Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) – Resilient Communities Fund

ByMaurice

Description:

The Resilient Communities Fund provides funding to help non-profit organizations recover and rebuild from the impacts of COVID-19 and effectively meet the needs of their community.

Comments on Funding:

Funding ranges from $5,000 to $150,000 per year. The project term is up to 1 year.

Eligibility:

Applicants must:

  • be a community-based or provincial non-profit delivering services and programs in Ontario that is looking ahead to recovery planning with the aim of rebuilding their capacity.
    The following applicants are eligible for funding:
  • a charitable organization or public foundation registered as a charity by the Canada Revenue Agency;
  • an organization incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction;
  • a First Nation / Metis / Inuit or other Indigenous community;
  • a municipality with a population of 20,000 or less, or their cultural and recreational agencies, including public libraries and museums.
  • have a demonstrable capacity to manage and complete the project an OTF grant would support;
  • a demonstrable ability to generate additional resources from the community and other sources; and
  • the ability to demonstrate that it is an appropriate organization to carry out the proposed project.

Additionally, organizations need to: 

  • have a presence and reputation in Ontario with a primary purpose of delivering community programs and services to benefit people in Ontario;
  • adhere to OTF’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, Eligibility Policy, and Financial Need and Health Applicants Policy;
  • provide appropriate financial statements based on the organization’s total revenues and fiscal year end date, according to the financial statement requirements;
  • submit a surplus/deficit explanation, if applicable;
  • meet OTF’s Board of Directors requirements:
  • Organization has a minimum of three board members with active terms;
  • At least 50% of the board must maintain an arm’s length relationship to each other. An ‘arm’s length’ relationship means board members and organization executives are not married or related to each other, do not work as business partners or are otherwise in a relationship where interests may be compromised.
  • be reviewed for all past applications, either approved or declined, and OTF has no concerns with the organization’s OTF granting history.

Applications Steps:

Applicants must submit their applications during the intake period.

Successful applicants:

Documentation Needed:

Applicants must submit:

  1. internally prepared financial statements for the two most recent fiscal years for organizations with an annual revenue of $99,999 or less;
  2. financial statements for the most recent fiscal year end, which must include comparative information for the prior fiscal year for organizations with an annual revenue between $100,000 and $249,999. These statements must be prepared by a licensed public accountant and need to include a Notice to Reader on the financial statements and accompanying notes.
  3. financial statements for the most recent fiscal year end, which must include comparative information for the prior fiscal year organizations with an annual revenue between $250,000 and $499,999. These statements must be prepared by a licensed public accountant external to your organization and need to include a Review Engagement Report on the financial statements and accompanying notes. 

Please note:

  1. The organization’s most recent completed financial statements, must have been completed within one year of the fiscal year end. For example, if the organization’s year end is March 31, please provide statements for the year end March 31, 2019 or March 31, 2020, whichever is most recent.
  2. Consolidated statements are required for organizations who have or belong to subsidiary companies.
  3. Audited statements are preferred for all revenue levels.
  4. Organizations less than two years old are required to provide a complete set of financial statements for at least one completed fiscal year.
  5. Financial statements must be Board approved (draft statements are not accepted).

At the end of each year grantees complete a Progress Report. Grantees also submit a final report when the project is completed. This covers the achievement of the project, metric, and learnings.

Completion: After OTF staff approve a final report, the grant hold-back funds are released and the grant is closed.

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    About the author

    Maurice

    Maurice (Moe) Muise learned the ins-and-outs of government while an employee of the Government of Canada in Ottawa for 10 years. His current focus is helping small businesses in Ontario to identify and maximize government grants to grow their business. Click here to learn more about Moe’s background and how he can help your business.

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