic development in rural areas and Indigenous communities.
The largest group of business development corporations in Ontario is the Community Futures Program, which has 61 offices across the province and assists rural Ontario businesses through:
- Support for community-based projects
- Business information and planning services
- Access to capital for small- and medium-sized businesses and social enterprises
Examples of Business Development Corporations in Ontario
Centres of Excellence
Centres of excellence in Ontario are typically non-profits funded by a group of private sector companies, sometimes with additional backing by government.
The goal of these centres is to advance an industry through technological innovation and the commercialization of new technologies.
Centres of excellence support business in Ontario through:
- Financing
- Technical expertise
- Talent development
- Events
Examples of Centres of Excellence that Support Business in Ontario
Private Foundations
Private foundations are often funded by one or more corporations and are focused on advancing a particular industry through technological innovation, skills training, and a variety of other interventions.
Private foundations support business in Ontario through:
- Funding (grants, loans, and equity investments)
- Education and skills training
- Partnership development
Examples of Private Foundations that Support Business in Ontario
Networks
The main objective of business-focused networks in Ontario is to foster collaboration amoung businesses in a specific industry. In addition to connecting people and businesses, some networks also provide funding for start-ups.
Networks support business in Ontario through:
- Funding (grants and loans)
- Education and skills training
- Events (seminars, workshops, etc.)
EXAMPLES OF NETWORKS THAT SUPPORT BUSINESS IN ONTARIO
Niche Non-Profits
Niche non-profits typically focus on an issue (e.g. mental health or addiction), societal challenge (e.g. climate change), audience (e.g. youth, Indigenous peoples), or geographic region in their support of businesses.
Niche non-profits provide a wide range of services for Ontario businesses:
- Partnership development
- Funding (grants and loans)
- Research collaboration
Examples of Niche Non-Profits that Support Business in Ontario
Private Sector Funds
A private sector fund is typically a contest or prize sponsored by a large corporation. They’re win-win, because in addition to providing funds for new businesses, they generate good PR for the sponsoring company.
Examples of Private Sector Funds that Support Business in Ontario
Sector Councils
Sector councils are non-profit groups of employees, employers, educators, and governments that are focused on specific industry sectors. The board of directors for a sector council is often made up of volunteers who are leading executives in industry.
The objective of a sector council is to improve the workforce of a specific industry sector. As such, sector councils concentrate on these activities:
- Industry trend research
- Creating occupational standards
- Creating career development resources and training programs
Complete List of Sector Councils that Support Business in Ontario
Agribusiness, Natural Resources and Environment Sector Councils
Arts, Culture, Communications, Tourism and Recreation Sector Councils
Business, Administration and Sales Sector Councils
Technology Sector Councils
Transportation Sector Councils
Manufacturing and Trades Sector Councils
|
Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (as well as CareersInTrades.ca) |
Construction and Service Sector Councils
Superclusters
Superclusters are non-profits funded by the federal government and bring together for-profit businesses, non-profit groups, and educational institutions to help start-ups with groundbreaking ideas in cutting-edge industry sectors.
Superclusters are meant to significantly boost new job creation for Ontario while increasing Canada’s overall GDP by promoting innovation and growth in every sector of business and all sizes and types of businesses.
LINKS TO MORE INFO ON THE FIVE SUPERCLUSTERS
Universities
Many universities in Ontario have programs supporting start-ups (particularly focused on tech sectors), including incubator and accelerator programs.
Ontario University Programs that Support Businesses:
| City | University | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Barrie | Georgian College | Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre |
| Hamilton | McMaster University | The Forge |
| Kingston | Queen’s University | Queen’s Innovation Connector (QIC) Summer Initiative Program |
| London | Fanshawe College | Leap Junction |
| // | Western University | Propel |
| North Bay | Canadore College | E-Hub |
| Ottawa | Carleton University | Lead to Win |
| St. Catherines | Brock University | BioLinc |
| Toronto | Ryerson University | Zone Learning |
| // | Seneca College | HELIX |
| // | Centennial College | ACCEL at the Centre of Entrepreneurship |
| // | George Brown College | StartGBC |
| // | OCAD University | The Imagination Catalyst |
| // | University of Toronto | Banting & Best Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
| Waterloo | University of Waterloo | Velocity |
| // | // | Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre |
| // | // | St. Paul’s GreenHouse |
| // | // | Accelerator Centre |
| // | Wilfrid Laurier University | LaunchPad |
| Windsor | University of Windsor | EPICentre |
Conclusion
Business owners in Ontario today have a wealth of non-profit funding sources to tap into for support. Given how competitive markets can be, these sources of grants, loans, equity investments, and in-kind support can make the difference between surviving and thriving!
Infographic of All 10 Non-Profit Funding Sources