Guide
Finding funding in Ontario: grants, loans and rebates
The CanGrant team · 6 min read · Published Nov 3, 2026
The short answer
In Ontario, funding comes from FedDev Ontario and FedNor, provincial regional funds, Small Business Enterprise Centres, Save on Energy and Enbridge, Trillium and local foundations.
Funding in Ontario comes from several layers: national programs open to all of Canada, federal business funding delivered by FedDev Ontario in the south and FedNor in the north, provincial regional development funds, start-up help through Small Business Enterprise Centres, energy incentives from Save on Energy and Enbridge Gas, the Ontario Trillium Foundation for non-profits, and city and community foundation grants. Start with the Ontario page or run the funding check to see which layer fits you.
This guide goes through each layer for businesses, non-profits and homeowners, then the five largest cities we cover. Each program we name has its own page with its current status, amounts and rules, so check the program page before you plan around it.
Who funds businesses and organizations in Ontario?
Picture four levels, each with its own programs. Our post on federal, provincial and city funding layers explains how they fit together.
- Federal, national. Programs open across Canada, such as CanExport SMEs, NRC IRAP, SR&ED tax incentives and Canada Summer Jobs.
- Federal, regional. Ontario has two federal regional development agencies: FedDev Ontario for southern Ontario and FedNor for northern Ontario.
- Provincial. Ontario ministries and provincial bodies, including the regional development funds and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
- Local. Cities, utilities, Small Business Enterprise Centres and community foundations.
The funders page lists everyone whose programs appear on CanGrant.
What federal funding is there for Ontario businesses?
FedDev Ontario (southern Ontario)
FedDev Ontario delivers federal business funding in southern Ontario. The Regional Tariff Response Initiative in southern Ontario helps businesses facing tariff pressures and trade disruptions. Check the program page for who qualifies.
FedNor (northern Ontario)
FedNor delivers federal business and community funding in northern Ontario. Its main program, Regional Economic Growth through Innovation, includes a stream for growing companies, and Business Scale-up and Productivity in northern Ontario offers repayable contributions for growth projects.
National programs
Ontario businesses also use national programs for exporting, innovation and hiring:
- Exporting. CanExport SMEs. Read export funding for your first market.
- Innovation. NRC IRAP and SR&ED. See SR&ED vs IRAP.
- Hiring. Canada Summer Jobs, the Student Work Placement Program and Mitacs internships. See the guide to wage subsidies and hiring programs.
- Loans. BDC, a federal Crown corporation, lends to businesses across Canada, including through its online small business loan.
The complete guide to small business funding in Canada covers the national picture.
What provincial funding is there for Ontario businesses?
Regional development funds
Ontario's Regional Development Program is the umbrella for provincial funds that help businesses expand in specific regions of the province. Two funds on CanGrant:
- The Eastern Ontario Development Fund supports businesses expanding in eastern Ontario.
- The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund supports businesses expanding in southwestern Ontario.
These funds are for established businesses with an expansion or investment project that creates jobs. They have rules on how long you've operated, how many people you employ and the jobs your project creates, so check the program page.
Starter Company Plus and Summer Company
For people starting out, Ontario's Small Business Enterprise Centres deliver two programs:
- Starter Company Plus combines training, mentoring and, for some participants, a grant for people starting or growing a small business.
- Summer Company helps students start and run their own summer business, with mentoring and funding.
Small Business Enterprise Centres also offer free advice, workshops and help with registration. Read funding to start a business and funding for young entrepreneurs.
Browse the Ontario pages for growth, start-up, hiring and export, or the page for Ontario small businesses.
What energy incentives are there for Ontario businesses?
Save on Energy runs the Retrofit Program, which offers incentives for upgrading equipment such as lighting, heating and cooling, and manufacturing equipment at commercial, industrial, municipal and multi-residential buildings. Smaller businesses can also look at Save on Energy programs for small business. Most incentives need pre-approval before you buy or install. See the Ontario energy page.
What funding is there for Ontario non-profits and charities?
Ontario Trillium Foundation
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is one of the largest funders of community organizations in Ontario. Its investment streams support starting new projects, growing proven ones and capital projects such as renovations and equipment. It funds non-profits and some other community bodies; check the program page for who qualifies and when intakes open.
Community foundations
- Toronto Foundation
- Ottawa Community Foundation
- Hamilton Community Foundation
- London Community Foundation
Most community foundation grants go to a registered charity or another qualified donee, and some allow sponsored groups. Read the non-profit funding guide for how your status affects what you can apply for.
Federal programs for Ontario non-profits
National programs are open to Ontario groups too, such as New Horizons for Seniors community-based projects and the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.
Browse the Ontario pages for community and arts projects, or the page for Ontario non-profits.
What home energy rebates are there in Ontario?
Ontario homeowners can get help with heat pumps, insulation, windows and other upgrades:
- The Home Renovation Savings Program brings together home rebates from Save on Energy and Enbridge Gas.
- Enbridge Gas rebates include home energy programs for Enbridge customers.
- The federal Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program funds retrofits for lower-income households through programs in participating provinces; check the program page to see whether it applies where you live.
Rebates often need an assessment or pre-approval before the work, and an eligible contractor. Read home energy rebates: before you upgrade and the home energy rebates guide, and see the page for Ontario homeowners.
What funding is there in Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Hamilton and London?
Each city page brings together local, provincial and national programs that apply there.
- Toronto. The Toronto Foundation funds charities working in the city.
- Ottawa. The Ottawa Community Foundation runs community grant programs.
- Mississauga. The city page lists the provincial and national programs open to Mississauga businesses, non-profits and homeowners.
- Hamilton. The Hamilton Community Foundation funds charities whose work benefits Hamilton residents.
- London. The city offers London community grants for local non-profits, and the London Community Foundation connects charities with donors.
Watch what is closing soon; city and foundation grants often have one or two intakes a year.
How do I apply for funding in Ontario?
The steps are the same as anywhere in Canada:
- Read the applicant guide and the eligibility rules. Our guide on how to read eligibility rules helps.
- Apply before you spend. Most programs won't cover costs from before approval. Read apply before you spend.
- Build a budget of eligible costs. See the grant project budget guide.
- Write clearly. See how to write a grant application and the grant application checklist.
- Check stacking rules if you combine federal, provincial and local funding. Read can you combine grants?.
After approval, read what happens after you apply and getting paid: claims and reports. Be wary of anyone who charges a fee to apply: see how to spot a grant scam.
CanGrant is independent and free. We are not the government and we don't take applications; each program page links to the funder.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between FedDev Ontario and FedNor?
Both are federal regional development agencies. FedDev Ontario serves southern Ontario and FedNor serves northern Ontario. Each runs its own programs, so the right one depends on where your business is.
What is a Small Business Enterprise Centre?
A local centre in Ontario that offers free advice and workshops to people starting or running a small business. Small Business Enterprise Centres also deliver Starter Company Plus and Summer Company.
Are there grants for small businesses in Ontario?
Some, such as Starter Company Plus for people starting out, but most help for Ontario businesses comes as loans, tax credits, wage subsidies, repayable contributions, regional development funds and energy incentives. See the page for Ontario small businesses.
Who can apply to the Ontario Trillium Foundation?
Ontario non-profits and some other community bodies. Each stream has its own rules and intakes; check the program page.
Where do I find funding in my Ontario city?
Start with the city pages for Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Hamilton and London, or the Ontario page for the whole province.
This article explains how funding generally works. Each program sets its own rules, amounts and dates: check the program page and the funder’s site before you apply. A CanGrant editor hasn’t reviewed this article yet.
Programs in this article
Live status, amounts and deadlines, from each funder’s own page.
Up to $5,000,000
Ontario funding for businesses expanding in eastern Ontario (at least 3 years operating, 10+ employees or 5 in rural areas, creating at least 5 jobs, investing at least $500,000 or $200,000 rural): interest-free loans of up to 15% of costs to $5 million, with grants in some cases. Community projects can get grants of up to 50%, to $1.5 million. The next application deadline is January 21, 2027.
Ontario Trillium Foundation grants for Ontario non-profits, First Nations and some small municipalities: Seed grants of $5,000 to $75,000 for up to 12 months, Grow grants of $50,000 to $200,000 a year for 2 or 3 years, and Capital grants of $10,000 to $200,000 for buildings and spaces. Each stream has one application window a year; the last Capital window was February 4 to March 4, 2026.
Up to $20,000,000
FedDev Ontario help for southern Ontario businesses facing tariff pressures, with at least $1 million in annual revenue. Liquidity help of up to $2 million (non-repayable, up to 50% of costs) and pivot projects of up to $1 million non-repayable or more as a repayable contribution, to a total of $20 million per business. Accepting applications, with no fixed deadline.
Save on Energy incentives for upgrading equipment such as HVAC and manufacturing equipment in Ontario commercial, industrial, municipal, multi-residential and farm buildings, up to 50% of eligible project costs. Choose set incentives from a list or custom incentives based on verified savings. You need pre-approval before you install.
Up to $5,000,000
Ontario funding for businesses expanding in southwestern Ontario (at least 3 years operating, 10+ employees or 5 in rural areas, creating at least 5 jobs, investing at least $500,000 or $200,000 rural): interest-free loans of up to 15% of costs to $5 million, with grants in some cases. Community projects can get grants of up to 50%, to $1.5 million. The next application deadline is January 21, 2027.
Up to $5,000
Training, mentoring and a grant of up to $5,000 for Ontario residents 18 and older (Canadian citizens or permanent residents, not in school full-time) who are starting, expanding or buying a small business. You must put in cash or in-kind equal to at least 25% of the grant. Apply through your local Small Business Advisory Centre.