Introduced in 2018, GIVEOakville is The Foundation’s online community granting program. Following a call for submissions to charitable organizations, grant applications that meet the program’s criteria are available online for funding by Foundation Fundholders and the public-at-large.

The Foundation recognizes the need to invest in community leadership, capacity building and information-sharing, all goals of GIVEOakville. We encourage applicants to request funding for operational costs.

The GIVEOakville Guide is a resource The Foundation creates to showcase charities participating in GIVEOakville to Donors. The Guide will be available in hard copy and electronic format. The electronic version will be accessible via The Foundation’s website once the GIVEOakville campaign launches for funding support in the Fall.

Once in the portal, click on “Create New Account” to complete the registration process and create your login. Be sure to keep this login information for your organization’s records as you will need it in the future.

The login will always be an email address so it is best to make it a general organization mailbox address. The password is unique to your organization.  Click “Forgot Your Password” in the event you have forgotten what you’ve chosen and follow the instructions. Contact Michelle Collins, Fundholder and Community Engagement Administrator, at michelle@theocf.org for any portal-related questions.

Once your charity is registered, it will remain in the system forever. If you have already registered, but have forgotten your password, you can click “Forgot Your Password” and follow the instructions.

The login to the application portal is always an email address. Individuals are not able to create accounts for organizations that are already registered in the system so it is likely that access to the portal is attached to an individual’s email who is no longer at your organization. If you are new to your organization and have never accessed the application portal, contact Michelle Collins, Fundholder and Community Engagement Administrator at michelle@theocf.org to be added as a user.

Changes to your application can be made in the portal before it is submitted. Once your application is submitted changes can be requested by contacting Michelle Collins, Fundholder and Community Engagement Administrator, at michelle@theocf.org up until 11:59pm of the application close date.

Please note that the description, website url, photos and videos appearing in the GIVEOakville Guide are submitted as part of your application. If you need to make a change to your information appearing in the online Guide please email michelle@theocf.org. Requests for changes after the launch of GIVEOakville may not be made immediately.

Once an application is submitted, The Foundation will undertake its due diligence to ensure that it meets the necessary eligibility requirements.

Applicants will receive an “accept” or “reject” letter via email before your grant request is included in GIVEOakville for public viewing and funding.

Throughout the GIVEOakville campaign, the funds raised will be visible in live time on www.giveoakville.com. 

GIVEOakville is open to Foundation Fundholders and the general public as an online crowdfunding platform.

Yes, promotion of your participation in GIVEOakville is recommended. Participating organizations will receive an amplification package that will include key messages, suggested social media posts, graphics, logos and more to help you promote your participation.  The Foundation will create social media posts and organizations are encouraged to share them.

• Applicants must be qualified donees as defined under the Income Tax Act and registered and in good standing with Canada Revenue Agency. 
• Primary Purpose, Presence, and Reputation in Oakville
  • The organization must primarily operate in Oakville, have a recognizable presence in the community, and maintain a positive reputation.

• Not Be a National Organization
  • Nationally-focused charities are not eligible; the organization should be local with specific impact in Oakville.

• Not Be a Place of Worship or Missionary Charity
  • Religious institutions and missionary-focused charities are excluded from participation.

• Must Sign a Human Rights Code Agreement
  • The organization must formally agree to uphold and sign a Human Rights Code agreement, affirming values like inclusivity, non-discrimination, and equity.

• Applications with Indigenous or equity-deserving community content, focus or impact must adhere to the granting policy directions set out below.

1. Organizations not located in Halton
2. Annual fundraising campaigns 
3. Covering deficits
4. Retiring debt
5. Endowment funds 
6. To places of worship or organizations that require adherence to or promotion of a religious faith 
7. Political parties, or any group that requires political affiliation as a condition of receiving support or services or,
8. Grantmaking organizations and private foundations

Final eligibility and approval are at the sole discretion of the OCF Board. Even if all listed criteria are met, the board retains the right to approve or reject applicants based on their judgment.

To ensure programs and services are not created or imposed without the support of the communities they aim to serve, projects with Indigenous and equity-deserving communities must be done “with them and not for them”. In recognition of self-determination for Indigenous and equity-deserving communities and in the spirit of Reconciliation, applications must be Indigenous or equity-deserving community guided if they have one or more of the following:

• Indigenous or equity-deserving community focus
• Indigenous or equity-deserving community content (including education of the broader community)
• Impacts or benefits Indigenous or equity-deserving communities
• Addresses Indigenous or equity-deserving community causes

Applications without direct Indigenous or equity-deserving community guidance and support will not meet The Foundation’s commitment to SDG #10 – Reduced Inequalities. 

Indigenous and equity-deserving community guidance must be demonstrated in the development of the application. An applicant cannot suggest that they will seek Indigenous guidance or equity-deserving community guidance after the project approval. A project or program must be guided by the Indigenous or equity-deserving community and should include one or more of the following:

1. Developed in conjunction with an Indigenous or equity-deserving community with formal protocols;
2. For Indigenous community programming – led by knowledge keepers, to ensure culturally relevant programming informed by those with lived experience/or;
3. Formally approved and sanctioned by the Indigenous or equity-deserving community it is to benefit.

One of these three conditions must be met to ensure that the project/program benefits are culturally appropriate, acceptable, support self-determination and achieve long-term success.

We have committed that in any adjudicated award, the reviewers will include members of that same community. “Nothing about us without us” is central to our view to ensure that there is representation in our funding decisions.

Yes, however, your organization must be located within Halton Region and you must demonstrate that funding will only be used for activities that directly support and serve Oakville or its residents.

No. In fact, organizations are encouraged to submit a request for general support of operating costs.

Yes, if you are a Halton-based charity serving Oakville, and a qualified donee in good standing with the CRA.

Yes, if you are a Halton-based charity serving Oakville, and a qualified donee in good standing with the CRA. The focus of this granting program is to assist our local charitable sector.

No. Only one application per organization will be permitted. If a charity participates in a collaborative grant it will be considered their one and only eligible application. 

Yes, collaborative grant applications are welcomed. Non-profit organizations may participate in a collaborative grant, but the lead organization submitting the application must be a Halton-based charity serving Oakville, and a qualified donee in good standing with the CRA.

The Foundation will accept eligible grant requests up to a maximum of $25,000. The grant request amount should be realistic and proportionate to your organization’s size. For example, requesting a grant that is equivalent to more than 25% of your total revenue would not be considered realistic. There is no minimum requirement.

The Foundation will distribute grants via electronic funds transfer (EFT).

Top up funding from The Foundation is only applied at the end of the campaign to organizations/projects that have received Donor support during the campaign. No grant will exceed the funding amount requested by your organization.

Grants from GIVEOakville must be used only for the charitable purpose of your organization for which the grant is approved.

In 2019, The Foundation signed on to participate in the Fund for Gender Equality, where we made the commitment to support and invest in women, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people in our community. The Foundation continues to examine its operations, policies and practices to ensure that it meets new expectations to be equitable, anti-racist and an ally. In 2022, The Foundation released its Reconciliation, Equity, Anti-Racism Statement.

Of The Foundation’s total top-up funding available, a minimum of 10% of this total will be allocated as an additional top-up to organizations meeting the racialized-led and gender equity criteria.