Ontario provides $83M in grants to help non-profits recover from coronavirus pandemic

The Ontario government is investing $83 million in grants to help non-profits recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford announced that the funding will be provided through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to help eligible non-profit organizations, including food banks, child and youth programs, and Royal Canadian Legion branches.

“I am proud of the hundreds of volunteer organizations and thousands of volunteers who have stepped up over the last few months and shown the Ontario spirit in caring for others through these difficult times,” said Ford.

“Our local non-profits, including our local Legion branches and food banks, are the bedrock of our communities and their work will be absolutely critical in helping people to rebuild their lives as we restart our economy and reopen the province.”

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The OTF’s Resilient Communities Fund will provide grants of up to $150,000 to help non-profits rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

This includes equipping board members and employees with supports by helping them implement preparation for changing circumstances by doing organizational training, coaching, strategic planning and implementation, research and development, mental and physical health, and wellbeing supports.

The province says that the funding will also improve access to financial resources and develop new, and/or alternative sources of revenue.

The support will also go to adapting the delivery of programs and services to meet the needs of the community, employees, and volunteers, which means identifying new health and safety processes, and required personal protective equipment (PPE).

“The Resilient Communities Fund is a tremendous example of the innovation and flexibility of Ontario agencies,” said Tourism Minister Lisa MacLeod.

“While we work towards the province’s economic and social recovery, we’re proud to support programs like the OTF Resilient Communities Fund that are making a positive contribution in communities across Ontario.”

OTF is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations.