Apply for the Ontario Community Changemakers Program 2024/2025 (funding available)

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About Ontario Community Changemakers Program

Ontario Community Changemakers is a leadership and micro-grant program for people with bold ideas to activate public space, enhance civic engagement and foster social inclusion in their communities. This program, in its fourth year, is open to anyone aged 19 and over. The program is powered by 8 80 Cities and funded by Balsam Foundation.

What is Ontario Community Changemakers?

Ontario Community Changemakers (OCC) is a leadership and micro-grant program created for Ontario residents to help spark new ideas and invigorate change in their local communities. In its fourth year, the program supports leaders from diverse ages, backgrounds and lived experiences to deliver their own creative projects that will activate public space, enhance civic engagement, and/or foster social inclusion. 

They are looking for ideas that fall under the following three themes:

1.Activate Public Space

Public spaces are areas or places that are open and accessible to all. They play a key role in impacting the social determinants of health and support community wellbeing. Sidewalks, streets, libraries, parks, plazas, trails, and community centres are all potential locations for project ideas that create renewed energy, life, and vibrancy to local communities.

2. Enhance Civic Engagement

Bringing people and communities together to address common challenges or increase awareness of important issues is a fundamental aspect of civic engagement. OCC is looking for project ideas that spur people to take collective action and increase community participation in civic processes.

3. Foster Social Inclusion

Our society has many barriers, both visible and invisible, preventing marginalized communities from accessing public spaces and participating in public life. Projects that address those barriers and seek to foster social inclusion for people regardless of gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation or socio-economic status is exactly what OCC is all about.

• Sponsor Organisation: Balsam Foundation

Benefits of Ontario Community Changemakers Program

Seed Funding

• The selected Changemakers will receive $5000 in seed funding to implement one community project in one year. These projects must address public space, civic engagement and/or foster social inclusion. We are looking for projects that respond to community needs, build on local assets, and are implemented through collaboration. The projects must be in the Province of Ontario or First Nations territories that are within the provincial boundary of Ontario.

Studio

• This year’s Studio will consist of one two-hour online session and two full-day in-person sessions in October 2024 in Toronto. There will be regular monthly sessions after that until September 2025. The Studio will inspire the Changemakers and equip them with the tools they need to begin implementing their community projects. The renewed program will connect and help Changemakers to learn from each other across multiple generations, geographies, and lived experiences.

Ontario Community Changemakers Program Requirements

• Must be 19 years or older at the time of application.
• Must reside in Ontario or a First Nations Territory within the provincial boundary during the project implementation period.
• Must propose a project that activates public space, enhances civic engagement, and/or fosters social inclusion.
• Project must take place in the Province of Ontario or in a First Nations Territory within the provincial boundary of Ontario.
• Preference will be given to those who can attend all three days of the Studio (October 17, 26, and 27, 2024).

Application Date and Process

• Click on the link to the application website to apply.

Application Deadline

26 July, 2024

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of Ontario Community Changemakers Program

Apply for Ontario Community Changemakers Program