Apply for Civic Events funding
The City of Ottawa invites local not-for-profit organizations, such as community groups and associations to apply for up to $3,000 in Civic Events funding.
Civic Events Funding is used to deliver family-friendly events in local Ottawa communities and priority neighbourhoods that:
Promote neighbours meeting neighbours in their local, geographic community;
Include multiple activities and attractions designed to appeal to residents of a specific priority neighbourhood or population;
Promote community well-being by welcoming all community members or priority groups; and
Promote equity and inclusion
All applications will be assessed through an allocation process. An applicant’s success in obtaining funding depends on the allocation committee’s final evaluation and the funding available in the envelope.
Key dates
Deadline for application: Thursday March 28, 2024, at 5:00pm.
Applicants are advised of the results on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
Before you begin
Please review all the information tabs carefully before you submit your application
Only one application per organization will be considered
Only one application per event will be considered
All supporting documents must be in the same legal name as the applicant organization
Applications will be accepted between March 6 and March 28, 2024, for events taking place in 2024
Eligibility
Organizations
Eligible organizations/associations must meet the following conditions:
Be a non-profit organization
Have been in existence for at least 2 years
Have an organizational mandate that aligns with the Community Funding Framework Policy StatementsOpens in a new tab or window(link is external)
Demonstrate financial viability
Be in Good standing with the City of Ottawa
Operate in a non-discriminatory manner as set out by Ontario's Human Rights Code
Be governed by a democratically elected Board of Directors or Steering Committee
Be located in Ottawa and serve residents of Ottawa
Applicants cannot be:
Sponsored by another non-profit or charitable organization
Faith-based organizations whose services/activities include the direct promotion of and/or required adherence to a faith or religious practice
For-profit organizations or ventures
Organizations which act primarily as a funding source for other groups
Hospitals, clinic-based services or medical treatment programs
Organizations of political affiliation or which have a mandate to conduct political activities
Other levels of government or organizations proposing programs within the legislated mandate of other governments
Provincial/national organizations, unless a local chapter/branch exists to explicitly serve the residents of the city of Ottawa
School boards, primary and secondary schools, post-secondary institutions
Sports clubs
Events
Eligible events include, but are not limited to, events that:
Are held over one or two consecutive days
Have free admission to enter the event
Are primarily planned and executed by volunteers
Are open and promoted to the public in the geographic neighbourhood where the event is being held
Are held on or before December 31, 2024
Ineligible events include but are not limited to:
For profit activities/events
Major arts and cultural festivals and major agricultural fairs
Events with a citywide mandate, whose scope and audience outreach extends to the entire city
Self-promotional, marketing activities or fundraising initiatives
Capital projects
Commercial ventures, conventions and tradeshows
Events where the public can only participate as a spectator, including but not limited to parades, sporting events, contests, tournaments, concerts
Events that require membership, or adherence to a faith to participate, or that contain political, religious or discriminatory programming