Applying to Community Grants Programs at Saskatoon Community Foundation
Overview
Our Vision is to create a vibrant community where everyone belongs.
We are passionate stewards of philanthropy, helping every donor create their enduring legacy through charitable giving.
Saskatoon Community Foundation inspires philanthropy, builds community, and leads change in Saskatoon. The foundation stewards $66.6 million in endowed and non-endowed funds and manages $22.7 million in funds for other charitable organizations, ensuring a reliable stream of grant funding flows into the community forever. The foundation has worked and served on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis since 1970. It has disbursed over $59 million in grants for the community, supporting over 300 charities and representing over 350 fundholders. Beyond charitable sector expertise, the foundation’s professional staff team brings a passion for actively supporting positive change in our community for quality of life, youth, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation.
The Foundation offers three Community Grants programs, providing grants on behalf of donors who hold Unrestricted or Field of Interest Funds, and donors who support the Give YXE Fund.
Youth Endowment Saskatoon
Annual Intake Deadline: February 15
Maximum Grant Size: $10,000
Focus Areas: Children and Youth; annual areas of focus are determined by the Youth Advisory Council and published when the application goes live at the beginning of January. All programs focused on children and youth should apply to Youth Endowment Saskatoon.
Quality of Life Grants
Annual Intake Deadline: February 1
Maximum Grant Size: $10,000
Focus Areas: Reconciliation and Inclusion. Inclusion can encompass a wide range of projects, but there is a particular focus on social and cultural inclusion of diverse demographic groups. Reconciliation projects should apply to Quality of Life grants.
Vital Focus Grants
Annual Intake Deadline: March 1
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000 per year to a maximum of 5 years
Focus areas: Equity, Mental Health, Homelessness
From the Saskatoon Community Foundation Granting Policy:
Saskatoon Community Foundation Community Grants must:
- Empower qualified donees and those they serve, while recognizing and valuing diversity within the community.
- Respond to the changing nature of the community by listening to community organizations and utilizing data to identify and prioritize areas of focus for its granting programs.
Ineligible Purposes:
Saskatoon Community Foundation does not award Community Grant funds:
- In response to annual fundraising campaigns
- To retire debt
- Retroactively to projects that have already taken place
- For sectarian, religious or political purposes
- To endowment funds
- To individuals
Getting Started
- Check your eligibility to apply. Saskatoon Community Foundation can provide grants only to “qualified donees” as defined by the Income Tax Act of Canada. Qualified donees include registered charities, municipalities, and organizations performing a function of municipal government, but not non-profit organizations that are not charities. If your organization is not a qualified donee, you may be able to partner with a qualified donee to present your programming under its auspices (fiscal sponsorship). However, creating such a partnership and ensuring it is in place by the time you apply is the responsibility of your organization
- Be sure to diarize the deadline dates for the programs and apply on time. Late applications are not accepted.
- Visit the Saskatoon Community Foundation website for important dates and watch for email notifications about grant programs. If you would like to be included on the email list, contact Donor Relations and Grants Coordinator Krys Hertzke.
- Use the Where to Apply Tool to determine which Community Grant program is a good fit for your project. In most cases, it can tell you whether your project is a good fit for one of the programs. Quality of Life and Vital Focus grants are for projects in Saskatoon only. Youth Endowment Saskatoon may fund projects outside of Saskatoon, within the province.
- If you have not applied before, you will need to create an account within our online system. If you have applied before, but for a former organization, you need a new account. If another person from your organization has applied before, you need an account in your name. The person whose name is on the application may need to respond in a timely way regarding any information about the application. Click here to create your account or to log in.
- Once your account is created, click here to log in. You may now access applications for any programs currently open. Note that programs are typically open for a limited time (varying from 4 to 8 weeks depending on the program) prior to the intake deadline. No program’s application is open year-round.
- Best practice: prepare your materials before beginning your application. Applications vary, but you will need:
- A balanced budget for your project.
- The current year’s operations budget for your organization
- The most recent audited financial statements for your organization. (Per CRA regulations based on your annual revenues, you may need only a review engagement or simply a statement signed by your board. We will accept the appropriate statement for your organization.)
- For any programs being presented within schools, you will need a letter of support from the relevant school foundation (catholic or public schools).
- A clear, brief description of the activities of your project.
- A clear, brief description of the expected outcomes from your project.Your plan for evaluating the outcomes of the project
- The list of your organization’s Board of Directors
8. Ensure you have adequate time to complete the application.
9. If your project does not fit our criteria, but you have questions, send a brief email to Krys Hertzke at donorservices@saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca. Please explain very simply what your project will achieve and which program you believe is a good fit. We can respond to help you decide if you should apply.
Review Process and Timelines
All applications from each grants program are reviewed by committees made up of volunteers. Considering that most programs receive applications requesting 3 to 4 times the funds available for granting, this review process takes a significant period of time. Committee members may have questions about applications that require responses before decisions can be made. Staff may contact applicants with questions or requests for additional information, and those responses may also take time.
Once the review of applications is complete, the committee meets to make recommendations to the Board of Directors. The Board then reviews the recommendations and may also have questions prior to approving the recommendations.
Once the Board approves grant recommendations, all applicants will be informed of the decision regarding their applications. The decisions of the Board of Directors are final.
If grant has been approved, staff may contact the applicant for banking information in order to transfer funds. The foundation is moving toward making all grant payments electronically, so all recipients are strongly encouraged to provide banking information.
Reporting
Reporting and providing data about the outcomes of your project is vitally important, not only to the successful functioning of the Foundation but also to maintain a good applicant relationship. Clear reporting on the impact of the grant helps you to receive future grants and helps the Foundation to express that impact to donors, whose contributions make the grants possible.
Tips
- Be aware of the intake deadlines for all programs. Late applications are not accepted.
- Begin your application well in advance of the intake deadline. Last minute issues with supporting documents or technology do not excuse late applications.
- Be aware of the maximum grant size for each program. Applications for funds that are well above the maximum will likely cause your project to be considered unfundable, because the difference between the maximum and your requested amount will cause budget issues.
- Be aware of the focus areas for the program to which you are applying. Requests that do not fit the focus areas are not likely to be supported.
- Feel free to contact the Foundation’s staff to ask questions before submitting. Contact Krys Hertzke at donorservices@saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca or 306-665-1754 for initial inquiries.