Nonprofit Feature: Ontario Para Network
Weekly Nonprofit Feature. Celebrating Impact, Community, and Giving Back
At Impact Funding Solutions, we believe grant writing is about more than funding. It is about building stronger communities, supporting meaningful missions, and creating lasting impact. As part of our commitment to giving back, we are proud to bring back our Weekly Nonprofit Feature, a special initiative designed to recognize outstanding nonprofit organizations making a real difference in the lives of others.
Each quarter, our team reviews applications submitted through our Impact Grants Program, where nonprofits from across the United States and Canada share their missions, challenges, and the incredible work they are doing in their communities. While only a limited number of organizations receive grant awards each cycle, many more leave a lasting impression on our grant review committee.
Our Weekly Nonprofit Feature was created to ensure that more of these deserving organizations receive meaningful support, increased visibility, and community recognition. Each selected nonprofit will receive a $300 donation from Impact Funding Solutions, along with a featured blog post on our website, inclusion in our weekly “Impact for Good” newsletter, and promotion across our social media platforms to help amplify their mission and inspire others to get involved.
We know that awareness creates opportunity. Increased visibility can lead to new donors, volunteers, partnerships, and long-term sustainability. By sharing these stories, we hope to help nonprofit leaders connect with the people who care deeply about the causes they champion.
Through this initiative, we are proud to celebrate organizations creating positive change in areas such as food insecurity, youth mentorship, disability support, animal rescue, housing stability, education, mental health, community development, and so much more.
Because when good work is shared, good grows.
Nonprofit Feature: Ontario Para Network
At Impact Funding Solutions, some nonprofit stories resonate on a deeply personal level, and Ontario Para Network is one of them. Our grant review team was incredibly inspired by ONPARA’s mission to remove barriers and create truly inclusive opportunities in sport for individuals with disabilities across Ontario. This feature is especially close to our hearts, as one of our own family members is a below-the-knee amputee, sledge hockey player, and passionate accessibility advocate. We understand firsthand how life-changing access to adaptive sport, recreation, and inclusive community spaces can be. ONPARA is not simply creating programs. They are building confidence, independence, belonging, and opportunity for athletes of all ages and abilities. From affordable sport wheelchair rentals and “Have a Go” days to women’s provincial wheelchair basketball and the first-ever Para Spartan Race in Canada, their work is transforming what inclusion in sport can look like across the province. We are truly honored to feature an organization creating this kind of lasting impact.
| Organization Name | Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) |
| Organization Location | N/A |
| Website | https://onpara.ca/ |
| Social Media – Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/ |
| Social Media – Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/ |
| Social Media – Other | https://x.com/ONPARANETWORK |
| What is your Mission Statement? | Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) exists to grow and strengthen opportunities for participation in adaptive sport across Ontario. We lead, develop, support, and advocate for athletes, coaches, and volunteers to build inclusive and accessible sport communities where individuals of all abilities can participate in recreation, competition, and high-performance pathways.
Working alongside our partners, we are committed to removing barriers to sport through access, education, equipment, and meaningful programming that ensures everyone has the opportunity to participate and thrive. |
| Who do you serve? What IMPACT are you making in your community? | We serve individuals with disabilities across Ontario, including children, youth, and adults at all stages of their sport and recreation journey—from first-time participants to high-performance athletes.
ONPARA increases access to sport and recreation across Ontario through affordable sport wheelchair rentals, free “Have a Go” days, and introductory programming that allows individuals to try new sports in a supportive environment. We are also expanding inclusive sport opportunities at a systems level, including initiatives such as Para Tough Mudder and the first-ever Para Spartan Race in Canada launching in September 2026, creating new pathways for participation in mainstream events. Recently, we wrapped up a six-part development series for female athletes with a physical disability, covering topics such as health, nutrition, mental performance, funding opportunities, and lived athlete experiences, along with a coach-focused session on sport physiology. We aim to continue and expand targeted programs like this moving forward. In addition, we support local sport development through programs such as women’s provincial wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair squash in Niagara, and other community-based clubs across Ontario—helping strengthen pathways from participation to competition. Through this work, ONPARA is improving access, building community, and advancing long-term inclusion in sport across Ontario. |
| How can people who are interested help your organization? | There are several meaningful ways to support ONPARA and help grow inclusive sport across Ontario.
People can volunteer at local clubs and community sport programs, or support major events across the province, including the upcoming Spartan Race events throughout 2026 leading up to the first-ever Para Spartan Race in Canada. Volunteers help create accessible, welcoming experiences for athletes with disabilities and play a key role in event delivery. Contact Doug Hannum at doug@onpara.ca for more information. ONPARA also supports the development of programs such as women’s provincial wheelchair basketball and other local para sport clubs, helping strengthen pathways from grassroots participation to competitive sport. With recent funding cuts affecting programming, donations are essential. Contributions directly support inclusive sport opportunities, affordable sport wheelchair rentals, equipment, and “Have a Go” days that allow people to try new sports without barriers. Supporters can also get involved through our Victory Vault fundraising partnership, which helps generate critical funding for inclusive sport programming. Ways to support: https://www. |
| Anything else you would like to share? | We encourage you to explore our website for the latest updates and upcoming events, as we continue to expand inclusive sport opportunities across Ontario.
Current programming includes active wheelchair tennis programs running across the province, supporting both new and experienced athletes through recreational and competitive play. In Niagara, wheelchair squash is helping build an inclusive sport ecosystem where participants of all abilities can develop skills, stay active, and engage in a welcoming community environment. Through these and many other initiatives, ONPARA continues to grow access to adaptive sport, strengthen local clubs, and create more opportunities for people of all abilities to participate and thrive. |
Please take a moment to visit their website and connect with them on social media to help spread awareness of their mission.
Why We Feature Nonprofits
Nonprofit organizations are often the heart of their communities. They fill critical gaps, provide essential services, and offer hope where it is needed most. Yet many of these organizations operate with limited resources, small teams, and constant fundraising challenges.
At Impact Funding Solutions, we work closely with nonprofits every day and see firsthand how much impact can be created with even modest support. Sometimes visibility is just as valuable as funding.
Our nonprofit spotlight program helps organizations:
- increase public awareness
- attract new donors and volunteers
- strengthen community partnerships
- improve digital visibility through SEO-friendly online features
- build credibility with future grant funders and sponsors
- create evergreen promotional content they can continue sharing long after publication
This is one small way we can help incredible organizations continue doing extraordinary work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nonprofit Features and Grant Support
How can nonprofits get featured by Impact Funding Solutions?
Nonprofits are selected from applicants who apply to our quarterly Impact Grants Program. Our review committee looks for organizations creating strong community impact, demonstrating leadership, and serving important local needs.
Do nonprofits need to win an Impact Grant to be featured?
No. Many nonprofit features are selected from organizations that stood out during the review process, even if they were not selected for the quarterly grant award. We believe visibility and awareness are also powerful forms of support.
What does a nonprofit feature include?
Each selected nonprofit receives a $300 donation, a featured blog post on our website, promotion in our weekly newsletter “Impact for Good,” and social media exposure across our business platforms.
Why are nonprofit features important for fundraising?
Visibility helps nonprofits attract donors, volunteers, sponsors, and community partnerships. A strong online feature also improves SEO, credibility, and trust with future grant funders.
What types of nonprofits are featured?
We feature organizations across many sectors, including food security, youth programs, disability services, housing support, education, animal welfare, mental health, arts and culture, and community development.
Need Help Finding Grants for Your Nonprofit?
Impact Funding Solutions provides professional grant writing, grant research, fundraising strategy, and nonprofit consulting services for organizations across the United States and Canada.
If you are looking for grant opportunities for your nonprofit, need help strengthening your funding strategy, or want expert support with grant applications, our team is here to help.
