Community Funding Program

Once you have applied, your application will be scored by a committee made up of municipal staff and community members. Scoring is based on the following criteria:

• The applicant is a registered not-for-profit organization, business improvement area (BIA), or a volunteer not-for-profit organization or group operating under a board of directors’ authority.
• The organization must have a written constitution and by-laws that establish the group’s framework.
• The organization must have an elected board of directors of not less than three democratically elected members by the membership.
• The organization must hold an annual general meeting.
• The organization must have less than two years’ equivalent operating budget in unreserved cash demonstrated through a submitted annual financial statement.
• Be in good financial standing with the Municipality of Clarington. All outstanding debts to the Municipality of Clarington must be paid in full at the time of the group’s application.

The Community Funding Program will not fund the following:

• General operating expenses that support the day-to-day operation of an organization (i.e. utilities, rent, insurance, etc.).
• Individuals
• For-profit organizations
• Political organizations
• Local boards and committees of Council, including hall boards (for the purposes of or whose mandate is to operate and/or maintain municipal property).
• Religious organizations, except where the program or service benefits the broader community, does not involve religious teachings and is not generating revenue for the organization.
• Organizations that receive funding through Clarington’s municipal budget process or are the designated beneficiaries of a fundraising event hosted by the Municipality of Clarington, in the same year of the funding request (i.e. Clarington Golf Classic, For the Love of Art Gala).
• Organizations that make donations or charitable contributions.
• Organizations that operate with a deficit for more than two years in a row.
• Programs or organizations that other levels of government have legislated responsibility for providing funding. This includes a top-up of shortfalls for government-mandated programs or services. Examples include educational programs, public health programs, housing services, provincially mandated childcare services or social assistance programs and health care services.
• Organizations whose activities may breach the Ontario Human Rights Code or Charter of Rights.

Application Process

1. The Municipality of Clarington will advertise an annual call for funding on the municipal website and other relevant media. The funding call will occur once per year, and applications are due January 31, 2025.
2. Organizations are required to read the full Community Funding Program Policy to ensure their eligibility. Organizations must submit their application to the Community Funding Program and any supporting documents through the Service Clarington online portal. For assistance with the online portal, contact communitydevelopment@clarington.net.
3. All organizations must complete the application form in full, and all the requested supporting documentation must be submitted. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Municipal staff reserve the right to contact any organization for information that requires clarification.
4. Community Funding Program applications must include signed support by a minimum of two members of the organization’s executive, one of which needs to be the President/Chair or Vice-President/Vice-Chair of the executive and any other board member.
5. Applications must be received by the Municipality on or before 11:59 p.m. on January 31, 2025. Late applications will not be considered. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the Municipality receives completed applications. Once you submit your application, you will receive an email notification within two to three business days.
6. Eligible organizations can submit only one application per year to any one of the three streams.
7. Organizations can receive a maximum of $5,000 per year. Applicants will be required to submit financial statements as part of the application process.
8. Once an organization has received a total of $20,000 in funding, they must wait three years before they can apply again.
9. After all funding decisions are finalized, applicants will receive an email to let them know if they’ve been successful.
10. The Community Funding Program does not have an appeal process for unsuccessful applications. However, groups can discuss how to improve future applications with the Community Development staff by sending an email to communitydevelopment@clarington.net.

Resources

• Tips for Grant Writing (PDF)
• Pre-Application Checklist (PDF)
• Durham Community Specific Date Sources (PDF)
• Scoring Outline (PDF)

Council has approved the Community Funding Program purpose and criteria; program funds are allocated by Council during the annual budget process.
The Community Services Department administers the Community Funding Program. Community Development staff will be responsible for coordinating the program's details and conducting a thorough review of the submitted applications for eligibility.

All eligible applications will be reviewed and scored according to established criteria by a committee of municipal staff and appointed community members (where applicable). The Director of Community Services and the Director of Finance will make recommendations on funding to the CAO for approval.

The municipal review panel is comprised of:

• Director of Community Services, or their designate
• Deputy CAO/Treasurer, or their designate
• Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism Officer, or their designate
• Community Development Staff
• Community Representative(s) to a maximum of three

Community Funding Program Review Committee Terms of Reference (coming soon)

Successful applicants who receive funding from the program must report how it was spent and its impact. Reports must be submitted to the Municipality by December 15 of the same year for which the funding is awarded.

Organizations who do not complete and submit the spending report by December 15 are not eligible for future funding until the Municipality is satisfied that the report has been submitted in full.

Submit your reporting details by completing the Community Funding Reporting Form.