Federal government grants, loans and incentives for non-profits and charities

Ranked programs

Top 36 of 70 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. FedDev Ontario - Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

   FedDev Ontario

   Liquidity assistance and pivot-project funding for southern Ontario businesses hurt by U.S. tariffs. Non-repayable for smaller amounts, repayable for large...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $20M
   54

   Top pick

2. Canada Community Security Program (CCSP)

   Public Safety Canada

   Time-limited funding to enhance physical security at gathering spaces of communities at risk of hate-motivated incidents and crimes, such as places of worship, community...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $5M
   43

   Strong

3. Mitacs Accelerate

   Mitacs

   Matches partner contributions to fund research internships connecting businesses and organizations with university researchers and trainees.

   OngoingFederalGrants
   41

   Strong

4. FedNor - Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP)

   FedNor

   FedNor's NODP funds community economic development, SME business growth and a municipal/First Nation economic-development-officer initiative (CIINO) in Northern Ontario...

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $170K
   40

   Strong

5. Canadian Journalism Labour Tax Credit

   Canada Revenue Agency / Canadian Heritage

   Refundable credit on salaries and wages of eligible newsroom employees of qualifying Canadian journalism organizations producing original written news content.

   OngoingFederalOther incentivesLimit $85K
   39

   Strong

6. Mitacs AI Advantage (ADOPT and AI+X)

   Mitacs

   Non-competitive Mitacs offerings supporting organizations to adopt and innovate with AI through trainee-led projects: ADOPT (AI readiness to implementation) and AI+X...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $25K
   39

   Strong

7. FedDev Ontario - Funding for organizations that help businesses grow (Regional Innovation Ecosystems)

   FedDev Ontario

   Funding for not-for-profit and community development organizations that strengthen regional business ecosystems and support SME growth in southern Ontario.

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $10M
   37

   Worth a look

8. FedDev Ontario - Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII)

   FedDev Ontario

   Funded AI commercialization and AI adoption projects in southern Ontario. Intake has ended.

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $700M
   37

   Worth a look

9. Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI)

   Mitacs

   Matches partner funds to place students, postdocs and recent graduates in business-strategy and innovation projects at Canadian organizations.

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $15K
   37

   Worth a look

10. Celebrate Canada Funding Program

    Canadian Heritage

    Funds community activities held on National Indigenous Peoples Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Canadian Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day.

    OpenFederalGrants
    36

    Worth a look

11. SSHRC Connection Grants

    Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

    Supports events and outreach activities for short-term, targeted knowledge mobilization, often a first step toward larger and longer-term projects.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $50K
    36

    Worth a look

12. Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (Loan Fund, Ecosystem Fund, Knowledge Hub)

    Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and regional development agencies (FedDev Ontario in southern Ontario)

    The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) funds supports for women entrepreneurs through the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (loans up to $50,000 via selected delivery...

    OpenFederalLoansLoans up to $6M
    36

    Worth a look

13. Commemorative Partnership Program (Community Engagement and Community War Memorials)

    Veterans Affairs Canada

    Funds remembrance initiatives and the construction, restoration or expansion of community war memorials. Several streams with year-round and fixed-deadline intakes.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $25K
    35

    Worth a look

14. Enabling Accessibility Fund - Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG)

    Employment and Social Development Canada (Service Canada)

    Funds immediate workplace accessibility updates that support hiring, retention or continued employment of persons with disabilities. Projects can remove barriers through...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $50K
    34

    Worth a look

15. GST/HST New Residential Rental Property Rebate and Purpose-Built Rental Housing rebate (100%)

    Canada Revenue Agency

    Rebate to landlords and builders of GST/HST paid on newly built or substantially renovated residential rental property; purpose-built rental buildings can get the GST...

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    34

    Worth a look

16. Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

    Employment and Social Development Canada, delivered by employer delivery partners (e.g., Technation, ECO Canada, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Magnet)

    Wage subsidies to employers that hire post-secondary students (co-op, internship, practicum) in work-integrated learning placements. Employers apply year-round through...

    OngoingFederalOther incentivesUp to $5K
    34

    Worth a look

17. Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program (CASPP)

    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    Cost-shared funding for projects that help the agriculture and agri-food sector seize opportunities and respond to emerging issues.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $1M
    32

    Worth a look

18. AgriScience Program - Projects

    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    Funds pre-commercial science, research and development in agriculture and agri-food, with a focus on climate change and environment, economic growth and sector...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $5M
    31

    Worth a look

19. Sectoral Workforce Innovation Fund (SWIF)

    Employment and Social Development Canada

    Continuous-intake fund for industry-led workforce projects that scale proven training initiatives, build talent pipelines for national priorities, or mobilize industry...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $10M
    31

    Worth a look

20. SSHRC Partnership Engage Grants

    Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

    Supports short-term partnered research involving a postsecondary institution and a single organization from the public, private or not-for-profit sector, so the partner...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $50K
    31

    Worth a look

21. Changing Narratives Fund

    Department of Canadian Heritage

    The Changing Narratives Fund supports diverse communities (Indigenous, Black, racialized, ethno-religious minority, people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI+) in sharing...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    30

    Worth a look

22. FedNor - Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII)

    FedNor

    Helps Northern Ontario SMEs, not-for-profits, Indigenous organizations and municipalities commercialize and adopt AI. For-profits normally receive repayable...

    OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $700M
    30

    Worth a look

23. Union Training and Innovation Program - Infrastructure Expansion

    Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

    This funding opportunity aims to strengthen Canada's skilled trades workforce by expanding training capacity and modernizing union-led training infrastructure. It funds...

    OpenFederalGrants
    30

    Worth a look

24. Canada Foundation for Innovation - Infrastructure Operating Fund (IOF)

    Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

    Helps institutions cover a portion of the operating and maintenance costs of CFI-funded research infrastructure so it is used optimally. Each institution is allocated an...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    29

    Worth a look

25. FedDev Ontario - Economic Development Initiative (official language minority communities)

    FedDev Ontario

    Non-repayable funding to Francophone or bilingual not-for-profits in southern Ontario for economic growth in official language minority communities.

    OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $500K
    29

    Worth a look

26. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program - Events component

    Canadian Heritage

    Funds community events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, discuss multiculturalism and racism, or celebrate a community's history and culture such...

    OpenFederalGrants
    29

    Worth a look

27. CMHC MLI Select (multi-unit mortgage loan insurance)

    CMHC

    Multi-unit mortgage loan insurance with higher loan-to-value or loan-to-cost, longer amortization and lower premiums for projects earning points for affordability...

    OngoingFederalLoans
    28

    Worth a look

28. FedNor - Build Communities Strong Fund, Local Impact Stream (Northern Ontario)

    FedNor

    Non-repayable funding for shovel-ready community projects in Northern Ontario that deliver public benefits.

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $1M
    28

    Worth a look

29. Investments in Training Equipment (Canada Apprenticeship Strategy)

    Employment and Social Development Canada

    Funds the purchase of new, up-to-date training equipment and materials for Red Seal trades apprenticeship training. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $5M
    28

    Worth a look

30. NSERC Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grants

    Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

    One-year grants that let colleges buy applied research equipment so they can better respond to the innovation needs of local partners and give students hands-on training.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $200K
    28

    Worth a look

31. Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy

    Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    A community-based program funding projects that prevent and reduce homelessness in urban, Indigenous, territorial and rural and remote communities, with decisions made...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    28

    Worth a look

32. Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk

    Fisheries and Oceans Canada

    The Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk (CNFASAR) supports the recovery and protection of aquatic species at risk. It funds multi-species, place-based and...

    OpenFederalGrants
    27

    Worth a look

33. 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

34. Black Entrepreneurship Program (Loan Fund, Ecosystem Fund, Knowledge Hub)

    Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE) with Business Development Bank of Canada; regional development agencies

    Supports Black entrepreneurs with loans of up to $250,000 through the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, and funds Black-led business organizations through the Ecosystem...

    OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $250K
    25

    Worth a look

35. NSERC Discovery Institutes Support grants

    Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

    Helps Canadian theoretical research institutes cover operating and maintenance costs and foster training and collaboration within and among institutes.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $1.5M
    25

    Worth a look

36. Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage - Local Festivals

    Canadian Heritage

    Funds local festivals that celebrate local arts and heritage and encourage community engagement.

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $200K
    23

    Long shot

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Questions

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

Of the 154 federal programs for non-profits and charities in our database, 55 are open or ongoing and 15 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 Nov 4, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

FedDev Ontario - Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $700M". 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 federal programs for non-profits and charities rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are FedDev Ontario - Regional Tariff Response Initiative (54, Top pick), Canada Community Security Program (43, Strong), Mitacs Accelerate (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 55 open or ongoing programs here, 45 are in our Grants category, 7 are loans and 3 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

55 of the 55 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 0 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.