COMMUNITY GRANTS
PDCF Community Grants are awarded once a year to local charities whose work contributes to strengthening community so that everyone belongs and thrives, today and in the future.
Grants much directly benefit residents of any or all of the Town of Perth, Drummond/North Elmsley, Lanark Highlands, and Tay Valley Townships.
Since 2002, we have awarded almost $2.5 million in grants to local organizations that provide programs and services that help build and strengthen community.
In 2023-2024, we awarded 24 local organizations $174,619 in Community Grants which ranged from $2,000 to $25,000. This is the highest amount and the largest number of grants ever awarded in our 22-year history. For more information about last year’s grant recipients, click here.
Community Grants are made possible through investment income earned on unrestricted endowed funds. As of the Fall of 2024, donations can also be made to the PDCF Community Granting Fund.
Please read the guidelines below before completing the PDCF Community Grant Application Form.
Invitation to Apply
PDCF welcomes applications from qualified donees that provide programs and services in a variety of sectors including, but not limited to:
- arts and culture
- education and literacy
- protection of the natural environment
- climate change
- health and social services, and
- heritage preservation.
PDCF knows that diversity – inclusion, equity, and justice – is essential to a strong community. We welcome applications from any and all organizations that have been under-represented, marginalized or discourages from fully participating in the community.
PDCF encourages ongoing dialogue between the Foundation and grant recipients that supports building relationships based on trust and mutual respect.
Eligible Applications
Grants must directly benefit residents of any or all of the Town of Perth, Drummond/North Elmsley, Lanark Highlands, and Tay Valley townships.
Applicants must be qualified donees. Qualified donees include registered charities or other entities such as municipalities or school boards.
Ineligible Applications
- those promoting religious or political activities or beliefs or lobbying
- those that contravene any of the prohibited grounds of discrimination outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Act
- major capital projects or annual fund drives
- applications from organizations whose sole purpose is funding
- activities that take place outside Canada
Community Grant Recipients
- are expected to acknowledge the support of PDCF on their website, in printed material, on radio and other media, and at events
Grant Recipients may
- carry over their grant to the end of their fiscal year
- apply for a second grant when the first grant has been carried over, and
- modify the nature of the grant on the condition they provide a legitimate rationale to PDCF
Grant recipients may not hold two grants at the same time except for any overlap in the carry over period until the end of the organization’s fiscal year.
Application Deadline
- Applications must be received on or before October 31 of each year. Applications should be sent via the submission form below.
- All grant applications are required to complete the PDCF Community Grant Application Form
- All applicants will receive notice of the Foundation’s decision by January 31 of the next year.
Help to complete the application
If you have questions or need assistance with the grant appliation process, we are happy to help. Please contact us at info@pdcf.ca or by phone at 613-326-0295.
PDCF Grants Committee
Eligible applications are assessed by the PDCF Grants Committee which is comprised of a minimum of three PDCF Board members and two community members.
In reviewing applications, the Commitee considers the benefit to the community, current findings in the most recent Vital Signs report, the Foundation’s charitable purpose, plus the specific criteria for assessing grant applications.
Evaluation Criteria for One-Year Community Grant Applications
- quality of the proposed activities,
- potential impact of the proposed activities, and
- the demonstrated ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed activities.
PDCF is piloting two-year grants beginning in October 2024. Only community organizations that have successfully fulfilled the obligations for at least one previous PDCF Community Grant may apply for a two-year grant. The pilot program will be reviewed in collaboration with grant recipients in the winter of 2026.
Evaluation Criteria for Two-Year Community Grant Applications
- quality of the proposed activities,
- the demonstrated ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed activities,
- the demonstrated ability of the applicant to deliver quality programs and services,
- demonstrated sound fiscal management and diversified sources of revenue, and
- the potential impact of the grant
Community Grants
PDCF trusts that community organizations know what’s best for their organization and their clientele and will apply for grants accordingly.
Eligible needs for grants include, but are not limited to:
- projects
- salaries
- overhead expenses
- program review
- research
- organizational development
- planning
Applicants may apply for a one OR two-year community grant.
Only community organizations that have successfully fulfilled the obligations for at least one previous PDCF Community Grant may apply for a two-year grant.
Applicants who choose to submit an application in collaboration with another organization must designate one organization as the official recipient responsible for fulfilling the terms of the grant.
Reporting on Grants
- All one-year grant recipients are required to complete the PDCF Community Grant Report Form by October 30th, 2025
- Recipients of two-year grants will submit an interim report on or before October 30th, 2025
- Submission of the report is a prerequisite to be considered for future funding.
The 2024-25 Grant Application period is now closed.
All applicants will be notified of the Foundation’s decision by January 31, 2025. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at info@pdcf.ca