Our Grant Program

To ensure you do not miss a funding opportunity, we encourage organizations to subscribe to our newsletter.

Our grant program provides grants in the following fields of interest:

Animal Welfare
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Children & Youth
Community Development
Education & Literacy
Environment
Health and Wellness
Recreation
Social Services

All qualified applications are considered according to their merit and in light of the funds available for distribution. When granting funds are limited, priority is given to organizations and/or projects that did not receive funding in the prior year.

The grant review committee is composed of board members and community volunteers, who review the applications and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors, which exercises final authority. The grant review committee may solicit the advice of other knowledgeable individuals or organizations.

Grant applications will be assessed without discrimination regarding gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, creed or disability. By the same token, the committee will accept applications only from organizations and for projects, which are free from detrimental discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, creed or disability.

Click on the tabs below for more information:

GRANTING CRITERIA

When considering applications for funding, our grant review committee considers projects that:

Address challenges and opportunities outlined in our Northumberland's Vital Signs report
Promote networking and sharing
Impact people in a significant way or means
Build effective community partnerships
Improve organizational effectiveness
Plan for continuation of the project beyond initial funding
Realize a significant and sustainable result with a moderate amount of funding
Are new and innovative, or are expanding an existing or previously funded project

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Community Impact Grants - Our primary grant program for projects that seed, nurture and support community initiatives that primarily benefit the residents of Campbellford/Seymour.

Job Opportunity for Youth Grants - This initiative provides charitable and not‐for‐profit organizations with grant funding to provide summer employment for youth with community service organizations that support the Campbellford/Seymour community.

NEW! Northumberland County Fund - Job Opportunity for Youth Grants - Registered Charities and registered not-for-profit organizations outside of Trent Hills are also invited to apply for a Job Opportunity for Youth grant to provide summer employment for a youth within their organization.

NEW! 25th Anniversary Mini Grants - A less strenuous application for smaller grant projects in Campbellford/Seymour with funding coming from our "Field of Interest" endowment funds:

Environmental Mini Grant - funded from our Environmental Fund
Arts & Culture Mini Grant - funded from our Northumberland Arts & Crafts, Jan & Evert Scheidt Fund
Social Service Mini Grant - funded from the Glover Family Fund
Children & Youth in Recreation Grants - funded from the Ontario Endowment for Children & Youth in Recreation Fund.

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

New applicants or organizations that have not applied for funding in the past five years must complete a Grant Applicant Vetting Form as a first step in the application process.

In order to be eligible to apply for a grant, an organization must:

Be registered as a charity or be a qualified donee with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA); or
Be a not-for-profit organization registered under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act; or
Be a cooperative registered with Corporations Canada under the Canada Cooperatives Act; or
Be a community service group or association that has been in existence for more than one year and can demonstrate a capacity to manage and execute projects and/or programs that have a charitable purpose.

Organizations must also:

Make services available without discrimination.
Agree to abide by the Community Foundation's Recognition Policy
Be in good standing with regards to the Grant Terms and Condition for previous grants
Demonstrate a capacity for accountability - The applicant organization must have a board of directors, or a well-defined accountable committee

INFORMATION FOR A NON-CHARITY OR NON-QUALIFIED DONEE

NEW - Starting with the 2026 grant cycle!

A non-charity (Non-qualified donee), such as a registered not-for-profit organization, a cooperative, or a well-established community group or association may now apply directly to the community foundation for funding.

Grant funding can only be used for charitable activities that further the community foundation's charitable purposes, which are based on t he Government of Canada's categories of charitable purposes (except for the advancement of religion, which community foundations cannot fund).

Non-charities must complete our Grant Applicant Vetting Form as the first step in the application process.

To find out more about current CRA guidelines, please read Guidance CG-03 2.

WHAT WE DO NOT FUND

Applications will not be considered:

To support core operating costs (including wages, salaries, remuneration, stipends or like payments, except for the Job Opportunity for Youth Grant program).
To support operating costs or core services which are directly or indirectly publicly funded, such as municipalities, hospitals, and school boards.
To support existing and core programs and services (expanding a successful program or service may be considered).
To cover deficits or to retire debts.
To support capital building campaigns, predictable repairs or replacements to buildings or predictable repairs or replacement of equipment. (Requests for appliances may be considered but are not a funding priority).
For fundraising activities or campaigns.
To fund activities that serve primarily the membership, or purposes of religious or political organizations.
From individuals, or for individuals (including subsidies, sabbatical leaves, conferences, or student exchanges).
For sponsorships, such as supporting an event, activity, person or organization financially.
To increase endowment funds or annual drives for sustaining support.
For similar projects or programs more than 3 times for a single organization.
To fund tours or travel outside of Northumberland County.
For advocacy initiatives (activities by an individual or group that aims to influence decisions within political, economic and social institutions).
For expenses incurred prior to the community foundation awarding the grant.
For organizations that have not completed the terms of any previous grant(s) or have not submitted reports due for those previous grants.

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

Organizations cannot apply for a grant unless they are in good standing with their previous years grants. Project evaluation reports should be complete and submitted in a timely manner.
Organizations must complete a separate application for each project. Do not "bundle" multiple projects on one application form. Only one application per grant program, per organization, is allowed in any one year. If more applications for funding are received that funds available to disburse, applicants who submitted more than one application may be asked to prioritize.
Organizations cannot typically apply for a second cycle of funding for a program that was funded in a previous year, but a promising project or program may receive more than one grant provided there is evidence the program is developing successfully, or to enhance or extend the project or program. A pilot program that was deemed successful should have a sustainability plan developed to continue that program without annual grant funding.