Organizational Grants

Organizational Grants is sponsored by Jewish Community Foundation Montreal. The Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) offers grants to local non-profit Jewish communal organizations or institutions serving the Greater Montreal Jewish community for projects in social welfare, cultural, health, and educational fields.

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Grants and Scholarships Programs The JCF is dedicated to assisting organizations within the Jewish community through a variety of grants by application on an annual basis. Fostering a culture of innovation within our community. Encouraging new, inspiring ideas to grow.

Thanks to a generous Innovation Grant from the JCF, JEM has been collaborating with the Cummings Centre for Seniors to address the stigma around aging and transition out of the workforce, which has been a long-standing issue in our community. This grant enables JEM to positively reframe retirement and introduce older employees to postemployment opportunities that would feed their various needs.

Executive Director, JEM Workshop 2026-2027 Innovation Grants applications are now closed Our Innovation Grants program (Formally known as Nova Grants) provides seed funding for novel initiatives that significantly contribute to the strength and vibrancy of the Jewish community, and demonstrate tangible and measurable impact, in the following three key areas: Supporting the vulnerable Jewish identity & culture Before completing the application form, please review the grant guidelines carefully.

Thanks to the generous support of donors, the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) has a special envelope available to award grants for innovative programs which will have maximum impact on the local Montreal Jewish community.

The JCF invites applications for a Innovation Grant from any local non-profit Jewish communal organization or institution, or a non-profit organization serving a predominantly Jewish population, as well as Federation CJA (FCJA) and its affiliated organizations.

Innovation Grants are designated for programs that have a specific focus in at least one of the following three thematic areas: Supporting the Vulnerable: We consider ‘Vulnerable’ to mean communities who may have issue accessing services, need specialised or adapted services and/or physical/emotional support services.

Jewish Identity and Culture: We consider ‘Jewish Identity and Culture’ to be activities that uphold, support, perpetuate and celebrate Jewish traditions, education and activities.

Building Organizational Capacity: We consider ‘Building Organizational Capacity’ to be activities designed to develop the operations of the organization such as fundraising strategy, software development or client management updates and website creation or overhaul.

A limited number of JCF Innovation Grants of up to a maximum of $50,000 per program will be made available and allocated for either one-time funding for a program to be completed within one year, or funding to be used over a period of two years, depending on the nature of the program. Please note, this funding is designed to kick-start innovative and unique programs that will greatly benefit the Montreal Jewish community.

This funding is not designed to sustain programs over the long term or support the continuation of an organisation’s core delivery. Proposals will be welcomed and considered for programs that serve geographic locations predominantly in Montreal and/or other cities in the Province of Quebec where there is a Jewish Community. The criteria are listed in order of priority.

Programs must: Be focused and innovative. We would like programs to have, where possible, an innovative approach to meeting an evidence-based identified current critical or emerging need or be developing a service that is both needed and unique to the community.

We encourage you to consider what services are currently available in the community and seek to fill gaps where needed services don’t currently exist, rather than replicate or re-model an existing service. Demonstrate important potential and measurable impact on the future of the Montreal Jewish community. Demonstrate, in your application, a clear approach to evaluating your work with distinct quantitative and/or qualitative goals.

Be sustainable, with a plan for funding beyond the grant period. Infrastructure, meaning core operational work. Purchase of computers and other related equipment.

Administrative or recurring salaries. Feasibility studies, assessments, research, capital projects, scholarships, or operations. Replacement of funding from FCJA or other funders.

Funding to reduce operating deficits. All requests for funding will only be accepted in writing, using the Innovation Grants application form linked on the JCF website. The party applying for funding is responsible for submitting the request(s).

The online application offers the opportunity to provide detailed information about your idea for funding consideration. The questions were designed to help the JCF Allocations Committee better understand your program goals and objectives as well as its alignment with our funding goals. Only completed applications will be considered.

Please note that no meetings will be held with the applicants before, during or after the selection process, unless the JCF requires and requests such a meeting. Requests must be submitted via the online application form by the specified deadline and must include: Proof of charitable status (your CRA number) or determination of how you would operate should you not have charitable status.

Evidence that you have considered reasonable outcomes for your work and how they might be evaluated. Plan for financial sustainability, if applicable. A high-level budget that shows your expected revenue and expenses, as it’s relevant to the work you are applying for funding to support.

Please make sure to use the budget template supplied on the application. You do not need to send us copies of your audited financial statements or additional supporting material. If we do not have sufficient information from your application to make a fair assessment, we will get in contact with you.

Once the application has been submitted, you will receive confirmation via email. Applicants can expect a response following the complete allocations process. We are unable to update you on the status of your application until the assessment process is complete and will not give individual feedback until this time.

For information please contact Lizzie Cody at [email protected] Innovation Grants 2025-26 | Recipients Adath Israel Poale Zedek Anshei Ozeroff Congregation Trails Recreation Center and Trails of Summer Day Camp Association Chabad sur le Campus Building a Jewish Tomorrow / NCSY Chabad Center South Shore Westmount Chabad Organization Mizrachi Organization of Canada Bikur Cholim Ladies Association Communauté Chabad de Montréal Ouest Yeshiva Gedola the School of Higher Learning The Reconstructionist Synagogue of Montreal We award grants of up to $5,000 for innovative projects that need start-up funding.

These grants are available to grassroots organizations within the Jewish community throughout Montreal and Quebec. Organizations may apply to the Grassroots Grants program for funds to meet emerging community challenges, pilot new programs, or respond to urgent needs. Our grant committee carefully reviews organizations’ applications and allocates funds to support innovative, start-up, and capital projects throughout the community.

For information, please contact Lizzie Cody at [email protected] . Before completing the application form, please review the grant guidelines carefully. These guidelines serve to assist the organization prepare a proposal which includes all pertinent information required by the Jewish Community Foundation Allocations Committee.

Allocations shall be made primarily for projects in the social welfare, cultural, health, and educational fields to maintain and enhance the quality of Jewish life within Greater Montreal and when appropriate other cities in Quebec. Grants range from $500 – $5,000 for a period of up to 2 years, which may be extended for an additional year; each year of funding requires a renewed application.

Grants shall not serve as a replacement for other sources of funding. Grants shall not be used to supplement operating budgets and must be used for specific program(s).

The following are not eligible for grants: Applicants living outside of Quebec Projects carried on outside Quebec Conferences (to sponsor or develop) *Note: unless the applicant can demonstrate that the conference is for leadership development that may benefit the community.

Requests by students to assist in living costs, research and/or assistance in publishing papers, dissertations Film/books/video production; however, the committee may consider a grant for marketing or promotion of film/video/book once the project has been completed and is ready for dissemination. Please feel free to clarify any of the items noted in the guidelines by e-mailing [email protected] .

Please feel free to clarify any of the items noted in the guidelines by e-mailing [email protected] . Working with a Russian-Jewish artist Yuula Benivolski, the JCF Grassroots Grant made it possible for our Museum to link her personal family story from the former Soviet Union to the experiences of Jewish immigrants to Montreal from around the world.

The end result was a truly community-driven project for our audiences of young members of the Jewish community as well as broader Québec society. Thousands of visitors were able to learn about our community’s diversity through art and storytelling. Museum of Jewish Montreal Learn more about how our organizational grants have lasting postivie impact.

What are community grants and who can apply? Community Grants such as Innovations Grants and Grassroots grants are financial awards that the JCF offers to Canadian registered charities and nonprofit organizations supporting community needs. Visit our website to learn more.

How do I know if my organization qualifies for a grant? Grants are awarded based on program impact, community benefit, and alignment with funding priorities. The JCF’s guidelines outline specific eligibility requirements which are then sent to a committee for final approval.

Visit our website to learn more. What types of initiatives does the Foundation support? Grants may fund program delivery, capacity building, community outreach, innovation projects, research, and collaboration efforts that strengthen organizations and enhance community wellbeing.

Visit our website to learn more. How do I apply for an community grant? Start by reviewing the grant criteria and application process on the JCF’s Organizational Grants page.

You’ll complete an online application form and provide relevant documents that describe your program and funding needs. When are grant applications reviewed? Grant applications are typically reviewed on a scheduled cycle.

The JCF’s website lists submission deadlines and review timelines so organizations can plan accordingly. What information should be included in a grant proposal? A strong proposal clearly outlines your organization’s goals, the specific activities you are seeking funding for, intended outcomes, a budget, and how the project contributes to community impact.

How are funding decisions made? Decisions are based on alignment with priorities, the potential for community impact, organizational capacity, and the feasibility of the proposed initiative. The Foundation’s grant committee reviews applications and makes recommendations.

When will I hear back about a grant decision? Once the review period is complete, the JCF will notify applicants of funding decisions. Timelines are communicated after the submission deadline.

If my organization isn’t funded this time, can I reapply? Yes. Organizations are encouraged to refine their proposal and reapply in future grant cycles.

Speaking with a JCF Philanthropic Advisor can help strengthen future applications. Are funded organizations required to report on how the grant was used? Yes.

Organizations that receive funding are expected to submit a report detailing how the grant was used and what outcomes were achieved. This helps the Foundation evaluate impact and inform future funding priorities. Are community grants available for local initiatives?

Yes. Community grants support programs and services that respond to local needs, encourage collaboration, and strengthen community life. Priority is given to initiatives with clear outcomes and measurable impact.

What are Innovation Grants, and who should apply? Innovation Grants support new or pilot initiatives that introduce creative solutions, test new approaches, or address emerging community challenges. These grants are well-suited for organizations looking to scale or evolve their programs.

Can small or emerging nonprofits apply for funding? Absolutely. Both established and emerging organizations may apply for non-profit organization grants, provided they meet eligibility criteria and demonstrate a strong case for impact.

Is reporting required after receiving a grant? Yes. Funded organizations are expected to provide a brief impact report outlining how the grant was used and the outcomes achieved.

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