Community Grants

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Community Grants are the Community Foundation's most flexible grants, using the investment income earned from a number of Field-of-Interest Funds as well as our Community Funds. Awards are distributed by the Grant Selection Team through an application process. Interested in applying for a grant? Please read through the following Guidelines and Criteria to ensure your organization's eligibility and understanding of the application process.

 

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2012  Grant Rounds

The deadline for the spring 2012 Community Grants Letters of Intent has passed. The deadline for the fall 2012 Community Grants Letters of Intent has not been announced yet.

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Guidelines and Criteria for Grant Applicants
Mission Statement of The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area
We and our donors strengthen our community by making strategic and effective grants, growing and managing a lasting endowment, and serving our community as a resource and partner.


The Community Foundation makes grants in the following fields: Arts and Culture, Community Development, Education and Literacy, Environment, Health and Social Services, Heritage Preservation, Recreation, Youth. 

Grants are awarded to local projects that have a direct impact on the people of our community or an indirect impact by increasing the capacity of organizations to initiate and sustain local projects.

The geographic area covered by the grantmaking of the Foundation's Grant Selection Team is: City of Kingston, Loyalist Township, Township of Central Frontenac, Township of Frontenac Islands, Township of North Frontenac, and Township of South Frontenac. Environmental projects must lie within this area or within the Cataraqui River Watershed.

 

Criteria for Grant Recipients

  1. An applicant organization must be a charity registered with Canada Revenue Agency or supported by an organization that is either a charity registered with Canada Revenue Agency or a municipality.
  2. The applicant organization must have a local Board of Directors, a local, well-defined accountable committee, or a local office with strong community involvement.
  3. Projects must have a well-defined purpose and take place within one year of receiving the grant.
  4. Any outstanding final reports for previous completed projects must have been received by CFKA.
  5. Grants may be awarded for the start-up of a long-term project if there is a realistic plan for ongoing evaluation and for long-term viability.
  6. All Letters of Intent / Applications involving activities with primary and secondary schools must be accompanied by a Letter of Permission from the relevant School Board(s).

Successful projects will be characterized by many of the following traits:

  • They build on existing community strengths and assets.
  • They respond to clearly identified local needs and provide demonstrable enrichment to the community.
  • They use resources efficiently and effectively.
  • They involve meaningful partnerships.
  • They strive for a significant and/or lasting impact.
  • They benefit a wide audience.
  • They show innovation, creativity, proactive thinking, and a degree of risk.

Grants will not be given:

  • to cover deficits or retire debts.
  • to provide endowment funds.
  • for sectarian, religious, or political purposes.
  • to respond to annual fund drives for sustaining support.

Grants will not normally be given:

  • to contribute to major renovation or capital construction costs.
  • to individuals (an exception might be made in extraordinary cases where supported by an intermediary organization that is a charity registered with Canada Revenue Agency.
  • to provide money for fundraising activities.
  • to support the operating expenses of established organizations or programs (including predictable replacement of office equipment).

Preference is given to new initiatives but a promising program may receive more than one grant provided there is evidence that the program is developing successfully. An established program may receive a grant when it faces a new opportunity or an unexpected problem. The Community Foundation reserves the right to limit grant amounts. Contact us for details. Organizations receiving core government funding for their operations must explain clearly why the funding requested from the Community Foundation is not available from government sources.

How to Apply
Application Process

  1. Carefully read the Guidelines and Criteria above and determine if your organization/project meets the requirements and suggestions.
  2. Download and complete the Letter of Intent Form. Further instructions are provided in the Form.  The application is a Microsoft Word document, allowing you to fill out the information on-screen, print, and save for your records. Please email grants@cfka.org if you require the form in a different file format.
  3. Deliver four copies of the Letter of Intent Form in person or by mail, to be received by the posted deadline to: The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area, 165 Ontario Street, #6, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y6.
    No faxed, electronic or handwritten applications will be considered.
  4. All Letters of Intent will be reviewed by an independent committee, and a limited number of applicants will be invited to submit a full Grant Application. Spring 2012 Grant recipients will be notified at the end of April.

Evaluation
If you are awarded a grant, you will be asked to sign a Grant Agreement Form outlining the Terms and Conditions of the award. Upon completion of your project, you are required to complete a Final Report to be submitted to the Community Foundation. A follow-up visit by our Grant Selection Team may also be required. The Final Report is intended to help you evaluate the initiative and to help us evaluate the effectiveness of our grants on enhancing and strengthening the quality of life in our community.

Deadline
The deadline for letters of intent for the spring 2012 round has passed. The deadline for the fall 2012 round has not been announced yet.

Questions

Please refer to our new FAQ webpage with frequently asked questions about the CFKA Grants Program, read our Glossary for the explanation of key words, or contact the grants coordinator by email grants@cfka.org or phone (613.546.9696, Mondays and Wednesdays until 2:40pm).

Contact
For further assistance, please contact Vera Kettnaker, Grants Coordinator, at the Community Foundation at 613.546.9696 (Mondays and Wednesdays until 2:40 pm) or email grants@cfka.org.

 

Downloads:

Spring 2012 Letter of Intent Form.

Budget form (section 5) as an Excel spreadsheet as an alternative to the Word version

Criteria and Guidelines

Link to Vital Signs 2011 Report