OSN is proud to offer a variety of grants and funding opportunities to support both individuals and organizations within the sport sector across Ontario. Continue to check back for future opportunities.
Nike Community Impact Fund
Application Window: CLOSED.
Through the Nike Community Impact Fund, Nike employees will work with OSN to award $5,000-$15,000 to eligible organizations in Toronto to give youth positive experiences in sport and physical activity, and advance healthier, supportive and more inclusive communities.
Funding Priorities
Nike believes in the power of sport to change the world. As part of their Made to Play commitment to get all kids moving, Nike is working to break down barriers, build community and help kids find their strength and potential through the power of play and sport.
The Nike Community Impact Fund (NCIF) takes a collaborative approach to grant making by partnering with Nike employees to participate in the grant-making process and directly impact the local communities where they live and work.
NCIF helps local organizations bring the benefits of sport to their communities, giving kids an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of quality play and active lives, and creating stronger communities where sports and physical activity are a highly-valued part of everyday life.
To improve your competitiveness, please review the NCIF Program Guidelines and FAQs.
Application Process
The next application window is January 10 - February 16, 2023.
Applications will be accepted through our online application system. All application questions are available to review in a separate document.
Grantee Reporting
Email the following information to grants@ontariosportnetwork.ca
- Number of students/youth served during the funding period
- Any significant changes to the project since your application
- A story: be it large or small, please share an impact, something you learned or something that changed for participants.
If you have questions about reporting, please email us at grants@ontariosportnetwork.ca
Assistance
For program information and assistance, please contact grants@ontariosportnetwork.ca. You may use your own project budget layout, or download and use a suggested template.
Eligible Applications
Applications are accepted from not for profit organizations and organizations classified as a Qualified Donee by the Canadian Revenue Agency, inclusive of registered charity, registered Ontario amateur athletic association, registered housing corporation in Ontario, registered Ontario Municipality, Metis, Inuit of First Nation community/band, across Toronto. Please note that PRIORITY will be given to organizations serving Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas.
Organizations that do NOT have a Qualified Donee status and / or are not a not for profit organization, are still eligible to apply, but must do so in partnership with a Trustee Organization who has Qualified Donee Status.
Ineligible Applications
- Organizations which discriminate based on age, ethnicity/race, political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or other disability, or national origin
- Individuals (including scholarships, stipends, fellowships, and personal assistance)
- Group or individual travel
- Research projects
- Sponsorship or fundraising events
- Support for elite or private sports camps, programs, or teams
- One day events, unless the focus of the project is on program(s) leading up to a culminating event.
- Endowments, memorials, budget deficits, or fundraising activities
- Religious organizations whose programs do not have a secular and community focus
- Lobbying, political, or fraternal activities
- Capital projects unless Nike’s award would be the final funding needed
- Projects and events that occur prior to a Nike grant award (refer to grant disbursement date)
Frequency of Application
- You may apply for one grant per NCIF funding cycle.
- You may receive only one grant per year from NCIF.
- If declined, you may resubmit the same project to NCIF only if key project components have been strengthened.
- Funding priority will be given to organizations who have not received a Nike grant in the past 36 months.
- Applying to NCIF does not preclude you from applying to other OSN grant programs.
Girl Power’d
New Leaf Foundation
Jane / Finch Centre
Scarborough Basketball Association
SEMCY – Sports, Education, Mentoring for Children & Youth
Inner City Outreach
Urban Squash Toronto
Active Scholars
Albion Neighbourhood Services
CU Cricket
Beat the Streets
Q: How are Nike employees involved with the Nike Community Impact Fund (NCIF)?
A: Nike employees are selected to sit on an advisory committee and are trained to by OSN to review grants and develop funding recommendations.
Q: Does the NCIF award grants for operating support?
A: Yes, but applicants must demonstrate a compelling need for support and detail how funds will be raised the next year.
Q: Can schools with relatively few low-income students apply for grants?
A: Yes, but competition for NCIF grants is robust and projects that serve high-need children and youth are more compelling. Applicants serving a general population may apply but their projects should be innovative, show strong financial support from the community, and address an important need to be considered for funding.
Q: If we are a local nonprofit, may we apply for funding to support international programs or must our project focus on local populations?
A: Your project must focus on local populations.
Q: Can we apply for a grant if we are NOT a Qualified Donee by the Canadian Revenue Agency?
A: Yes, but only if you have a Qualified Donee sponsor who does have appropriate status. If you are expecting to be granted nonprofit status soon and do not have a fiscal sponsor, you are not eligible to apply. Organizations that are fiscal sponsors for another entity can submit their own proposals to NCIF in the same grant cycle.
Q: Will you review a draft of our proposal and give us suggestions for improvement?
A: No. Staffing is limited and reviewing some proposal drafts and not others would create an uneven playing field.
Q: Can we apply for more than one grant at a time from NCIF?
A: No. Organizations may submit one NCIF grant application this year. However, organizations are eligible to apply for other kinds of OSN grants.
Q: How often can we apply for an NCIF grant?
A: You may apply for one grant per funding cycle, and you may receive only one grant per year.
Q: If we receive an NCIF award for one year but the project still needs support the next year, can we apply for another NCIF grant for the same project?
A: Funding priority will be given to projects that have not received a Nike grant in the past 36 months. (If funding is being sought to create the same program at a new site, that will be treated as a new project.) If you wish to apply for a different project, you could apply sooner.
Q: Does NCIF support projects to improve a nonprofit’s fundraising, marketing, or staff/board infrastructure?
A: No. NCIF is interested in using its funds for projects that more directly improve the community.
Q: If a grant proposal to NCIF is declined, can we resubmit the same project later?
A: Yes, but the project may not be competitive unless key components have been strengthened.
Q: Do we need to know a Nike employee to apply to the NCIF program?
A: No
Emergency Relief Community Sport & Recreation Grant
Application Window: CLOSED. Grants have been distributed. Thank you for your interest.
One time emergency grant from the Province of Ontario aimed at organizations that demonstrated the greatest financial need and a strategy to use the grant to sustain their programming post pandemic. Approximately $7 million was distributed to over 230 clubs, teams and organizations across Ontario.
Apply for a one-time emergency grant from the Province of Ontario
Has the pandemic affected sport and recreation activity in your community? Read further to learn more about this exciting grant opportunity for your organization to move forward and stabilize your programming and financial situation. The Ontario Sport Network has been appointed by the province to deliver a one-time application-based relief fund targeting community level sport and recreation organizations, clubs, teams, leagues, and associations that have sustained losses due to COVID-19. Grants will be issued to organizations that demonstrate the greatest financial need and a strategy to use the grant to sustain their programming.
While we understand that many organizations have been under financial pressure due to COVID-19, we expect to receive a large number of submissions and therefore the application process may be very competitive.
Press ReleaseEligible Applications
All sport and recreation clubs and organizations that are not affiliated (Members) with a Ministry recognized PSO/MSO;
All sport and recreation leagues and teams that are affiliated (Members) with a Ministry-recognized PSO/MSO but can demonstrate substantial losses in gate receipts and sponsorship due to the pandemic
Member clubs of PSO/MSOs that are recognized but not funded through the Ontario Amateur Sport Fund (i.e., Ontario Grappling Association & Ontario Racquetball);
Ineligible Applications
Professional Sport Leagues and Teams (i.e., NHL, NBA, MLB); and PSO/MSOs that receive Ontario Amateur Sport Funding and their Member clubs.
*Note: Professional Sport Definition: sport teams, leagues and events in which contestants are financially compensated, and where the average financial compensation provided to contestants is more than half of the median after-tax income in Ontario.
Review and Assessment
Ontario Sport Network’s Review Panel will review your application to make sure you are eligible, that your application is complete, and is a fit with the grant requirements. We will evaluate your application against the grant assessment criteria.
OSN Grant Selection Criteria
All applicants must meet eligibility requirements outlined in the Emergency Relief Fund application:
Applicants must be able to demonstrate immediate financial need due to challenges incurred during the pandemic
Applicants must be able to complete the application in full
Applicants must be able to clearly demonstrate their plan to use the available relief funding to assist in their organization’s sustainability
Applicants
2354686 Ontario Inc
2383955 Ontario Ltd Oa Elliot Lake Red Wings
2441635 Ontario Inc
2832415 Ontario Inc. (Ontario Rockies Baseball Club
4life Fitness
4reasonz Inc.
Able Sail Toronto
Active Scholars
Arran Elderslie Minor Hockey Association
Arthritis Society
Ausome Ottawa
Australian Football League Ontario
Average Joe Sports Club
Avonmore Community Athletic Association
Ayr Centennials Hockey Club
Bancroft Broken Spokes Cycling Club
Barev Centre
Baysville Curling And Bocce Club
Beaver Valley Athletic Association
Bmo Centre London - London Optimist Sports Centre
Bolton Recreational Sports Club
Boy And Girls Club Of London
Boys And Girls Club Of Durham
Brantford Community Hockey League
Brooklin Lacrosse Club
Burlington Amateur Sports Leagues Inc.
Burlington Curling Club
Burlington Trampoline & Tumbling Inc.
Caledon Soccer Club
Cambridge Minor Ball Hockey League
Camer Social Club
Canadian Adaptive Snowsports - Ontario Division
Canadian Basketball Alliance
Canadian College And University Cricket
Canadian Girls Baseball
Catholic Youth Organization Of The Diocese Of Hamilton
Cavaliers Cricket Club Of Windsor 2020, Inc
Central Canada Hockey League
Change Through Sport | Changer Par Le Sport
Chatham Junior Maroons Hockey Club
Cheer Strong Inc
Chesley Minor Ball Association
Chess 'N Math Association
Children And Youth Dance Theatre Of Toronto
Cobourg Kodiaks Ltd
Cochrane Crunch Junior A Hockey Club
Coldwater Minor Hockey Association
Combative Concepts Academy Of Martial Arts
Coniston Minor Hockey Association
Courtice Parks Softball
D3p Sports
Dance Designs Dance Studio
Dance Extreme Inc
Duffield Sports Club
Eganville Curling Club
Eganville Skating Club
Elite Camps Wiarton Inc.
Elora Curling Club
Enana Ballet Academy Inc.
Eritrean Canadian Community Center Of Metropolitan
Etobicoke Dolphins Girls Hockey League
Etobicoke Hockey League
Etobicoke Kangaroos Australian Football Club
Eva Rothwell Centre
Fighting Griffin Martial Arts
Fort Frances Lakers
French River Rapid Junior A Hockey Club Inc.
Future Girls Soccer
Gananoque Islanders
Georgetown Racquet Club Limited
Gesstwood Camp And Recreation Centre
Glenview Sports Entertainment Inc Smiths Falls Junior A Hockey Club Cchl Tier 2
Golden Horshoe Disabled Sports Association
Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
Greater Toronto Hockey League
Greek Canadian Community Centre Of London And Vicinity
Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Club
Hawkesbury Hawks Jr A Hockey Club
Hockey 4 Youth Foundation/Fondation Hockey Pour Les Jeunes
Home Brothers Group
Homenetmen Toronto
Hub Climbing Markham
Hub Climbing Mississauga
Huntsville Girls Hockey Association
I Challenge Diabetes
Ice Ignite Junior
In.Motion School Of The Performing Arts Inc.
Intercounty Tennis Association
J Athletics Canada
Jamaal Magloire Charitable Foundation
Kapuskasing Indian Friendship Centre
Kardia Inc.
Kenora Sportsplex Organization
Kenwood Athletic Club
Kinbridge Community Association
Kinetika Motor Performance Organization
Kingston Frontenacs Hockey Club
Kingston Pickleball Club
Kitchener Senior Panthers Baseball
Kleinburg Nobleton Soccer Club
Lady Ballers Camp
Lakeshore Lightning Girls Hockey Association
Lakeshore Soccer League
Lasalle Minor Hockey Association
Lasalle Stompers Soccer Club
Lay-Up Youth Basketball
Leamington Flyers Inc.
Learning Disabilities Association Toronto District
Lightsoutbasketball Academy
Limitless Multi-Sports Development
London Nationals Hockey Club Ltd.
Loyalist Township Minor Hockey Association
Malvern Family Resource Centre
Max Volley Inc
Megacity Basketball Association
Merchants Lacrosse Club
Milton Girls Softball Inc
Mindemoya Curling Club
Mississauga Steelheads Hockey Club
Muqdisho Youth Cultural Sports Organization Of Toronto
North Algona Wilberforce Township
North Bay Battalion Hockey Club Ltd.
Northern Ontario Hockey Association
Northumberland Pro Wrestling
Northumberland Soccer Club
Norwood Curling Club Inc.
Notso Amazon Softball League
Oakville Basketball Prep
Ontario Ball Hockey Association
Ontario Dance Academy
Ontario Handball Association
Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Schools Cricket Association
Ontario Softball Cricket League
Ontario Summer Football League
Ontario Ultimate
Ontario Women’s Intercollegiate Football Association
Oshawa General's Hockey Club
Ottawa 67s Limited Partnership
Ottawa Chinese-Canadian Heritage Centre
Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club
Ottawa Nepean Canadians Baseball Club
Owen Sound Attack Major Junior 'A' Hockey Clkub
Palmerston Junior Broomball
Paragolf Ontario
Pct Cheer & Tumble
Perpetual Motion Sports & Entertainment Inc.
Peterborough Lakers Alumni Association
Peterborough Petes Ltd.
Port Elgin Curling Club
Powerhockey Toronto
Prosserman Jewish Community Centre
Providence Bay Curling Club
Qsla
Recreation Association Of The Public Service Of Canada
Revolt Football Education
Rhythm & Motion Inc.
Ridgetown Figure Skating Club
Riverside Minor Hockey
Rock Solid Productions
Royal City Roller Derby
Salaam Sports
Scarborough Basketball Association
Skateable
Society Of Saint Vincent De Paul Particular Council Of Kent Deanery
Soo Greyhounds Inc.
South Grey Minor Hockey Association
South Kent Minor Hockey Association
Sports Education And Mentoring For Children & Youth (Semcy)
St Catharines Cyo Minor Hockey
St Catharines Junior B Hockey Club
St. Catharines Minor Lacrosse Association
Step N Sound Studios
Stouffville Academy Of Music And Dance
Stouffville Bmx @ Bruces Mill
Strathroy Dance Club
Striation 6
Stuart Dempster
Sudbury Minor Hockey Association
Superior International Junior Hockey League
Tapps Performing Arts
Tara Curling Club
Teach And Ball
Tecumseh Baseball Club
Terpsichore Dance Celebration Inc.
The Aurora Soccer Club Inc.
The Canadian German Club Of London
The Corporation Of The Township Of Johnson
The Dugout Baseball And Softball Academy
The Hoop Factory
The Ottawa Ospreys Rugby Football Club
The Scarborough Shadow Water Polo Club Inc.
The Ultimate Touch Football League Inc
The Vic Johnston Community Centre Inc.
Third Shot Drop
Thornhill Slo Pitch
Thorold Minor Baseball
Thrill Dancers
Thunder Bay Kings
Thunder Bay Squash
Tibetan Canandian Cultural Centre
Tillsonburg Minor Hockey
Tillsonburg Thunder Senior Hockey Team
Tony Colistro/Thunder Bay Chill Soccer Club
Toronto Chieftains
Toronto District Cricket Association
Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey Association
Toronto Lords Community Association
Toronto Raiders Football
Toronto Recreational Sports League
Toronto Roller Derby
Toronto Touch Rugby
Tottenham Beeton District Softball Association
Tri-Town Bowling Inc.
United Canadian Sambo Federation
Verein Teutonia Society
Walkerton Fc
Waterloo Minor Hockey Association
Welland Chiefs Baseball Team
West London Minor Hockey Association
West Rouge Basketball
Western Manitoulin Minor Hockey Association
Woolwich Minor Hockey Association
Ymca Of Greater Toronto
Ymca Of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford
Ymca Of Niagara
Ymca Of Oakville
Ymca Of Simcoe/Muskoka
Ymca Of Southwestern Ontario
Ymca-Ywca Of The National Capital Region
Yoga Outreach Project
York North Basketball Association
How long does it take to compete the online Grant application (from start to finish)? New
The OSN Emergency Relief Community Sport and Recreation Grant’s online application has been designed to be succinct, user-friendly, and efficient. After setting up a user profile, it should take approximately just under an hour for someone to complete all the required four steps and submit an application for an organization. Please note that you can save your information and come back to your application at any time. There is a requirement to upload financial records or documentation demonstrating expenses incurred due to the pandemic, so please have those records at hand when you are completing the application. Please read through the list of Frequently Asked Questions below as well as feel free to watch some of the recorded webinars as there is useful information captured to assist you with your application. If you have any questions at all please contact grants@ontariosportnetwork.ca for support.
My sport club is currently a member of my Provincial Sport Organization. Can I apply for this relief grant opportunity?
NO (with three exceptions listed below) – The PSO’s have a separate granting stream dedicated to Member clubs and the OSN’s granting stream is dedicated to those clubs and organizations that reside outside the traditional PSO/MSO stream. See: https://www.ontario.ca/page/provincial-sport-organizations-and-multi-sport-organizations & https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001721/ontario-investing-in-sport-organizations-and-community-recreation
EXCEPTION – Member clubs of PSO/MSOs that are recognized but not funded through the Ontario Amateur Sport Fund (this applies to the Ontario Grappling Association & Ontario Racquetball only)
My Organization Runs A Large League Yet We Are Member Of Our PSO. We Have Experienced Large Losses (Gate Revenue And Sponsorship) Due To The Pandemic. Can We Apply For This Grant Or Only The One Offered By Our PSO?
YES – This exception is due to the large financial losses incurred by certain teams and leagues with reductions in gate receipts and sponsorship. If this is the case with your specific league or team you can apply for the OSN Emergency Relief Grant. Your organization should only apply and receive support through one of these grants. However, OSN recognizes and takes into account the immediate and large financial need of eligible member organizations due to the impacts of the pandemic.
My recreational sport club does not have a Provincial Sport Organization at all. Can I still apply for this OSN grant?
YES – This specific Emergency Relief Fund is targeted towards sport and recreation organizations that are outside the traditional domain of the Ministry-recognized PSO/MSO system (and their Member Clubs). Monetary grants will be issued to eligible organizations that demonstrate the greatest financial need for recovery support and possess a plan and strategy to optimize the grant to sustain programming.
Can I apply for relief funding to support new capital expenditures (ie infrastructure, facility upgrades, new facilities etc)?
NO – The OSN ERF is focused on providing relief for organizations that have lost revenue or incurred costs in the last few years because of the pandemic. It is not to be used for new builds or new infrastructure.
Can I apply for funding to host a large upcoming event?
NO – The OSN ERF is not to be used to provide funding for event hosting. There are separate grants available from a variety of sources that are focused on event hosting. (Example: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-sport-hosting-program)
What CAN the funding be used for?
ANSWER –The funding can be used at the organizations discretion to remedy programming and operational costs due to the challenges of the pandemic. The funding can be used for new programming that was planned before the pandemic but it is not intended for programs that are brand new and not planned prior to the pandemic.
Where does the funding come from?
ANSWER – The funding is from the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. This investment will be instrumental in the province’s reopening plan by driving forward increased community sport activity, increasing health and wellness for our citizens, and reinvigorating our vital club sport and recreation ecosystem.
How will I receive my grant payment?
ANSWER – The grant application window closes on May 13th at 11:59 PM. All applications will be reviewed against the grant’s eligibility criteria (located on the OSN webpage). Our best efforts will be made to notify applicants by June 14th, with all successful applicants receiving their funding by June 24th, 2022.
Why was my grant unsuccessful?
ANSWERS – The ERF is designed to assist sport and recreation organizations in immediate need of financial assistance. Successful applicants must demonstrate financial need in their application and a plan and strategy to optimize the grant to sustain programming. While we understand that many organizations have been under financial pressure due to COVID-19 we expect to receive a large number of applications.
Other reasons that your grant was unsuccessful could include:
Why do I have to demonstrate financial need and provide financial records?
ANSWER – This funding is intended as emergency relief funding. Financial documentation is required in order to validate the financial situations of the applicants.
How are the eligible applications reviewed?
ANSWER – Eligible applications are evaluated by review panel consisting of 4-6 specialists in the community sport and recreation field. This panel will review the applications against the supplied information and the grant eligibility criteria.
Can I mail in my grant or does it all need to be entered electronically?
NO – All applications must be completed electronically. If there are challenges to completing your application this way please contact OSN staff at grants@ontariosportnetwork.ca
How do I apply for a grant? How do I know if I am eligible to apply?
ANSWER – There is an application link on this page. We have designed this application to be streamlined and easy to follow. Full eligibility requirements are listed on this page as well as at the front end of the application. OSN will be hosting a series of webinars during the first week in April (April 5 and 7th) and these will be recorded and put up on our website. This FAQ page will also be updated throughout the month of April. If you have any questions at all on this grant please email grants@ontariosportnetwork.ca
Who from my club, organization, team, or league should apply?
ANSWER – The person with the greatest knowledge of your club or organization should apply for this grant. Please ensure that this individual has access to the last few years of financial records or can demonstrate expenses or increased costs due to the pandemic.
Can I Do multiple applications for different clubs, organizations, teams, or leagues?
ANSWER – The application is set up so that when one individual sets up a profile they can indicate if they are doing multiple applications for different clubs, leagues, or organizations. However, there should only by ONE application per organization (multiple applications will NOT be accepted).
What are the grant deadlines?
ANSWER – The grant application window is from April 4th to May 13th (11:59PM)
If my organization is unsuccessful in receiving the OSN ERF are there other grant opportunities that may be available to me?
ANSWER - There are many other sport and recreation grants available in Ontario. Possible options available to you include:
*Please email grants@ontariosportnetwork.ca if you have any additional questions
TUES. APRIL 5TH @ 12:00
TUES APRIL 5TH @ 7:00
THURS APRIL 7TH @ 12:00
THURS APRIL 7TH @ 7:00PM
THURS APRIL 19TH @ 1:00PM
Officials Bursary Program
Application Window: CLOSED. Grants have been distributed. Thank you for your interest.
Successful applicants received funding provided to a maximum of $500 per official, to cover eligible costs related to course/clinics, registration fees and/or equipment for the 2022 year.
More Information