Grants and Funding

• Capital project grants to be used for repairs, renovation or improvements to land or buildings and to purchase equipment to support programs, activities or services that show they have sustainability or lasting impact.
• Projects that have clear, measurable benefits to the Community.
• Projects that provide greater accessibility to activities, programs or venues, including geographic area that are promoted as open to the general public.
• Special Events - a sporting, cultural, or other type of unique activity, occurring for a limited or fixed duration.
• Startup Funding - for a program/event with the understanding annual funding will not be provided to continue its operations. 
• Special/Multi-year projects - where the project is exclusively for construction, alterations or renovations, or acquisition of property; and where the award will have a project period of more than 12 months of activity (applicable to the Lindsay Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund only).
• Extenuating Circumstances: In occasional cases, anytime during the year, the fund may honour one-time requests from organizations of importance to the Town of Lindsay in dire need of financial assistance.  The organization must demonstrate a willingness to work with a third party acceptable to the Committee to improve its financial viability (applicable to the Lindsay Legacy C.H.E.S.T Fund only).

Examples of sustainability or lasting impact could include:

• Added value to community life even after the grant is complete (for example, participants continue to share what they have learned, a permanent change has been achieved in the community or a model has been repeated in another community).
• A plan for ensuring resources are in place to continue to work after the grant ends (including maintenance for renovation and equipment grants).

 Grants will not be provided:

• To individuals without a Sponsor - refer to eligibility criteria for details
• On a retroactive basis or for a project that is already completed.
• If duplication of funding received from another funder.
• To cover budget deficits.
• Day to day operating costs of an organization (for example, staffing, rent, property taxes etc.).
• For programs, activities or services outside the relevant geographic area.
• To support programs or services geared specifically to activities related to ratepayer or tenant/landlord associations, or political parties.
• For religious activities or instruction, including renovations to a place of worship unless it is also used for community activities or is a significant heritage site used for the general benefit of the community.
• As donations to charitable causes.
• To offset capital depreciation costs.

 To be eligible for funding applicants must:

• Be a non-profit incorporated organization, registered charity or be sponsored by an organization that is a non-profit incorporated group or registered charity
• Have demonstrated sound financial management
• Be based in the relevant geographic area
• Be able to show capabilities of providing the proposed service, project or program within identified measurable results
• Provide a completed Application Form and other reports as requested

For additional eligibility criteria refer to the Council Policy CP2016-11

The Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund Application cannot be completed online.

Download the Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Application Form (PDF)

Download the Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Application Form (Word)

Related documents:

• Appendix A - Grant Application Work Plan (PDF)
• Appendix A - Grant Application Work Plan (Word)
• Appendix  B - Grant Application Budget (PDF)
• Appendix  B - Grant Application Budget (Word)
• Appendix C - Grant Application Checklist (PDF)
• Appendix C - Grant Application Checklist (Word)
• Appendix D - Post-Project Report (PDF)
• Appendix D - Post-Project Report (Word)
• Council Policy - CP2016-11 - Legacy Community Hydro Electric Systems Transfers (C.H.E.S.T.) Fund Grant Policy and Application

Application Information:

Each applicant will be required to provide information about the organization and its programs and services; evidence to establish the applicant's eligibility in terms of the evaluation criteria outlined in Council Policy CP2016-011; a description of how the applicant intends to measure the success of the program, service or project if funding request is approved; and specific financial information related to the applicant's revenues and assets.

Wherever practicable, grant applications must include a detailed breakdown and prioritization of component costs, particularly for those applications that comprise a number of smaller projects.  This prioritization will provide a guideline to the Committee(s) in the event that only partial funding can be awarded.

Submission Information:

The submission deadline for both the Lindsay and Bobcaygeon Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund Application is 4:30pm on the last Friday of October annually.

The deadline for 2025 submissions is Friday, October 25, 2024 - 4:30 pm.

It should be noted that the deadline date is absolute and incomplete grant applications will not be considered. If requested by the applicant, City Staff or the Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund Grant Committee will provide advice to ensure that the application is completed fully, and that all information requirements are met prior to closing date.

All applications and copies that are found to be either eligible or non-eligible become the property of the City and non-returnable.

Applications may be submitted online to the Executive Assistant to the Director of Community Services, dropped off in person, or mailed to the following locations:

Please note - If submitting a paper application please submit 8 copies of your complete package for distribution to the Committee

Lindsay Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund

Community Services Administration

50 Wolfe Street, Lindsay, ON K9V 2J2 

Bobcaygeon Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund

Bobcaygeon Service Center

123 East Street South, Bobcaygeon ON, K0M 1A0

Beautification Fund

The Community Partnership and Development funding program offers support to beautification projects that benefit the local community or the municipality as a whole. Past projects have included:

• Gardens

• Hanging baskets

• Seasonal displays

• Welcome signs

• Decorations and banners

Culture Fund

Special Events Fund

The Special Events Fund through the Community Partnership and Development funding program is intended to support events that will attract visitors to Kawartha Lakes. The maximum funding per event is $500.

Kawartha Lakes Canada Day Fund Application Program Guidelines and Eligibility:

• Only events celebrating and promoting Canada Day will be considered eligible to receive funding through this program;
• Eligible Canada Day events must take place on July 1;
• Events must take place within territorial boundaries of the municipality of Kawartha Lakes;
• Events must be hosted with the purpose and provision of a community based celebration for local and seasonal residents;
• Eligible events must be free of charge (no admission fees or donation required for entry) and; be open to the general public and promoted as such;
• Total funding allotment for this fund is to be allocated City wide;
• Commercial/retail activities are not eligible;
• Events which are being hosted with a purpose to generate a surplus of revenue over expenses are not considered eligible to receive funding through this program.

Eligible Expenses:

Only project-related expenses are eligible to receive funding through this program. Eligible expenses may include:

• Promotional/communications expenses;
• Entertainment (including fireworks/light shows);
• Event supplies;
• Event rental equipment;
• Cake for Canada Day celebrations
• Reasonable administrative costs (not exceeding 15% of the total contribution), such as salaries and benefits, fees for professional services, bank charges and utilities

The following activities and expenses are not eligible for funding through this program:

• Costs related to BBQ, general food and beverages;
• Food for planning team and volunteers;
• Facility rental costs when the organization owns the property or building;
• Any events of a primarily religious, political or commercial nature;
• Activities whose primary purpose is fundraising or contests;
• Conferences, symposiums, round-tables, workshops and other events not intended for the general public;
• Activities held on school grounds during school hours;
• Events held on individual's private property;
• Activities that are (in whole or in part) an extension of regular or permanent programming.

Costs related to major infrastructures; equipment purchases; lobbying activities; advocacy; activities or serves that take place outside of Kawartha Lakes; prizes; fairs and festivals; and liquor permits are not eligible for funding through this program.

Expenses incurred before April 1 will not be funded through this program. If you incur expenses for your project prior to receiving written confirmation of your funding approval, you will be doing so at your own risk.

Please note, program guidelines and eligible expenses may change from year to year.