At the Thunder Bay Community Foundation, we understand that the needs of our community are always changing. That’s why, for over 50 years, we’ve distributed close to $5 million in grants, scholarships and bursaries in support of a wide variety of charitable organizations, programs and projects. Community Foundation grants are made possible through the generous endowments and gifts of local citizens.
To visit our grant portal, click here.
In 2021, we distributed $478,869.80 to over 40 non-profit organizations in Thunder Bay and district areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Non-Profit organization apply for a TBCF grant?
A foundation can only give to QUALIFIED DONEES. Although all charitable organization are non-profit, not all non-profits are charitable organizations.
How much can my charitable organization apply for?
This depends on the fund to which your are applying. Each fund has a specific amount of money to be granted every year. This year, the amounts available for each fund will not be posted for the purpose of a more accurate budget form from each applicant.
If we have no other funding sources, can we still apply?
Yes. We ask this in the budget section as it demonstrates a form of collaboration. We also ask about other funding and whether or not the funding has been secured to ensure the project will be able to move forward. If you receive funding from the Thunder Bay Community Foundation, but are unsuccessful from the other sources and cannot run the project, it will be required that you return your grant funding to the Foundation. This is a situation we prefer to avoid.
Our project takes place in the middle of next year, can we still apply?
As long as your project takes place before the next granting application deadline (annually mid-October), you can apply for a grant. Just remember, upon completion we need your grant report. This helps us ensure you used the funds as specified and gives us information that we can use to show off your organization to our donors.
If we do not receive a grant, is there a specific reason why?
Grants are not given based on a yes or no. Applications are marked by our Grant Marking Committee using a specific rubric. The applications are then ranked based on mark (highest to lowest) and funds are given to projects until the fund runs out of money. On average, we receive 40 applications to the General Fund per year, however, only 15 to 25 grants are usually given out. The variance comes from a combination of the amount requested and the successful projects. Organizations who were not successful often call and ask how they can improve their application for next year. Utilizing the rubric when creating your application will allow an organization to see how they are being marked on each section.
If we didn’t finish a project for which we received funding last year, can we still apply for funding this year?
You must contact the Foundation ASAP, where the determination will be made.