Regional development programs for non-profits and charities

Ranked programs

24 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. 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

3. 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

4. NOHFC Enhance Your Community Program

   Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

   Funds community infrastructure projects in Northern Ontario.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $2M
   39

   Strong

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. FedNor - Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI)

    FedNor

    Supports Northern Ontario business growth (Targeted Manufacturing Initiative) and regional innovation ecosystems (not-for-profits).

    OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $500K
    23

    Long shot

21. 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

22. FedNor - Economic Development Initiative (EDI), Northern Ontario

    FedNor

    Funds projects that encourage economic growth in Northern Ontario's Francophone communities and that capitalize on economic opportunities made possible through the use...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    20

    Long shot

23. Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Business Development: Access to Business Opportunities (group projects)

    Indigenous Services Canada

    Funds group projects that promote Indigenous entrepreneurship and improve access to business opportunities. Not for individual business startups or expansions.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $500K
    20

    Long shot

24. FedNor - Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII)

    FedNor

    Supports Northern Ontario businesses, not-for-profits and Indigenous-led organizations meeting a specific military need in the defence supply chain.

    Intake-basedFederalLoans
    12

    Long shot

Questions

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

Of the 46 regional development programs for non-profits and charities in our database, 21 are open or ongoing and 3 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 3, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

FedDev Ontario - Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $20M". 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 regional development 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), Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (41, Strong), FedNor - Northern Ontario Development Program (40, 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 21 open or ongoing programs here, 18 are in our Grants category, 1 are loans and 2 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

10 of the 21 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 11 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.