Community
Granting Programs
Community & Financial Inclusion Granting Programs
Alterna is proud to offer these two granting programs annually to provide funding opportunities for registered charities, incorporated nonprofits, co-operatives without share capital, and unincorporated associations that positively impact communities.
Community Granting Program
Alterna’s Community Granting Program provides grants of up to $1,000 to initiatives where a small amount of money can have a significant impact in the communities we serve.
2025 Causes for Representation
Please ensure that all Community Granting Program applications align with the selected causes for representation in 2025, as outlined below:
- Affordable and Co-operative Housing
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)(with a focus on women’s empowerment, youth empowerment, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities)
- Environmental Sustainability
- Food Insecurity
Eligibility
- Registered charities
- Incorporated nonprofit organizations
- Co-operatives without share capital
- Unincorporated associations are eligible with the sponsorship of an eligible incorporated organization. A letter of support from an incorporated organization will be required with the application. Cheque will be issued to the sponsoring incorporated organization. Sponsor organization must submit Articles of Incorporation or Letters Patent. Alterna will only issue cheques to incorporated groups.
- While membership in Alterna is not a requirement for grant funding, preference will be given to member organizations. Click Here to find out more about how your organization can benefit from membership at Alterna.
Application Process
Completed applications can be submitted to community.grants@alterna.ca. A complete application, depending on your legal structure, will include the following information:
- Completed application form
- Proof of charitable status
- Copy of Articles of Incorporation or Letters Patent
- For unincorporated groups applying, a letter of support from an incorporated organization is also required with the application. Cheque will be issued to the sponsoring incorporated organization. Sponsor organization must submit Articles of Incorporation, Letters Patent, or charitable status.
- Letters of recommendation (optional)
Key Dates
Launch Date: March 28, 2025
Application Deadline: May 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM
Cheques are disbursed to Community Granting Program recipient organization(s) through Alterna’s ‘Spirit of the Season’ campaign in December. Please ensure that your organization’s application outlines the intended use and timeline for your proposed program. Funds must be used by the organization that is applying for the granting stream*.
*For unincorporated associations, cheque will be issued to sponsoring incorporated organization.
- Initiatives that take place outside of Ontario
- Groups that discriminate or restrict access based on things like race, colour, religion or creed, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability among others
- Political or fraternal organizations or third-party organizations that raise funds for charity
- Private (fee-based) elementary or secondary schools
- Religious organizations, unless they are engaged in a significant project benefiting the entire community
- Endowment or memorial campaigns
- Conferences, events, or golf tournaments
- Advertising or promotional campaigns
- Travel-related events, including student trips or tours
- The creation or repair of statues, monuments, artwork, or beautification projects
- The publication of books or movie productions
- Private foundations
Funds must be used by the organization that is applying for the granting stream.
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Financial Inclusion Granting Program
Through Alterna’s Financial Inclusion Granting Program, organizations can apply for a grant up to $20,000 for innovative initiatives that work to address issues of financial inclusion and/or financial education among underserved communities.
Emphasis is placed on initiatives that offer opportunities for scale or replication to other communities and partnership with Alterna.
Eligibility
Alterna’s Financial Inclusion Granting Program supports:
- Registered charities
- Incorporated nonprofit organizations
- Co-operatives without share capital
- Unincorporated associations are eligible with the sponsorship of an eligible incorporated organization. A letter of support from the incorporated organization is required with the application. Cheque will be issued to the sponsoring incorporated organization. Sponsor organization must submit Articles of Incorporation, Letters Patent, or charitable status. Alterna will only issue cheques to incorporated groups.
- While membership in Alterna is not a requirement for grant funding, preference will be given to member organizations.
Completed applications are submitted to community.grants@alterna.ca. See Application Guidelines for detailed information on what to include in your organization’s application. A complete application will include the following information:
Step 1. Letter of Inquiry
If your organization has an idea or program that you believe would be a good fit for the Financial Inclusion Granting Program, please submit a maximum 2-page Letter of Inquiry (LOI) detailing the initiative. The letter must include the following information.
Step 2. Request for Proposal
Alterna’s Community Impact Department will review all LOIs and invite a limited number of organizations to submit full Proposals for funding.
Step 3. Proposal Submission
Alterna will only consider proposals from organizations that have been invited to submit a full Proposal based on their previously submitted LOI.
In addition to expanding in detail on the content requested for the LOI submission, organizations will be asked to elaborate in the Proposal.
Step 4. Application Review
Received Proposals will be reviewed by an internal Committee of Alterna employees. Proposals will be evaluated on several criteria including potential for replication or scale of the initiative, impact, and measurable results.
Step 5. Grant Approval
Alterna will inform all applicants as to the status of their applications in advance of recipient announcements. Successful applicants will be announced throughout Financial Literacy Month in November on Alterna platforms.
Key Dates
Letter of Inquiry Deadline: Friday, May 30, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET
Proposal Deadline: Monday, June 30, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET
Cheques are disbursed to Financial Inclusion Granting Program recipient organization(s) throughout Financial Literacy Month in November. Please ensure that your organization’s application outlines the intended use and timeline for your proposed program. Funds must be used by the organization that is applying for the granting stream*.
*For unincorporated associations, cheque will be issued to sponsoring incorporated organization.
- Initiatives that take place outside of Ontario
- Groups that discriminate or restrict access based on things like race, colour, religion or creed, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability among others
- Political or fraternal organizations or third-party organizations that raise funds for charity
- Private (fee-based) elementary or secondary schools
- Religious organizations, unless they are engaged in a significant project benefiting the entire community
- Endowment or memorial campaigns
- Conferences, events, or golf tournaments
- Advertising or promotional campaigns
- Travel-related events, including student trips or tours
- The creation or repair of statues, monuments, artwork, or beautification projects
- The publication of books or movie productions
- Private foundations
Funds must be used by the organization that is applying for the granting program
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