Funding
Public or Private Funding? Whats the difference? Public: There are three levels of government from which you can apply for a grant: municipal, provincial, and federal. Understanding the nuances and scope of each granting body will help you determine which opportunities are right for you. Private: Let's talk foundations!
Granting Writing
Grant writing is the process of crafting compelling proposals to secure funding from government agencies, foundations, or other funding bodies. Whether you're seeking support for a project, program, or organization, successful grant writing requires clarity, strategy, and a deep understanding of the funder's priorities. This guide will help you navigate the essentials from identifying the right opportunities to writing persuasive applications so you can confidently pursue the resources you need to bring your vision to life.
Public Funders
If you are applying for grants in Canada, you have several different options depending on where you live. This page lists different funding opportunities for the arts provided through the federal government of Canada.
If you are an artist living or working in Canada, public funding for the arts is available to you through your provincial government depending on which province you reside in.
In addition to provincial and federal government grants, some municipalities have arts funding programs for residents of their community. You may want to look at their different programs when applying for grants. For example, the City of Toronto also has a funding body for the arts called the Toronto Arts Council (TAC), and artists from Toronto can apply for funding from the TAC in addition to the Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.
Canadian Arts Data/Donees sur les arts au Canada (CADAC), is a national database for tracking statistical and financial information for arts organizations. CADAC is a required part of the process for arts organizations applying for operating grants. Arts organizations making applications to multiple funding agencies submit their financial and statistical information in a single format, to a single source.
Private Funders
If you eligible for a foundation's grant, the first step is to get in touch with someone at the foundation to talk about your interest in the grant. Funding in the private sector is reliant on the personal connection developed between new applicants and the representatives of the foundation.