BENEFIT FROM A FUND
Got a project you need funding for? Start here.
The Kawartha Community Foundation (KCF) offers individuals, families, and groups a way to support the causes they care about through the creation of charitable funds. All funds are administered in accordance with the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) and regulations from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for public foundations.
How we support community projects
We currently hold one granting cycle per year, in the spring. Funding decisions are made during that period, and outside of it we do not have a pool of money set aside for new requests. This may change as we grow. What we do provide year-round is an infrastructure for charitable fundraising.
If your project clearly advances our charitable purposes, we may be able to:
For small projects, connect you to a Community Fund in your region.
Create a fund to support the project or legacy.
Accept donations on behalf of your project.
Issue tax receipts to donors.
Manage and administer funds allowing for growth.
Distribute funds to advance your project in compliance with CRA rules.
Got a project?
Read the information below about projects before reaching out to ensure your project falls within the fund scope.
Submit a proposal by emailing info@kawarthafoundation.ca
What Makes a Strong Proposal?
Show us how your idea creates broad community benefit. The clearer the link to a charitable purpose like poverty relief, advancing education, truth & reconciliation, reducing inequity, or generating community benefit, the stronger your proposal will be.
Before applying, ask yourself these screening questions:
Does my project advance a charitable purpose (poverty relief, education, or another clear community benefit)?
Can I show how the project creates a broad public benefit, not private gain? e.g Is the project on public lands, space, buildings? Is the project working with another charity? Am I applying during the granting cycle, or am I looking for fundraising infrastructure?
If you can answer “yes” to these questions, your project is more likely to qualify for support through the foundation.
When a Project Might Not Qualify:
If it mainly benefits a business. Paying a trainer or speaker is fine if it helps the community. But if most of the benefit is private profit, the project won’t qualify.
If funds go straight to individuals. We can’t issue grants directly to people—only to projects with a clear charitable purpose that serve the broader community.
If it’s political. We can’t support projects that promote or oppose political parties or candidates.
If it’s outside our charitable purposes. A project may be valuable, but if it doesn’t fit within our Foundation’s stated charitable mandate, we can’t take it on.
If it serves only a closed group. Projects must create a public benefit, not just serve members of a private club or association.
FAQs
I have a community project I’d like funded. What’s the first thing I need to know?
As a public foundation, we currently hold one granting cycle per year,in the spring. Funding decisions are made during that period, and outside of it we do not have a pool of money set aside for new requests (we are a young foundation!)
What we do provide year-round is an infrastructure for charitable fundraising. If your project clearly advances our charitable purposes, we may be able to:
If it is a small project, connect you to a Community Fund in your region or
Create a fund to support the project or legacy
Accept donations on behalf of your project,
Issue tax receipts to donors, and
Distribute funds to advance your project in compliance with CRA rules.
This means that even when direct grants aren’t available, your project may still benefit through our charitable platform.
Before applying, ask yourself these screening questions:
Does my project advance a charitable purpose (poverty relief, education, religion, or another clear community benefit)?
Does it align with the foundation’s stated charitable objects?
Can I show how the project creates a broad public benefit, not private gain?
Is the project on public lands, space, buildings?
Am I applying during the granting cycle, or am I looking for fundraising support?
If you can answer “yes” to these questions, your project is more likely to qualify for support through the foundation.
What are the key things I should do to strengthen my proposal?
Show how your project advances a recognized charitable purpose.
Make sure it aligns with our foundation’s objects.
Be clear about the public benefit.
Document how activities connect to the charitable outcome, especially if the approach is indirect.
My project will benefit individuals or businesses along the way — is that allowed?
Yes, but only under certain conditions. The main outcome of your project must always be a charitable public benefit. Sometimes, a small amount of private benefit may happen along the way — for example, a trainer is paid to deliver a program — but this is acceptable only if it’s incidental (a side effect) and not the main purpose of the project.
To qualify:
The charitable outcome must come first (e.g., community members gaining skills).
Any private gain must be secondary and reasonable.
We look for projects where the benefit to residents is free or heavily discounted, ensuring accessibility and broad community impact.
If private benefit overshadows the charitable outcome, the project will not qualify for funding.
Do I need to match my project to your foundation’s charitable purposes?
Yes. As a public foundation, we can only support activities that align with our own charitable objects. If your project is charitable but falls outside our stated purposes, we cannot fund it.
What if my project idea is charitable, but it doesn’t fit within your foundation’s objects?
We may suggest:
Partnering with another charity whose purposes cover your project.
Adjusting the project design so it fits within our charitable mandate.
In some cases, the project may simply not qualify for our funding
Do I need to be a registered charity to apply?
Not always. In certain cases, we can fund non-profit organizations or grassroots groups, but only if the project is clearly charitable and a proper agreement is in place to ensure compliance with CRA rules.