Tips to Increase Your Chances of Being Successful

The Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF) provides grants that support hundreds of initiatives every year that cover a broad range of needs and opportunities in Ottawa — from social services, arts and culture, education, to environment, health, and animal welfare.

If you are considering applying for a grant, carefully review our Granting Guidelines and Eligibility. We also encourage you to contact us to discuss your initiative before you submit your application. Email us at grants@ocf-fco.ca, call Tais McNeill at 613-236-1616.

And finally, here are a few tips to help your organization increase its chances of receiving a grant:

  1. Give yourself time to plan the grant-writing process. Writing a grant at the last minute is a sure-way to fail. Allow yourself enough time to look over funders’ criteria, clearly articulate your objectives and explore possible partnerships.
  2. Talk to us. Think of the OCF as a partner in your process, not just a provider of money. Call us early in your planning process to discuss ideas and possible partnerships.
  3. Read our information. Review our granting guidelines and eligibly criteria. It may seem overwhelming at first so remember No. 1!
  4. Talk to others about their granting successes and failures. Learning from others and your community should be part of your ongoing evaluation and feedback process.
  5. Articulate your case simply, clearly, and with a solid solution. Grant reviewers read many proposals and don’t necessarily know about your organization and your needs. Consider getting someone outside your organization to review your proposal with a focus on these points.
  6. Collaborate with others. We often read proposals from different organizations trying to tackle similar issues. Success in the not-for-profit sector often comes from working together, so consider who might be a good partner.
  7. Consider the bigger picture. Your focus and passion for your cause might blind you to the bigger picture. Visit and bookmark Ottawa Insights, the OCF’s site for local data for local action. Ottawa Insights can help you strengthen your proposal and help you communicate how your project is connected to long term trends and the bigger picture in Ottawa.