Grantmaking

Durham Community Foundation offers a broad grantmaking program to create a healthy and vibrant place for all to live. To date, Durham Community Foundation has granted over $4 Million to 200+ local charities.

New Funding Opportunities

Opportunity	Submission Deadline
Healthy Communities Initiative	June 25, 2021
Durham Community Foundation Annual Grant Stream	August 6, 2021

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Durham Community Foundation Community Fund(s) Grantstream

Funding is made possible by the permanent endowment funds established by many families throughout our region who love their community. The grant applications are reviewed by an independent committee of professionals who live and work in the Region of Durham.

Selection

The grant stream will open Monday July 5, 2021 and close Friday August 6, 2021.

Ajax Community Fund Grantstream

Funding is made possible by the Town of Ajax. DCF is grateful for the Town of Ajax Council’s support in making the grant stream available to registered charities that provide programs and services to residents in Ajax. The grant applications are reviewed by an independent committee of professionals who live and work in the Region of Durham and includes residents who live in the Town of Ajax.

Selection

The 2021 Grant Stream is closed.

A NEW CANADA HEALTHY COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE

COVID-19 has seriously impacted our access to and use of public spaces, which are the glue of our communities. They are a big part of what makes communities safe, vibrant and connected. The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative is a $31-million investment from the Government of Canada to support organizations as they create and adapt public spaces to respond to the new realities of COVID-19.

We are proud to be working with Community Foundations of Canada, the Government of Canada and Toronto Foundation to allocate a total of $2,088,820 over two rounds to projects $5,000 to $100,000 (40% or $835,528 for the first round, and 60% or $1,253,292 for the second round). This funding will support organizations in the Region of Durham, Toronto and York Region that are showing creativity and resourcefulness in creating solutions that enable people to connect and access public spaces safely while still respecting public health measures.

Toronto Foundation is responsible for convening selection committees comprised of diverse community leaders to review and recommend the applications requesting up to $100,000. Our aim is for this funding to be proportional to the populations in each of the geographical regions (the Region of Durham, Toronto, and York Region). Applications requesting over $100,000 up to $250,000 are reviewed at the local level as well, but then they are reviewed and recommended at the national level by Community Foundations of Canada.

Round 2 of this grant stream is open now until June 25, 2021 at 8pm EST / 5pm PST. Read more about eligibility below and head to CFC’s site for application details.

Click here to go to the CFC site for application details.

Eligibility  

A broad range of organizations including local governments, charities, Indigenous communities and nonprofits are all welcome to apply for funding. Funding can be used for adapting public spaces, or for programming or services that respond to COVID-19 and serve the public or a community disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Projects funded as part of the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will:

• respond to identified needs arising from impacts of COVID-19;
• create and adapt public spaces, and programming and services for public spaces in the public interest;
• demonstrate consideration of and connections with the community;
• serve and be accessible to the public and/or a community disproportionately impacted by COVID-19; and
• fall within the three Canada Healthy Communities Initiative theme areas.

Examples of eligible projects include pop-up bike paths, community gardens, art installations or Wi-Fi hot spots. For any additional questions please email chci@torontofoundation.ca.

Bursaries and Scholarships

Evelyn Burden Music Bursary

The Evelyn Burden Music Bursary is awarded to elementary students in grades 3 through 7 at the time of application, and currently residing in Durham Region. The bursary is for the purpose of providing private piano lessons for students who demonstrate musical interest. Financial need will be a consideration. The bursary for piano lessons is awarded annually to applicants for a one-year period. Previous years’ recipients must re-apply annually for consideration of renewal.

Selection

The 2021 Grant Stream is closed.

Todd McNabb Memorial Scholarship

Todd McNabb was a coach in the minor hockey community in Ajax and Pickering for over ten years. Honoring his passion and desire for youth to embrace an extracurricular activity like hockey to build character and create friendships for a lifetime, the Todd McNabb Memorial Scholarship was established in 2014.

Available to a student graduating from a high school in Ajax or Pickering and entering their first year of a post-secondary education program, this $1,000 scholarship requires: participation in minor hockey for a minimum of 3 seasons; strong academic achievement; engagement in extracurricular activities; and active involvement in the community.

Selection

The 2021 Grant Stream is closed.

Todd McNabb Memorial Scholarship Recipients

2021 Award Winners:

Dylan Brown, Cailynn Denoon, Samantha Kerr, James Key, Nolan Klinkhammer, Kassey Rosendaal & James Sinclair

2020 Award Winners:

Nicholas Goosney, Josh Jeffrey, Lauren Miller, Brent Prescott & Vincent Putos

Previous Award Winners:

2019

Aidan Dickerson, Brendan James, Andrew Olesinski, Jonathan Rampino & Mackenzie Simpson

2018

Cole Brown, Andrew Karaoulis, Nolan Keats, Zachary Millar & Brianna Wong,

2017

Madison Ayres, Liam Cresswell, Tyler Dender, Megan Florian, Tyler Munro, Brendan

Murphy & Andrew Plummer

2016

Avery Pasternak and Craig Rushton

2015

Alyssa Gee, Andrew Hughes and Graham Port

To find out more about Todd McNabb please visit toddmcnabbscholarship.ca

Note: Given continued growth in the value of the fund, a $1,000 donation was also made to “Their Opportunity” in June 2016 to further support youth hockey programs in Ajax/Pickering.

DCF Grant Policy

Durham Community Foundation recognizes that a vibrant and healthy community can only be built through collaborative efforts, innovative partnerships and a firm commitment to create opportunities for all citizens to enhance the quality of their lives and/or those of their family, friends and neighbours. Granting builds upon the strengths and responds to the needs of our community. It is the most visible aspect of Durham Community Foundation’s work. To effectively fulfill its philanthropic responsibilities within the limits of its resources, Durham Community Foundation’s grants program relies on the following guidelines: