HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-2025-047 - 2025 Community Grants Tier 2Community Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: February 24, 2025
SUBMITTED BY: Helena Foulds, Manager, Service Coordination & Improvement, 519-904-
5802
PREPARED BY: Carrie Kozlowski, Executive Assistant & Grant Administrator,519-783-
8144
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards
DATE OF REPORT: February 10, 2025
REPORT NO.: CSD-2025-047
SUBJECT: 2025 Community Grants Tier 2
RECOMMENDATION:
That2025 community grants (Tier 2) in the amount of $233,653 be approved as outlined
in Attachment A to Community Services Department report CSD-2025-047.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
This report:
outlines the process used to assess community grant applications.
lists the organizations/groups that applied for 2025 Tier 2 funding, including the amount of
each request and the recommended grant allocations (see Attachment A).
supports the delivery of core services.
BACKGROUND:
Tier 2 community grants assist organizations/groups providing not for profit services intended
for the common good of residents within the City of Kitchener. These grants typically fund new
or emerging community organizations, events, and/or initiatives. Organizations providing
municipal services in the following sectors are eligible for funding:
arts and culture
special events
sports and recreation
community support and development
A Peer and Staff Review Committee (PSRC) composed of three community volunteers and five
to six staff (from arts/creative industries, special events, sport development, community
development and grant administration) review applications based on the eligibility criteria set out
in the Council approved Community Investment policy (FIN-GRA-525). This committee allocates
resources within budget availability and makes funding recommendations to Council (outlined in
this report).
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
In November 2018 (CSD-18-088), Council delegated the consideration of appeals to a panel of
staff, which is comprised of the Director of Sport, Director of Economic Development, and
Director of Neighbourhood Programs & Services.
REPORT:
For 2025,the City received 81 Tier 2 grant applications ($816,263 in requested funding). The
total amount of Tier 2 funding available for 2025 is $211,800. The PSRC/appeal panel
recommends funding 53 applications ($233,653).
Highlights of the 2025 Tier 2 grant process include:
Information sharing:With Corporate Communications and Marketing, a campaign was
developed to promote the 2025 community grant funding opportunity and its benefits to
eligible groups.
Thorough review of applications: PSRC members completed an independent
review/assessment of the applications against the grant criteria using an online decision-
making platform. Then the committee participated in two group sessions (December 9
and 16, 2024) to develop funding recommendations.
Opportunity for appeals: Applicant organizations had the opportunity to appeal their
recommended funding allocations. The appeal deadline was January 28,2025.
Communication: applicants were notified of the recommended allocations.
Assessment process
PSRC members, both community volunteers and staff, dedicate considerable time and effort to
reviewing/assessing the applications. Each member spent 20+ hours independently reviewing
the applications. Then,the committee came together to review their feedback and make funding
with the detailed review process whereby applications are considered against the Council-
approved eligibility criteria ensures that funding recommendations are made responsibly within
budget availability.
Appeal process
of the option to appeal the recommendation via an online form. In total, nine organizations
appealed (7 appealed the recommended denial of their applications, and two appealed
the grant amount recommended by the PSRC). The total value of the appeal requests is
$86,330
recommended denial of 4 of the 9 appellant groups, and allocated 5 an additional $20,275
($12,375 cash, $7,900 in kind).
Organization nameAmount requested
recommendedrecommended
amountamount
Afghan Association of $7,000 $0$3,400
Waterloo Region($2,000 cash, $5,000 (in kind)
in kind)
Arts4All$10,000$0$7,000
Canadian Arab Women $17,549 $7,500 $9,000
Association($4,000 cash, $13,549 (in kind)(in kind)
in kind)
Canadian Arabic $9,000$0$0
Orchestra
Crossroads Productions$1,500$0$0
ForUsGirls Foundation $27,656 $2,625$5,000
Inc.($25,000 cash, $2,625 (in kind)($2,375 cash, $2,625
in kind)in kind)
Inter Arts Matrix$9,750 ($7,750 cash, $0$0
$2,000 in kind)
Live with Sway$4,000$0$0
Nigerians in the Region $10,000 $0$6,000
of Waterloo($5,000 cash, $5,000 ($3,000 cash, $3,000
inkind)in kind)
Total$96,455$10,125$30,400
Transfers to Tier 1
FIN-GRA-525 outlines that organizations receiving Tier 2 funding for five or more years may be
considered for Tier 1 funding. To be eligible for Tier 1, organizations must:
be incorporated as a not-for-profit entity or agree to become incorporated within a set
timeframe (12 months, for example),
enter into a legal agreement with the City, from one to five years in length. The agreement
outlines the responsibilities of the City and the responsibilities of the organization,
including details of services/events for which the grant is provided, financial reporting
requirements, and insurance/indemnity requirements.
Four organizations have received five consecutive Tier 2 grants and thus could be considered
for transfer to Tier 1 with the 2026 grant cycle. However, staff intend to leave these
organizations in the Tier 2 program, given that the community grant program will be
reviewed and revamped in 2025-2026.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports the delivery of core services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Capital Budget The recommendation has no impact on the Capital Budget.
Operating Budget The budget for 2025 Tier 2 community grants is $211,800. The PSRC
recommended allocations $213,378 ($1,578 overallocated). Subsequently, the appeal panel
allocated an additional $20,275 (a total recommended community grant allocation of $233,653),
resulting in a negative variance of $21,853.
Fortunately, a positive variance arising from underusage of in-kind grants allocated in 2024 is
available to fund the negative variance.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM The 2025 and
on social media.Previous Tier 2 grant recipients were informed of the 2025 application process.
All grant applicants were informed of the PS
given the opportunity to appeal their allocations via an online form.
committee meeting.
CONSULT The PSRC provided invaluable expertise throughout the assessment process.
Their commitment and dedication are very much appreciated. Both applicants and PSRC
members are provided an opportunity to comment on the grant process, and comments are
considered for implementation in the next grant cycle.
ENTRUST Through the provision of grants, community groups/organizations are entrusted to
deliver valued programs, initiatives and services to the community.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
CSD-18-088 Community Grants Appeal Process Update
FIN-GRA-525 Community Investment Policy
APPROVED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO, Community Services Department
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A CSD-2025-047
Attachment A: CSD-2025-047
2025 Community Grants Tier 2
Organization Name2025 grant 2025 type of grant 2025 2025 type of grant
requestrequestrecommendedrecommended
10769142 CANADA INSTITUTE - $44,100$0
AFROPOLITAN CANADA
Afghan Association of Waterloo $7,000($2,000 cash, $3,400(in kind)
Region$7,000 in kind)
AFKW Association des $5,000$0
Francophones de Kitchener-
Waterloo
Arts4All$10,000$7,000
Arts Integration$7,900$5,000
Brain Injury Association Waterloo $2,500$0
Wellington
Bulgarian Folk Dance School $3,200($400 cash, $2,800 $2,800(in kind)
"Hopa-Tropa, Eha-Ha", Kitchenerin kind)
Canadian Arab Women $17,549($4,000 cash, $9,000(in kind)
Association $13,549 in kind)
Caribbean Dreams $10,000($8,000 cash, $2,000(in kind)
$2,000 in kind)
Cherry Park Neighbourhood $840(in kind)$840(in kind)
Association
Community Justice Initiatives of $5,000$0
Waterloo Region
Community Kitchen Co-Operative $23,000$7,720
Kitchener Waterloo Inc.(CKCKW)
COMPASS Refugee Centre$33,715$0
Crossroads Productions$1,500$0
Cultural Research & Development $12,000$0
Projects
Destination55$43,462($38,049 cash, $5,000
$5,413 in kind)
Dog Friendly KW$9,000($3,000 cash, $4,000(in kind)
$6,000 in kind)
Epilepsy South Central Ontario$20,000$0
Forest Hill T-Ball Association $6,000($1,000 cash, $6,000($1,000 cash,
(FHTBA)$5,000 in kind)$5,000 in kind)
ForUsGirls Foundation Inc.$27,625($25,000 cash, $5,000($2,375 cash,
$2,625 in kind)$2,625 in kind)
Freedom Centre$3,500$0
Freedom Marching Project$11,850($10,000 cash, $5,000
$1,850 in kind)
Grand River Artist Collective$9,904($7,000 cash, $5,000
$2,904 in kind)
Grand River New Horizons Music$5,000$3,000
Grand River Opera$1,000$1,000
Grassroots Response to the $25,000$0
Ukrainian Crisis
Hohner Avenue Porch Party$4,500$4,500
Home Range Story Kitchen$4,970($4,400 cash, $570 $2,700($2,200 cash, $500
in kind)in kind)
HopeSpring Cancer Support $15,000($10,000 cash, $0
Centre$5,000 in kind)
Attachment A: CSD-2025-047
2025 Community Grants Tier 2
Organization Name2025 grant 2025 type of grant 2025 2025 type of grant
requestrequestrecommendedrecommended
How to Get to the Library$7,174($2,760 cash, $0
$4,414 in kind)
Humanity First Waterloo Region$1,250($500 cash, $750 $0
in kind)
Inter Arts Matrix$9,750($7,750 cash, $0
$2,000 in kind)
KaPa Seniors Tye & Dye Group $5,550$1,500($1,000 cash, $500
(Informal/Grassroots Group)in kind)
Keep Your Head Up Foundation$5,000$2,500
Kind Minds Family Wellness$10,000($9,400 cash, $600 $7,500
in kind)
Kitchener and Waterloo $6,368$2,500 cash, $3,868(in kind)
Cambodian Association$3,868 in kind)
Kitchener Blues Community Inc.$26,300$20,000 cash, $5,000
$6,300 in kind)
Kitchener Easy Riders Cycle Club$7,225($5,875 cash, $7,225($5,875 cash,
$1,350 in kind)$1,350 in kind)
Kitchener Musical Society Band $3,500$2,000
Kitchener Waterloo Youth $5,000$5,000
Symphony Orchestra Inc.
Kitchener's Finest$4,800$1,500
KW Cycling Academy$6,731(in kind)$6,000(in kind)
KW Flamenco Fest$2,500$2,500
K-W Musical Productions$13,000$13,000
K-W Oktoberfest Inc.$10,000$10,000
KW Sentro$19,980$0
Last Minute Gallery$10,000$4,000
Levant Canada$10,000$5,000
Level Up$3,620$3,150 cash, $470 $3,150
in kind)
LiftOff Black Innovation Hub $10,000$6,312 cash, $0
$3,688 in kind)
Live with Sway$4,000$0
Marillac Place$10,000$0
Midtown Radio$10,000$4,500
Muslim Social Services Waterloo $10,000$0
Region
Nigerians in the Region of $10,000$5,000 cash, $6,000($3,000 cash,
Waterloo (NIROW)$5,000 in kind)$3,000 in kind)
NoteWorthy Singers$2,500$2,500
Optimist Club of Southwest $1,250(in kind)$1,250(in kind)
Kitchener
Pakistan Canada Association $5,000$3,000 cash, $3,000($1,000 cash,
(PCA) Waterloo-Wellington $2,000 in kind)$2,000 in kind)
Counties (WWC)
Persian Group In Kitchener $11,500$5,000 cash, $2,500
$6,500 in kind)
Pinch Arts Company Inc.$10,000$6,000
RadioWaterloo Inc.$6,500$3,300
Red Maple Seniors Club (RMSC)$2,300$0
Red Raccoon Bike Rescue$4,000$4,000
Attachment A: CSD-2025-047
2025 Community Grants Tier 2
Organization Name2025 grant 2025 type of grant 2025 2025 type of grant
requestrequestrecommendedrecommended
Ronald McDonald House $25,500$0
Charities South Central Ontario
Schneider Creek Porch Party$4,500$4,500
Sporas Scattered $5,000$2,500 cash, $5,000
(Palestine Art Camp)$2,500 in kind)
Sporas Scattered $17,000($10,000 cash, $5,000($2,000 cash,
(Palestine Festival)$7,000 in kind)$3,000 in kind)
Textile$3,500$2,000
The Canadian Arabic Orchestra $9,000$0
The Canadian Helpers Society$8,000$0
The Creek Collective$4,300$3,200
The Humane Society of Kitchener $5,000$0
Waterloo and Stratford Perth
Three Sisters Cultural Centre$5,000$5,000
Tout en Connexion Art Society $4,850($3,850 cash, $0
Incorporated (TENCAS) - Latin $1,000 in kind)
Dance Wave at Kiwanis
Tout en Connexion Art Society $5,000($4,000 cash, $0
Incorporated (TENCAS) - Salsa $1,000 in kind)
Fiesta
Unwrap Theatre$5,000$5,000
Waterloo Coin Society$2,500(in kind)$2,500(in kind)
Waterloo Organization of Disc $5,700(in kind)$5,700(in kind)
Sports (WODS)
Waterloo Wellington Down $20,000$0
Syndrome Society (WWDSS)
Women of Dignity International$6,500$4,000
Women's Crisis Services of $45,000$0
Waterloo Region (WCSWR)
Total$816,263$233,653
