Community grants and Lead Cause grants available for local causes

The Town is inviting local community and non-profit organizations that contribute to Whitby as a vibrant and caring community to apply for the Town’s 2020 Community Development Grant Programs.

Application deadlines for the Town’s 2020 Lead Cause grants (each up to $25,000) are as follows:

• Mayor’s Fundraiser extended to Friday, November 6
• Mayor’s Golf Tournament due by Wednesday, March 31

Community grants of up to $5,000 can be applied for throughout the year and are awarded monthly. Special projects for grants of up to $25,000 will also be considered under the Performing Arts Community Development Fund.

In 2020, the Town provided over $114,000 in community grants to more than 40 local community organizations through the Mayor’s Community Development Fund and over $24,000 in community grants to 7 community organizations through the Performing Arts Community Development Fund. Over $53,000 of these funds were related to funding grants to support community organizations respond to the community needs as a result of COVID-19.

In addition to the Community Grants, the following four Lead Grants were also supported:

• $10,000 to the Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre – to support their Building campaign;
• $25,000 to Durham Region Hospice – Whitby – to help fund the comfort, care and compassion campaign to build a 10-bed facility in Whitby to better serve individuals who are facing a palliative diagnosis; 
• $12,000 to Lakeridge Health Foundation – to fund reverse osmosis machines for at-home dialysis treatment; and,
• $10,000 to Whitby Iroquois Soccer Club – to help them build a new soccer field.

All applications are reviewed by a Council-appointed citizens committee according to evaluation guidelines approved by Council. High priority is given to community-focused activities with a strong, local presence, that promote inclusion and civic engagement, and that have measureable outcomes.

For application guidelines or to fill out an application form, interested groups or individuals can visit whitby.ca/communityfunds.