The Seed Grant helps organizations in Ontario get ready for future success by strengthening their ability to run programs and services. It is meant to support planning, piloting ideas, and building capacity so groups can grow and have a bigger impact. This is not a large capital purchase fund, but a chance to prepare, test, and innovate before big steps.
Who is eligible for the Seed Grant?
- The grant is for groups that help people in Ontario with services and programs.
- To qualify, applicants must have a clear purpose and presence in Ontario and be able to manage money and projects.
- The work must be in areas like arts, culture, sport, environment or human and social services.
Who can apply for the Seed Grant?
- Registered charities and non-profit organizations are eligible.
- Indigenous communities and Métis or Inuit organizations can apply.
- Small municipalities (under 20,000 people) can apply in specific priority areas.
- Groups working together can apply as a collaboration, with one taking the lead.
What are the conditions of the Seed Grant?
- The project has to be about preparing for future work, like planning or testing a new idea.
- Funding can support organizational planning, skill building, technology adaptation, or pilot programs that benefit community members.
- The work must be connected to community benefit and delivered within the grant term.
- If quotes are needed for costs over $5,000, you must include them in your application.
How much funding is available?
- The Seed Grant supports projects that cost between $10,000 and $100,000.
- Projects usually run for 6 to 12 months, so you can complete your planning or pilot work.
Does the grant support capital purchases like wheelchair vans or mobile medical units?
- No, the Seed Grant does not support large capital purchases like wheelchair accessible vans or mobile medical vehicles.
- The grant focuses on planning and capacity work, not buying big equipment or vehicles.
- If your idea involves vehicles or major equipment, you might need to look at a capital grant or other funding streams later.
How can the Seed Grant support planning around wheelchair vans or mobile clinics?
- You can use the Seed Grant to do feasibility studies, checking if a wheelchair van or mobile clinic makes sense for your organization.
- It can help with service design, needs assessments, business plans, or pilot program ideas.
- The grant can fund technology planning or staff training to prepare for future program delivery.
- It gives you space to think and plan before you start talking about purchasing a vehicle.
Deadline dates to know
- The next application period for the Seed Grant opens July 22, 2026, and closes August 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Make sure you start early so you can gather all the details and documents needed.
Any questions about grants?
If you want to talk about how the Seed Grant might help your future plans or need help understanding it better, click the button below to talk to one of our mobility experts.
Important note: MoveMobility is not the funding provider and cannot support or influence grant applications. All details shared here come directly from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Seed Grant information. This content is shared for awareness only and should not be taken as funding advice. To learn more, visit https://otf.ca/our-grants/community-investments-grants/seed-grant.
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