10 Grants Canadian Charities Should Know About Right Now

Finding funding shouldn’t feel like a scavenger hunt. Between shifting deadlines, eligibility fine print, and applications that all seem to want something slightly different, it’s easy for a good grant to slip past a busy team. So we pulled together ten corporate grant programs currently open (or opening soon) to Canadian registered charities — what they fund, who qualifies, and when to apply.

(Note: eligibility and deadlines change year to year — always confirm details on the funder’s own site before applying.)

1. BMO Community Grants

Deadline: September 30, 2026 BMO funds Canadian registered charities and non-profits working in two lanes: community and economic resilience (financial literacy, skills development, social services, education, health equity, accessible arts and culture) and environmental resilience (conservation, alternative energy in low-income neighbourhoods, environmental education). Award amounts vary by project.

2. Walmart Canada Corporate Giving Program

Rolling — no deadline Walmart Canada supports local, regional, and national nonprofits working in hunger relief and food access, disaster preparedness, and community-building. There’s no set deadline; applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, so this is a good one to keep in your back pocket year-round.

3. ScotiaRISE

Rolling — no deadline Scotiabank’s 10-year, $500-million commitment to economic resilience for disadvantaged groups. Priorities include high school and post-secondary completion, helping newcomers settle faster, and removing barriers to career advancement. Open to CRA-registered charities and non-profits with a track record of community impact; funding amounts vary widely by project scope.

4. Meridian Credit Union — Good Neighbour Program

Rolling — Ontario only Meridian’s Good Neighbour Program funds CRA-registered charities and non-profits that are registered with the CRA and operating within Ontario — funding typically ranges from $500 to $5,000 for local grassroots initiatives, with a separate stream for province-wide or regional projects. Worth flagging early: organizations based outside Ontario aren’t eligible, even if they operate nationally.

5. Giant Tiger Charitable Giving Fund

Deadline: January 31 (annual) Giant Tiger supports programs that feed families, promote physical or mental health, or empower youth. Applications open once a year with a January 31 deadline, decisions are made by May 1, and funds are issued the following August — so this is one to plan for well in advance, not scramble for. Requests must be for more than $2,000, and applicants must be CRA-registered charities.

6. Imperial Oil Community Investment

Rolling — no deadline Imperial funds CRA-registered charities, registered non-profits, public education institutions, government bodies, and Indigenous community groups — with a strong focus on STEM education and communities where Imperial operates (Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, and Ontario, among others).

7. Manulife Community Investment Program

Rolling — accepted year-round Manulife funds strategically aligned projects or general operating support tied to health and well-being, mental health, and financial resilience. Priority is given to organizations in Toronto/Waterloo, Montreal, Halifax, and Vancouver, though projects are reviewed regardless of location. Note that funding is limited, so alignment with Manulife’s stated priorities matters more than a strong project alone.

8. METRO

Submit 8–12 weeks before your event or program start date METRO (Metro Richelieu) accepts donation requests from CRA-registered charities whose projects demonstrably improve quality of life in the community. There’s no fixed annual deadline, but METRO asks that requests come in 8 to 12 weeks ahead of when you need a response — plan accordingly if your ask is tied to a specific event or program launch.

9. Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation

Local Grants typically open Sept–Oct; National Grants closed for 2026 CareMakers funds registered Canadian charities supporting family caregivers. The National Grant program (up to $300,000) runs on a summer application window and closed for 2026 on August 14 — worth calendaring for next year. The Local Grant program ($7,500 flat awards) has historically opened in early September and closed mid-October, so keep an eye on caremakers.ca for the 2026 local intake dates.

10. Honda Canada Foundation

Rolling — no deadline Honda Canada Foundation gives over $2 million annually to charitable non-profits aligned with its five pillars: Education, Environment, Mobility, Traffic Safety, and Community. Applications are online only and take about 30–45 minutes to complete — one of the more accessible applications on this list if you’re just getting started with corporate grant funding.

Finding the Grant Is Only Half the Job

Here’s what we see over and over with the charities we work with: the grants exist, the eligibility is often a fit, and the deadlines are knowable well in advance — but the actual work of tracking funders, tailoring each application, and following up on reporting requirements is where things fall through the cracks. Most nonprofit teams are already stretched thin running programs; grant research and writing becomes the thing that gets pushed to “next week” indefinitely.

That’s where we come in. Impact Funding Solutions offers grant management services built specifically for charities — we handle the research, the writing, the tracking, and the reporting, so your team can stay focused on the work the funding is actually for.

We’re proud to be a Canadian company, based right here in Ontario — and we’re just as proud to serve nonprofits on both sides of the border. Whether you’re a Canadian registered charity navigating programs like the ones above, or a US-based 501(c)(3) looking for the same kind of hands-on support, our approach is the same: build a plan, apply consistently, and take the administrative weight off your plate.

Ready to stop chasing grants one at a time? Get in touch to talk about what a grant management partnership could look like for your organization.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GRANT WRITING SERVICES FOR CANADIAN CHARITIES