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

Ranked programs

Top 36 of 45 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. Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG)

   Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (federal-provincial cost-shared)

   Helps individual Ontario employers pay for short-term training for existing or new employees, with the government covering a share of eligible training costs.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $15K
   42

   Strong

4. Ontario Job Grant (formerly Canada-Ontario Job Grant)

   Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (Employment Ontario)

   Helps employers pay for short-term third-party training for new or existing employees. Employer and government share the training cost.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $15K
   42

   Strong

5. Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF)

   Ministry of Sport

   $500 million cost-shared program to repair/upgrade existing sport and recreation facilities (Stream 1) and build new or signature facilities (Stream 2).

   OpenOntarioGrantsUp to $10M
   41

   Strong

6. 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

7. 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

8. NOHFC Enhance Your Community Program

   Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

   Funds community infrastructure projects in Northern Ontario.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $2M
   39

   Strong

9. NOHFC Rural Enhancement Program

   Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

   Funds quality-of-life projects in rural Northern Ontario communities.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $500K
   39

   Strong

10. 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

11. Great Lakes Local Action Fund

    Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

    Project funding for community-based action that increases climate resilience and protects or improves water quality in the Great Lakes, including wetland, shoreline and...

    OpenOntarioGrantsUp to $100K
    38

    Strong

12. 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

13. Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP)

    Ministry of Natural Resources

    Recognizes private stewardship of provincially important natural areas by exempting eligible portions of a property from property tax.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentives
    36

    Worth a look

14. Ontario Bridge Training Program

    Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

    Ontario-funded bridge training delivered by approved providers that helps internationally trained newcomers find work matching their qualifications, through...

    OngoingOntarioGrants
    35

    Worth a look

15. Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program

    Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

    Provincially funded pre-apprenticeship training of up to 52 weeks, delivered by colleges and community agencies, with an 8 to 12 week work placement, for people who want...

    OngoingOntarioGrants
    35

    Worth a look

16. Ontario Trillium Foundation: Grow Grant

    Ontario Trillium Foundation

    Multi-year funding for established non-profits to scale proven community programs.

    OpenOntarioGrantsUp to $200K
    34

    Worth a look

17. NOHFC Community Events Program

    Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

    Funds events that promote economic development in Northern Ontario.

    OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $15K
    32

    Worth a look

18. NOHFC Workforce Development Program (internships)

    Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

    Funds internship salaries for Northern Ontario employers.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $35K
    30

    Worth a look

19. 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

20. Indigenous Transportation Initiatives Fund for Indigenous Communities and Organizations

    Ministry of Transportation

    The Indigenous Transportation Initiatives Fund (ITIF) is an application-based funding program for Indigenous communities and organizations pursuing...

    OpenOntarioGrants
    28

    Worth a look

21. Ontario Transit Investment Fund (OTIF)

    Ministry of Transportation

    Time-limited, application-based funding for up to 5 years to support the start-up and growth of transit services, especially in smaller and rural communities.

    OpenOntarioGrants
    28

    Worth a look

22. 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

23. Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program

    Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA)

    Cost-share for rural economic development: plans, diversification, workforce, events, community infrastructure and rural small business.

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $250K
    26

    Worth a look

24. NOHFC Indigenous Workforce Development Program

    Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

    Funds salaries for Indigenous interns hired by Northern Ontario organizations.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $53K
    25

    Worth a look

25. NOHFC Industrial Research Chair Program

    Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

    Funds industrial research chairs to expand research capacity at Northern Ontario post-secondary institutions.

    OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $1M
    24

    Long shot

26. NOHFC Regional Tile Drainage Program

    Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

    Cost share for tile drainage installation by Northern Ontario farmers through consortium service providers.

    OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $1M
    24

    Long shot

27. Ontario Arts Council Project Grants (35+ programs)

    Ontario Arts Council

    One-time grants for specific projects by Ontario artists, arts professionals, collectives and organizations, delivered through about 40 discipline and priority-group...

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $60K
    24

    Long shot

28. Ontario Trillium Foundation: Capital Grant

    Ontario Trillium Foundation

    Funding for equipment, renovation and capital projects of non-profits.

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $200K
    24

    Long shot

29. Kitchener LoveMyHood Matching Grant

    City of Kitchener (Neighbourhood Development Office)

    Matching grants for resident-led neighbourhood projects, including capital projects and events, across Kitchener.

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $30K
    22

    Long shot

30. Ontario Trillium Foundation: Youth Opportunities Fund - Youth Innovations (Test and Scale)

    Ontario Trillium Foundation

    Grassroots funding for youth-led groups and youth-adult partnerships to pilot (Test) or grow (Scale) projects that improve youth wellbeing, prioritizing Indigenous and...

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $150K
    22

    Long shot

31. Skills Development Fund (SDF) Capital Stream

    Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

    Funds capital technical planning and construction or upgrading of skills training centres through two pathways: SEED (planning project taking a design to 40% design...

    OngoingOntarioGrants
    22

    Long shot

32. Kitchener Designated Heritage Grant Program

    City of Kitchener

    Grants toward conserving individually designated heritage properties and properties in Kitchener heritage districts.

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $15K
    20

    Long shot

33. Toronto Heritage Grant Program

    City of Toronto (Heritage Planning)

    Matching grants since 1986 for eligible heritage conservation work on Toronto properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. Helps owners repair masonry, windows...

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $20K
    20

    Long shot

34. Kitchener Community Grants (Tier 2)

    City of Kitchener

    Operating and program grants to organizations in arts and culture, special events, community support and development, and minor sports or recreation serving Kitchener...

    Intake-basedOntarioGrants
    19

    Long shot

35. Peterborough Community Grants (Project and Investment Grants)

    City of Peterborough

    Annual grants to non-profit, community-based organizations providing programs that enhance quality of life in Peterborough in social services and health, arts, culture...

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $15K
    19

    Long shot

36. Ontario Music Investment Fund: Live Music, Company Development, Futures, Industry Development and Global Market Development

    Ontario Creates (Ontario Music Office)

    Ontario Music Investment Fund streams run by the Ontario Music Office: Live Music (grants to promoters and presenters), Music Company Development, Music Futures...

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $125K
    17

    Long shot

There are 9 more. Create a free account to filter the full list by your own profile.

Questions

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

Of the 74 Ontario programs for non-profits and charities in our database, 26 are open or ongoing and 19 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 5, 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 Ontario 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), Canada-Ontario Job Grant (42, 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 26 open or ongoing programs here, 15 are in our Grants category, 0 are loans and 11 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

0 of the 26 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 26 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.