General
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Typically, the Foundation does not consider requests:
- that are part of a general fundraising campaign;
- to reduce accumulated capital or operational deficits;
- for endowments;
- for emergency funds;
- for academic research or scholarships;
- for research or activities related to healthcare or education (unless linked to one of our existing grant programs);
- for international work;
- involving partisan political activities;
- for production of film or video;
- for publication of books or theses; or
- to promote religious teachings.
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Except under the Innovation Fellowships Program, grants are only made to organizations with registered charitable status, and the Foundation does not fund individuals.
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After reviewing the sections of the website that describe the way in which the Foundation works, download and read the appropriate program guidelines. The guidelines provide detailed information about the eligibility criteria, application processes, and deadlines for each program. After reviewing the guidelines carefully, if you have additional questions, feel free to contact the appropriate Program Director.
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Why does the Foundation recommend that we talk to program staff in advance of making an application?
All of the Foundation’s funding programs are highly competitive, and we receive many more applications than we are able to fund. Foundation staff can advise applicants about the program priorities, and they can help applicants to shape the most compelling cases for funding. While it is recommended that prospective applicants speak with staff prior to making a submission to the Foundation, however, it is not a prerequisite for applying.
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Foundation staff is happy to discuss potential applications and to help organizations craft a more focused argument for funding, but they do not read drafts of applications prior to their submission.
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The Foundation makes granting decisions four times each year.
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Each program has separate deadlines for applications. Please review the guidelines carefully as you are preparing your submission.
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Each program has different funding parameters. Please review the guidelines carefully as you are preparing your submission; if you have specific questions about the amount of your particular request, feel free to contact the appropriate Program Director.
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A Metcalf grant can certainly be a portion of funding a larger project. When assessing an application that is dependent on other funders, however, the Foundation does consider whether expectations related to funding from other sources are realistic and whether the investment of the Foundation would still have a positive effect for the applicant if other funders did not support the initiative. Nonetheless, it can be advantageous to demonstrate support, from other funders, for your ideas.
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All applications to the Metcalf Foundation are reviewed by advisors who represent the communities in which we work. Click here to view the full list of advisors to the Foundation. Funding decisions are made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors based on advice from and recommendations made by these advisors.
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Where deadlines are detailed in the guidelines for each of the Foundation’s funding programs, notice is also given for when you may expect to hear back from the Foundation. Please review the guidelines carefully as you are preparing your submission. Typically, you will be informed of our decision within a week of the Foundation’s Board meeting.
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An application can be re-submitted to any deadline. Prior to submitting a request that was not approved in the past, however, it is recommended that the applicant contact Foundation staff in order to receive any feedback that the advisory committee might have had regarding the earlier submission.
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Paper copies of letters and applications are required and can be sent by mail or courier to our offices. Electronic versions via e-mail are often requested as part of the submission process. We do not accept applications by fax.
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Inclusive Local Economies
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Eligible applicants to the Foundation must:
- have a valid charitable registration number from the Canada Revenue Agency;
- be based within the province of Ontario (certain funding programs are restricted to organizations within Toronto or southern Ontario – please review the eligibility criteria carefully for each program); and
- be working in one of the Foundation’s three areas of interest – environment, performing arts, and inclusive local economies.
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The Opportunities Fund program is limited to Toronto only. Eligible applicants must be located and operate in the city of Toronto. The Foundation does not make Inclusive Local Economies Program grants outside of Toronto.
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The Foundation can only fund organizations that have a valid charitable registration number from the Canada Revenue Agency.
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While we recognize that organizations may be involved in many activities and projects, it is not the Foundation’s customary practice to consider more than one letter of inquiry from any one organization. Please limit your request to one project unless otherwise arranged with Foundation staff.
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There is no maximum or minimum grant size. We simply ask that applications be submitted with budgets appropriate to the organization's size and human resources capacity.
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The Foundation will entertain proposals for multi-year funding. Again, we ask that applications be submitted with appropriate financial requests consistent with project scope and duration.
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This is not a direct services funding program. Service delivery, while an extremely important strategy, cannot in isolation address the current conditions in which low-income people live. Our program is designed to support the ideas, the strategies, and the policies that can improve low-income peoples’ economic livelihoods and access to quality jobs.
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Additional printed material, such as annual reports or newsletters, can be attached as background information if you wish, but it is not mandatory.
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There is no application process. The Foundation has identified the two communities it will work with to pilot this project and currently does not intend to expand to other neighbourhoods.
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Environment
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No. In the Environment Program, the Foundation supports only organizations that have a current charitable registration number from the Canada Revenue Agency.
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No. In the Environment Program, grants are limited to organizations in southern Ontario. This is defined as anywhere south of the Canadian Shield within the province of Ontario.
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No. The Foundation’s environment programs are limited to organizations that are focused on projects related to land-use issues. Please refer to the program guidelines for further information.
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While we recognize that organizations may be involved in many activities and projects, it is not the Foundation’s customary practice to consider more than one letter of inquiry from any one organization. Please limit your request to one project unless otherwise arranged with Foundation staff.
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Yes. These applications would be treated separately, and each would be assessed on its individual merits.
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In the Healthy Lands program, there is no maximum or minimum grant size; we simply ask that applications be submitted with budgets appropriate to the organization’s size and human resources capacity. Under the Sustainability Internship program, grants will be made for interns’ salaries and benefits to a maximum of $30,000 for a year-long internship.
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Under the Healthy Lands program, the Foundation will entertain proposals for multi-year funding; we ask that applications be submitted with appropriate financial requests consistent with the project’s scope and duration. Under the Sustainability Internship program, the maximum length of an internship is 12 months.
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The Foundation does not limit the number of internships for which an organization can apply in a given round; each application is assessed on its individual merits. When applications are being assessed, however, the Foundation does consider an organization’s capacity to provide strong mentorships. While a larger organization might have the capacity to provide a number of strong internships simultaneously in different departments, smaller companies might have less ability to do so. For this reason, the submission of multiple proposals could weaken all of the applications.
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There is no limit to the number of times any organization can apply for internship funding. Applicants should remain conscious, however, that this program was created to fund learning opportunities for interns and not to create positions at organizations. Repeated applications to fund an internship that appears to be an ongoing position, therefore, are less likely to be successful.
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We do not encourage the inclusion of additional printed material such as annual reports, newsletters, research reports, or workshop proceedings. If the application is part of a broader initiative, however, please outline the larger context of the project along with other potential or secured funding partners.
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Performing Arts
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No. The Foundation’s arts programs are limited to organizations in the live performing arts, defined as theatre, dance, music, and opera companies. The Foundation will also support arts service organizations serving the live performing arts, but, except in rare circumstances, it will not consider cross-disciplinary service organizations that serve a variety of art forms including the performing arts.
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No. Under the Performing Arts Program, the Foundation supports only organizations that have a current charitable registration number from the Canada Revenue Agency.
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No. In the Performing Arts Program, grants are limited to organizations in Ontario. In the Strategic Initiatives component of the Program, grants are limited to organizations in Toronto; Ontario-based organizations from outside of Toronto may only apply to the Performing Arts Internships and Renewal programs.
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Yes. These applications would be treated separately, and each would be assessed on its individual merits.
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The Foundation does not limit the number of internships for which an organization can apply in a given round; each application is assessed on its individual merits. When applications are being assessed, however, the Foundation does consider an organization’s capacity to provide strong mentorships. While a larger organization might have the capacity to provide a number of strong internships simultaneously in different departments, smaller companies might have less ability to do so. For this reason, the submission of multiple proposals could weaken all of the applications.
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There is no limit to the number of times any organization can apply for internship funding. Applicants should remain conscious, however, that this program was created to fund learning opportunities for interns and not to create positions at organizations. Repeated applications to fund an internship that appears to be an ongoing position, therefore, are less likely to be successful.
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