Charities
As Niagara's philanthropic partner, it is our privilege to empower Niagara's strong and vibrant charitable sector. We help connect donors to causes and communities to resources through Grants, Charitable Funds, and our Centre of Excellence.
Grants
NCF discretionary grant program is an application-based process.
Application Process
- Eligibility: All applicants are required to be either a registered charity with Canada Revenue Agency or be a qualified donee to apply for a NCF grant.
- Grant Consult: If you are considering applying for a NCF grant, you must have a grant consult with our Director of Grants & Community Initiatives, JoAnne Krick, a minimum of 7 days prior to the grant deadline. Please contact JoAnne to setup your consult.
- Governance: All applicants must score a minimum of 8/14 on the NCF Governance Practices Checklist to be eligible to apply. Click here to find out about our Governance Checklist.
- Register: Create an account on the NCF Grant Portal or login to your account.
- Apply: Complete the online application process!
Please note that only one application per organization will be accepted for each grant program.
Grant Programs
David S. Howes Fund Grants
Due: Monday, March 30, 2026 | Noon
The David S. Howes Fund Grants Program is NCF's largest grant program, honouring the legacy of the late David S. Howes.
PRIORITIES
- Education
- Facilities
- Health-care Services
- Humanitarian Issues
- Post Secondary
- Research
Minimum ask of $25,000.
Environmental Grants
Due: Monday, January 19, 2026 | Noon
Our Environmental Grants Program focuses on bringing more partners together in our community to create a collaborative approach to meeting the environmental challenges we are facing.
Priorities
- Retain, reclaim and limit human impact on environmentally sensitive areas, or,
- Support 'Life Cycle Cost' assessment (environmental and economic) of government and industrial policies and practices.
Summer Camp Grants
Due: Monday, April 13, 2026 | Noon
Support organizations that help children in financial need participate in a variety of Niagara Summer Camp experiences.
Mini Grants Program
Due: Monday, July 13, 2026 | Noon
This program provides a time-sensitive, streamlined and responsive process for smaller projects.
Priorities
- Addressing the issues/indicators in the Living in Niagara Report, or,
- Assisting with the development and implementation of tools and resources that would contribute to an organization’s success (capacity building)
Maximum ask of $2,500 (suitable for projects with budgets less than $7,500)
Community Grants
Due: Monday, October 5, 2026 | Noon
Our Community Grants Program is our most flexible grant stream, creating opportunity to seek new and sustainable ways of addressing community issues and creating a more collaborative approach to meeting the challenges facing organizations and our community.
Priorities
- Addressing the issues/indicators in the Living in Niagara Report, or,
- Assisting with the development and implementation of tools and resources that would contribute to an organization’s success (capacity building)
Maximum ask of $25,000
Grant Program FAQs
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What kind of things can my organization apply for?
NCF grants to a variety of projects, programs and initiatives. NCF will NOT fund:
- Core operating costs or current program costs
- Operating or capital deficits
- Activities of religious organizations that serve primarily their membership and/or their direct religious purposes Endowment funds
- Retroactive funding for any project expenses incurred prior to the Foundation’s decision date
- Individuals
- Political activity as defined by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency’s publication on registering a charity Programs and services outside of Niagara
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How are grant decisions made?
Each application is evaluated by NCF’s Grants Review Committee. Made up of a diverse group of volunteers, each application is evaluated based on a set matrix to ensure funds are meeting the greatest needs in Niagara, are making a visible impact in our communities and closely align with our grant priorities. A list of recommendations is sent to our board of directors for final approval and the grants are disbursed accordingly.
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How does NCF determine the “greatest needs” in Niagara? What is the Living in Niagara Report?
NCF grant programs are data driven, using the Living in Niagara Report as a core document for understanding the needs and opportunities in Niagara. This third party evaluation tool provides a regular measure of quality of life in the Niagara region, evaluating 11 sectors within our community. Sectors and Indicators in the report are described, built and owned by the Niagara-wide community.
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Can an organization without charitable status (e.g. Not-For-Profit) apply for a grant?
NCF grants are only available to registered charities or qualified donees. If you are a not-for-profit or community organization, we suggest you enter into a partnership agreement with a local charity or qualified donee (example your local municipality). Please contact us to learn more about these options.
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How many applications can my organization submit?
Only one application per organization will be accepted for each grant program.
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Our organization has never applied before. How do we set up a profile in the NCF Grant Portal?
If you are the first person for your organization to set up an account with us, follow this link and click on 'Create New Account' to set up a username and password.
You will become the primary contact for your organization profile. (Please confirm with your staff and colleagues that this step has not already been taken).
In the registration process, you will be asked to provide your organization's contact information and CRA number. This is required!
Once your new account is created, you will be able to track all your applications, approvals, and grant agreements on your new dashboard.
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I’m a new staff member but my organization has applied in the past. How do I connect to my organization’s Dashboard?
Please contact us with your name, email address and organization and we will assist you to set up a new profile and ensure you are linked to your organization properly.
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Can I invite other organizations to collaborate on an application?
NCF's granting portal allows you to add collaborators on an application. This is helpful when you have multiple grant writers or you are partnering with another organization for your application. Please follow this guide to invite a collaborator to an application OR to add a new user to your organization.
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Are late applications accepted?
All NCF grant applications are due on a Monday at NOON. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
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Where can I see my organization’s past applications?
Within your dashboard, you will have access to all your current, past and approved applications, as well as grant agreements and final reports. Please note that if there are multiple users associated with your organization, you will only have access to applications that you have been assigned.
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Our application was approved! Now what? What are NCF’s reporting requirements?
All applicants are required to complete a grant agreement once your application is approved AND a final report. Both assignments can be found in your NCF Grant Portal.
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Our organization was previously awarded a grant and the project isn't yet complete. Can we still apply for grants?
You may apply for grants, even if your previous project isn't complete as long as you have no over-due Final Reports. If you do have over-due Final Reports, those must be submitted in the portal and reviewed by the NCF team before new applications will be considered.
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What if our organization receives a grant for a particular project and we are unable to proceed with the project?
It's essential that you let NCF know as soon as possible. We will work with your organization to see what alternatives can be found, but it is possible in certain circumstances that the grant (or a portion of the grant) may need to be returned to the Foundation.
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What are NCF’s Grant Acknowledgement requirements?
NCF grantees are required to acknowledge each grant received. By promoting the funding you received from NCF, you are helping to demonstrate the impact of our donors in the community. Please visit our Charity Resource Page to see how best to acknowledge the grant you received.
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Where can I find the NCF Logo for funding acknowledgements?
Please find copies of NCF's logo here. File types available are .png .jpg and .esp. Please follow NCF's brand guidelines when using the NCF logo. Click here to find our brand guide.
Charitable Organization Funds
Charitable funds provide nonprofit organizations the opportunity to open an income earning endowment fund that will support your organization in perpetuity. Starting a Charitable Fund with NCF is a great choice for organizations who want an easy and flexible way to begin a fund without having to do the tedious work of creating their own foundation.
Whether you have received a legacy gift from one of your donors or want to begin with a modest investment that will build overtime, opening a Charitable Endowment Fund is a straightforward way to support your organization for generations to come.
Here’s some FAQ to help you decide if a Charitable Endowment Fund is a good fit for you.
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What it the legal definition of 'endowment'?
There is no legal definition, but the commonly accepted meaning for 'endowment' is a fund which is kept in perpetuity (forever) to provide interest and dividend earnings for the benefit of a charitable cause. Each year, income earned on the organization's fund is available to be used by the charity, or it can be reinvested in the capital.
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Should all organizations have an endowment?
No. Organizations that are formed in support of short-term causes or particular events do not need endowments. Similarly, organizations which are in financial crisis, do not have a donor base or lack any credible record of accomplishments are unlikely candidates for an endowment. Outside of these exceptions, most other organizations will benefit from an endowment fund.
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We received a large gift, suitable for an endowment. Should we set up our own foundation?
You could, but setting up a new foundation is a lot of work and a large responsibility. It’s important for your Board to evaluate whether your organization has the necessary skills, expertise and resources to manage a permanent endowment fund; basically, to start another organization. A more straightforward approach is to invest with a community foundation. For NCF, this is our full-time business; we have been building a permanent endowment for Niagara since 2000. NCF has a professional investment counsel who is monitored and evaluated by our Investment Advisory Committee. We have many layers of accountability, financial and legal acumen and 21+ year of experience that we will be put behind your endowment fund. You are in good hands.
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How does endowment fit into an overall organizational financial plan?
To be healthy and stable, an organization needs to meet its current operating budget with specific strategies. An organization should have an operating reserve account that can cover its expenses in an emergency. Then, based on some fundamental criteria of what defines an endowment donor, you are ready to consider endowment fundraising as an option. Endowment fund income can be used for whatever you like; however, using it to cover annual operating costs reduces the stress on the organization and frees up resources for new programs.
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What's the difference between an endowment and an operating reserve?
An operating reserve is a board-designated fund that may act like an endowment because an organization chooses not to touch the capital. Capital is, in fact, available to meet emergency needs should the board choose to expend it. Usually, operating reserves are managed and invested by the organization's staff and board. An endowment, on the other hand, is a fund in which, by definition, the capital cannot be invaded. Ofte,n this is best accomplished only by placing the endowment outside the reach of the organization, like with a community foundation.
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What happens if we have an emergency and need the endowment money?
If you establish a true endowment, the capital is non-encroachable and your emergency must be solved with other financial resources. If it is a board-designated endowment, there are many examples of 'borrowing' and other creative accounting techniques which invade principal with full intention of repaying it but, most often this doesn’t work. Endowment capital should not be touched regardless of the depth of the emergency.
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What happens to our endowment if our organization goes out of existence?
If you have an endowment held in trust through an independent charitable foundation, such as the Niagara Community Foundation, the assets will be redirected to the most similar cause available. This can be pre-determined when setting up your fund or can be left to the discretion of the Foundation.
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Will having an endowment conflict with current donor's giving?
Absolutely not. In fact, the addition of an endowment program when presented to your current donors will encourage them, knowing they are dealing with an organization with the foresight to plan to stabilize its financial future. We’ve learned from experience that committed donors don't typically pick and choose ways to support their favourite charities, but frequently participate in all of them; having an endowment fund complements your donor’s giving patterns.
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What happens when we get another large gift?
We are ready and waiting! NCF has the technical expertise and the facility to accept gifts in a timely, cost-effective manner on behalf of the agency, e.g., transfer of shares, etc. Your organization is welcome to put us directly in touch with the donor and we handle the rest to ensure their contribution is added to your fund.
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Is an endowment program the same as a planned giving program?
Many use the terms interchangeably, but they really are two separate things. An endowment is the pot of money you build as a nest egg for your organization. Many gifts that go into the pot will be planned gifts, loosely defined as out-of-the-ordinary gifts that require careful estate and financial planning on the part of the donor.
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How will donors know we have a charitable endowment fund with NCF?
You are welcome to let your donors know about the newly established fund, however, your fund will be publicized in NCF’s communication materials and this can attract new donors to your organization.
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What's the down-side?
The fund is non-encroachable by the charity, even during times of extreme financial need- you can’t touch it. There may be years in which the investment earnings are insufficient to make the annual distribution. In this instance, the Foundation may be able to draw on any undistributed earnings from previous years.
Centre of Excellence Governance Program
We know that proper governance can be a challenge for many charities, especially smaller organizations. This is why we created “the Centre of Excellence in Nonprofit Governance” or COE. This six part program offers assistance to organizations to help identify challenges they are facing with respect to their organization’s governance, and management, and to provide expertise and resources to help charities improve their practices in these areas.
There are 6 sections to the COE, some of which are delivered by the Foundation and some in partnership with Niagara Connects through the Niagara Knowledge Exchange (NKE) tool.
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Section 1: Governance Coaching Program (GCP)
This program is offered to assist organizations to identify challenges they are facing with respect to their organization’s governance and management and to provide expertise and resources to help charities to improve their practices in these areas. With this program, charities complete our Governance Gap Analysis tool and use the results of the analysis to put together a work plan to address the identified governance gaps. What is critical is that the Board Chair/President and the organization’s senior staff leadership (ex. CEO, ED, senior staff member) work on this initiative together.
This program is offered to assist organizations to identify challenges they are facing with respect to their organization’s governance and management and to provide expertise and resources to help charities to improve their practices in these areas. With this program, charities complete our Governance Gap Analysis tool and use the results of the analysis to put together a work plan to address the identified governance gaps.
The Governance Gap Analysis Tool covers five areas:
- Board governance – leadership, oversight, policies and processes
- Financial accountability and transparency
- Fundraising – leading practices and donor relationships
- Board-Staff relationship – policies, staff recruitment, performance management, professional development
- Volunteer management – policies, procedures, practices and provides expertise and resources to help charities improve their performance.
Once a charity completes the checklist, successful applicants will receive 20 hours of coaching by a qualified GCP Consultant. The Consultant will design a unique work plan to meet your organization’s needs, and provide facilitation and resources to support your Board of Directors and Senior Staff. The critical piece to this program is buy-in from the Board Chair/President and the organization’s senior staff leadership (ex. CEO, ED, senior staff member). This is essential to make this program a success.
To find out more about our GCP Consultants click here.
Click here to learn more about the program or contact JoAnne Krick, Director of Grants & Community Initiatives.
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Section 2: Instituting Minimum Governance Practices for Grant Applicants
NCF requires that charities applying for one of our grant programs need to meet 8 out of 14 governance practices listed below, to be eligible to apply. However, if a minimum of 8 practices are not currently in place, a charity is allowed to apply once and the charity is directed to appropriate resources and support to address gaps. If a charity is part of the Governance Partners Program listed in Section One, it is exempt from this requirement.
Charities are not permitted subsequent applications until 8 of the minimum practices have been met or a plan is in place to achieve them.
- The organization has written HR management policies that comply, at minimum, with employment, health and safety, and other applicable legislation.
- Does the board approve an annual budget?
- Does the board review the actual budget at least twice a year?
- Does the board meet a minimum of 3 times annually?
- Are board policies reviewed at least every 4 years?
- Is there a policy that clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of the board and officers?
- Are there fixed terms for board members?
- Has a strategic plan been developed in the last 4 years?
- Does the board annually review progress on achieving strategic plan goals and adjust the plan to reflect progress and new opportunities?
- Is ED/CEO performance reviewed annually?
- Is a board evaluation undertaken annually?
- Is there an interim succession plan in place or being developed in the unexpected changeover in organization leadership?
- Is there a conflict of interest policy?
- Is there a reserve policy?
Click here for resources to help meet these requirements.
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Section 3: Accessing Canadian Governance Resources
We work in partnership with Niagara Connects to ensure current Canadian-based governance resources are posted on the Niagara Knowledge Exchange (NKE). Relevant, reliable resources are identified, tagged, accessible, and promoted to the sector. Here’s the link to the NKE website: niagaraknowledgeexchange.com Type ‘governance’ into the search box on the NKE and a list of governance-related learning events and information resources, with related links will be identified.
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Section 4: Grants for Professional and Organizational Development
The Foundation has provided capacity-building grants to support professional and organizational development since 2001. They are available through our Community Grants and Mini-Grants. Go to the Grants section of our site to get further information and links to our application forms.
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Section 5: Publicizing Governance Professional Development
The Foundation is working in partnership with Niagara Connects Knowledge Brokers to ensure that relevant professional development (PD) opportunities are sourced, tagged and regularly added to the Niagara Community Calendar on the Niagara Knowledge Exchange (NKE). A process is in place to keep PD opportunities on the Calendar current and promoted to the sector. Organizations providing professional development for the sector are encouraged to post on the Calendar on the NKE. To access the Calendar go to the NKE site, then type the following text, including quotation marks, in the search box: “for-social-profit” AND “training and learning”.
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Section 6: Sponsoring Governance Professional Development
The Foundation will consider sponsoring sector-wide governance professional development opportunities in Niagara. The purpose of the sponsorship is to ensure that fees are not a barrier to participation by charities. Please contact JoAnne Krick to inquire about sponsorship opportunities.