Clean energy programs for non-profits and charities

Ranked programs

10 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Save on Energy Instant Discounts Program (lighting)

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Point-of-sale discounts on energy-efficient lighting products from participating distributors for existing Ontario commercial, agricultural, industrial, institutional...

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   58

   Top pick

2. Save on Energy Retrofit Program

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Incentives for Ontario businesses, institutions, multi-residential and agricultural facilities that cut electricity use. Prescriptive (fixed per measure) and Custom...

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   46

   Strong

3. Save on Energy Expanded Energy Management Program

   IESO (Save on Energy); industrial support from NRCan

   Funding to hire an energy manager, join strategic energy management coaching, or install an energy management information system at large Ontario facilities.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $250K
   41

   Strong

4. Enbridge Gas Business Energy Efficiency Programs (UTILITY PROGRAM - not government)

   Enbridge Gas Inc. (private utility; NOT a government program)

   Natural-gas utility incentives for commercial and industrial customers: prescriptive equipment incentives, custom retrofits, new construction, audits and assessments...

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   39

   Strong

5. Save on Energy Energy Performance Program (EPP)

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Pay-for-performance incentives for commercial, institutional and industrial facilities that reduce electricity use through operational and capital changes, paid per kWh...

   OpenOntarioOther incentives
   39

   Strong

6. Save on Energy Peak Performance Program

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Demand response incentives for commercial and institutional buildings that reduce HVAC loads on forecast peak electricity demand days.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   37

   Worth a look

7. Save on Energy XLerate

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Large-scale energy-efficiency incentive for industrial, municipal, institutional and healthcare projects, replacing the Industrial Energy Efficiency Program.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $15M
   29

   Worth a look

8. Energy Innovation Program (EIP) - Innovation Ecosystem Enablers call (testing facilities) and other calls

   Natural Resources Canada (Office of Energy Research and Development)

   NRCan's Energy Innovation Program funds clean-energy RD&D through targeted calls for proposals. The currently open call, Innovation Ecosystem Enablers (focus area...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $10M
   27

   Worth a look

9. Save on Energy Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) Program

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Financial incentives and technical support for commercial and institutional building owners to hire accredited providers to recommission building systems, with...

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   27

   Worth a look

10. Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund (NSCSF)

    Environment and Climate Change Canada

    A ten-year fund backing projects that avoid, restore or better manage ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, peatlands and grasslands to cut greenhouse gas emissions...

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    14

    Long shot

Questions

How many clean energy programs for non-profits and charities are open right now?

Of the 23 clean energy programs for non-profits and charities in our database, 9 are open or ongoing and 1 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Oct 28, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

Save on Energy XLerate publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $15M". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which clean energy programs for non-profits and charities rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Save on Energy Instant Discounts Program (58, Top pick), Save on Energy Retrofit Program (46, Strong), Save on Energy Expanded Energy Management Program (41, Strong). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 9 open or ongoing programs here, 1 are in our Grants category, 0 are loans and 8 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

1 of the 9 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 8 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.