The Milton Small Grant Program is a program designed to support community residents and not-for-profit corporations/non-profit organizations planning small scale, citizen-led activities that will enhance the well-being of Milton residents.

About the program

Funding for the Milton Small Grant Program comes from the Milton Community Fund, with $75,000 made available for 2023.

Successful recipients can receive up to $2,500 per one (1) application, per calendar year. Funding from this program is meant to encourage members of the community to invest in one another by connecting people socially and by sharing knowledge, talents and space.

Organizations unable to accept funding from the OLG, can contact Town staff for more details, as there are alternate funding sources available. 

The 2023 application intake period opens April 3, 2023. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

This grant is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Should annual program funding be depleted prior to the end of the calendar year, the application window will close from that point and for the remainder of the year.

How to apply

Submit an application

The 2023 application is now open.

Submit an Application

This grant is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Should annual program funding be depleted prior to the end of the calendar year, the application window will be closed from that point and for the remainder of the year.

Applications must be submitted a minimum of 30 business days prior to the event/activity.

When submitting an application, you will need to provide: 

  • Contact information
  • Amount of funding being requested
  • How funds would be used
  • Short description of the initiative, including where and when it will take place and its total cost 

Eligibility

To apply for this funding, you must be a Milton resident/resident group or a local not-for-profit corporation/non-profit organization, in good financial standing with the Town of Milton.

  • Individuals submitting a resident/resident group application must be 18 years of age or older, and can only receive one (1) grant per funding year, per Milton residential address
  • Not-for-profit corporations/non-profit organizations can only receive one (1) grant per funding year, and become ineligible for any other Town of Milton grant funding for the same calendar year that the Milton Small Grant has been allotted
  • Grant recipients must provide proof of General Liability Insurance coverage for any approved allocations or associated events, with a limit of not less than $5 million proof of insurance, listing the Corporation of the Town of Milton, as an additional insured and it must include an indication that cross liability is included under the General Liability Policy
  • Grant recipients are responsible for all arranging and applying for any and all inspections/permits/licenses/approvals related to the approved items of their application

The event/activity must:

  • take place in, or directly benefit the Milton community
  • provide for community building, an opportunity for connection, knowledge sharing, and relationship building
  • be free for the Milton public to attend, accessible and welcoming
  • be held on public property, not-for-profit corporation’s/non-profit organization’s operating location or private property rental space (that has been publicly available for at least one (1) year)

View the full eligibility guidelines.

Frequently asked questions

How will funds be received?

Funding will be given out after the event and after a post-event summary has been submitted. 

The post-event summary is a fillable form where recipients of the grant would need to:

  • Include a brief description of the project
  • Detail its impact on the community
  • Provide the total amount spent
  • Detail and upload receipts for expenses funded by the program 

What types of events/activities qualify for funding?

Some examples of events that would qualify for the Milton Small Grant Program are: 

  • Knowledge sharing (i.e. arts and culture workshops/events, cooking demonstrations, games nights, storytelling workshops)
  • Support for vulnerable or isolated community members
  • Health and wellness workshops, gardening events
  • Neighbourhood street or block parties
  • Walking tours

The examples above are not a complete list. All ideas that meet the program’s purpose are welcome to be submitted for funding consideration. 

What types of items qualify for funding?
  • Contract fees (e.g. artists, service people, security, etc.)
  • Equipment
  • Food and/or beverages (non-alcoholic)
  • Music
  • Operating costs (e.g. liability insurance, road closures, etc.)
  • Promotion
  • Rental Fees
  • Supplies

What types of events/activities are not eligible for funding?
  • Neighbourhood clean-ups: The Town has an annual spring program and partnerships in place for neighbourhood clean-up initiatives. Clean-up days are listed on the Town of Milton website
  • Flow-through funding (Redistribution of funds to others, for example bursaries/scholarships)
  • Requests to reimburse individuals for time invested
  • Invitational or discretionary travel  
  • Duplication of funding received from another funding organization or level of government
  • Activities that could be deemed discriminatory as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code
  • Activities whose purpose is to promote religious doctrine or are being led by a person whose mandate includes the promotion of religious doctrine
  • Political and/or advocacy activities
  • Fundraising events or drives
  • Purchase of items that need to be “owned” by someone after the event/activity (excludes not-for-profit organizations)
  • Purchase of any alcohol beverages, tobacco, or cannabis products

What types of applicants are not eligible for funding?
  • For-profit organizations
  • Foundations that raise funds for a not-for-profit corporation/non-profit organization, for-profit organization or another level of government and their associated groups or agencies
  • Universities, colleges, schools and their associated/auxiliary groups or agencies
  • Organizations considered to be within the social service sector
  • Organizations whose activities could be deemed discriminatory as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code