The Ontario government is investing more than $47 million this year through the Ontario Trillium Foundation to support 153 non-profit organizations, First Nations communities and small municipalities across the province. The funding aims to strengthen community services and support programs that encourage active lifestyles, promote arts, culture and heritage, and expand opportunities for children and youth. The initiative forms part of the government’s broader efforts to build stronger and more resilient communities through strategic investments in local services.
According to Stan Cho, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, non-profit organizations play a crucial role in supporting communities by helping seniors remain active, creating employment opportunities for young people and expanding access to arts and recreation. Through the foundation’s Grow grants, the government is supporting organizations that deliver tangible local impact while improving the well-being of families throughout Ontario.
Each year, the Ontario Trillium Foundation provides Grow grants of up to $600,000 to community organizations to help them expand and enhance existing programs and services that residents rely on. This year’s funded initiatives include a sport and recreation program designed to empower Indigenous youth in Northwestern Ontario through leadership development and community engagement. Another supported project focuses on youth employment, offering job readiness training, coaching and inclusive work experiences for rural youth with disabilities.
Other funded programs include a year-round arts and culture initiative in the Peel Region that will provide accessible weekly workshops and events to support artists and encourage community participation. Funding is also supporting a community food initiative aimed at strengthening volunteer systems to improve access to affordable produce and promote inclusion for residents facing food insecurity.
Katharine Bambrick, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, noted that the Grow grants are intended to help non-profit organizations expand their local programming and address a wide range of community needs. She emphasized that these investments are designed to improve the quality of life for residents across the province.
Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested more than $857 million in over 7,700 projects through the foundation’s funding programs, including the Grow and Seed grants. These investments have contributed to the creation of more than 10,700 full-time jobs and generated over $1.3 billion in economic benefits for communities throughout Ontario. The Ontario Trillium Foundation, which operates under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, focuses on supporting community-based initiatives that strengthen the province’s non-profit sector and help build healthy, vibrant communities.
