The Toronto Community Foundation is one of Canada’s largest public Foundations. The Foundation connects philanthropy with community needs by sharing its in depth community knowledge, particularly through its annual Toronto’s Vital Signs® report, by convening leading thinkers, and by developing city-building initiatives, all to improve the quality of life in Toronto.
Not-for-profit organizations play a key role in keeping Toronto vibrant, and their effectiveness depends on the talent and dedication of their volunteers and staff. The vitality and well-being of our city depends on individuals who take initiative, make a contribution and demonstrate leadership.
The Vital People grant program supports and recognizes valued leaders who are making outstanding contributions working or volunteering at not-for-profit organizations. Funded through our Toronto Fund, Vital People grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to support the formal training or other informal development opportunities that best enable not-for-profit leaders to build their skills or knowledge or apply their experience in different ways to enhance their leadership contributions. Grants are available to those just taking on new leadership challenges as well as those with many years of experience.
Eligibility
- The Vital People program will accept nominations from any registered charitable organization in the City of Toronto on behalf of a leadership candidate serving in a volunteer or staff capacity in the organization
- Priority will be given to organizations with annual budgets of under $1 million. For those with annual budgets above this amount, we look at organizations that provide financial and/or in kind support for the leadership enhancement of the nominee
- Priority will be given to candidates who are residents of Toronto
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: 5:00 p.m., Wednesday September 24, 2008
Toronto’s Vital Signs® is a report which measures quality of life in 11 different issue areas. Published each fall by the Toronto Community Foundation, the report informs our granting and strengthens our ability to connect issues, convene partners, and address Toronto’s most pressing issues.
Toronto’s Vital Signs® 2008 will be released in October 2008. The 2007 report can be accessed on our website at www.tcf.ca.
Priority is given to applicants whose work contributes to progress in at least one of the following issue areas in Toronto’s Vital Signs®:
- Gap Between Rich & Poor
- Safety
- Health & Wellness
- Learning
- Housing
- Getting Around
- Getting Started
- Arts & Culture
- Environment
- Work
- Belonging & Leadership
How to Apply
The application should contain two letters and required attachments as described below. One copy of the complete submission should be delivered in person or by mail to the Foundation at the address below. The two letters should also be e-mailed to ngodkewitsch@tcf.ca
A/ Letter 1 -
Completed on behalf of the applying organization and signed by the Chair of the Board or Executive Director.
Please do not exceed 3 pages.
Provide background information:
- Name and charitable registration number of the applying organization
- Contact name and address, including email address of person from the applying organization
- Name of the individual nominated for a Vital People grant
- Describe the candidate’s current role and the value of his or her work to your organization and to the community. Include examples of the candidate’s past accomplishments
- State the amount requested, the proposed use of the funds and timeframe for completion (please note: 10-15% of the grant funds are to be used by the recipient to document and evaluate the impact the grant has had on their leadership capacity)
- Outline the reasons for the request. Describe how the Foundation’s support for the candidate’s leadership development will benefit the organization and Toronto
- Note any other contributions the organization has or will make towards this individual’s development
B/ Letter 2 – Completed by the leadership candidate. Please do not exceed 3 pages.
- Provide your name
- Home address
- Home phone number
- Personal e-mail address, and work address
- Phone number and e-mail address
- Please identify the name of the neighbourhood where you live and the neighbourhood where you work/volunteer (priority is given to residents of the City of Toronto)
- Identify which Toronto Vital Signs® issue area(s) and indicators relate to your work. Describe how your work addresses them
- Summarize your accomplishments in providing leadership in the applying organization and in the broader community
- Outline your personal leadership goals and any challenges you face in achieving them
- Describe how the support requested will improve your ability to achieve these goals and increase your effectiveness as a leader in the organization and in Toronto
- Highlight any collaborative aspects to your work (collaborative thinking and activities, working cross-sectorally or with groups that traditionally don’t work in your issue area)
- Tell us how you plan to tell the story of the impact of your grant (10-15% of the grant funds will go towards enabling you to document and evaluate the impact the grant has had on your leadership capacity)
C/ Attachments
Please attach the following information to your submission:
- A list of the organization’s current Board members and their terms
- A copy of the organization’s most recent, audited financial statements
- A copy of the organization’s most recent annual report
Please Note
- Both letters should not be completed by the same person
- Incomplete submissions will be declined
The full application should be delivered in person or by mail to the Foundation office at the address below
The two letters must also be e-mailed to ngodkewitsch@tcf.ca
Deadline
Applications must be received by 5:00 PM on Wed. September 24, 2008
For more information, please contact
Nadien Godkewitsch
Program Officer
Toronto Community Foundation
33 Bloor Street East, Suite 1603
Toronto ON M4W 3H1
Tel: 416.921.2035 ext. 204
E-mail: ngodkewitsch@tcf.ca
To review descriptions of previous grant recipients please visit the Foundation’s web site at www.tcf.ca.
For more information please visit our website at www.tcf.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=134
