Funding
Pay for it smartly
Government programs can cover part of a project. Find what may fit; LRJ helps with the technical plan, for a flat fee that's never a percentage.
Program details change often. Statuses below were last verified on November 6, 2026. You apply; LRJ helps with the technical plan. We never promise funding.
Programs
For businesses
BDC LIFT
Open- Pays for
- Technology and AI adoption
- Who qualifies
- Canadian businesses with $1 million or more in revenue; a BDC plan is required
- Money
- Loans of $25,000 to $5 million, at a preferential rate (2.25%) when buying from Canadian suppliers
Secure ModernizationPrivate AI Build & HostingManaged CloudCPCSC Contract-Ready AssessmentFunding Application SupportOfficial page Details as of November 6, 2026
BDC Small Business Loan
Open- Pays for
- General business needs, such as spreading one-time IT costs
- Who qualifies
- Canadian businesses; best odds with $100,000+ revenue and 24+ months in business
- Money
- Up to $350,000
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Canada Summer Jobs 2027
Open- Pays for
- Summer jobs for youth aged 15 to 30, 6 to 16 weeks, 30 to 40 hours a week
- Who qualifies
- Non-profits, public employers and private employers with 50 or fewer full-time staff
- Money
- Non-profits up to 100% of provincial minimum wage plus mandatory employment costs; public and small private employers up to 50%
- Status
- Applications October 27 to December 3, 2026, 11:59 pm PT.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
FedDev RAII: AI Adoption
Open- Pays for
- Adopting and integrating AI, beyond buying commonly available AI tools. Includes building capacity and training, upgrading equipment and digital infrastructure, and strengthening data quality, governance and architecture.
- Who qualifies
- Southern Ontario businesses with 5 to 499 full-time-equivalent staff and 3+ years of financial statements
- Money
- $125,000 to $5 million, up to 50% of eligible costs, repayable. Plan for projects of about $250,000 or more.
- Status
- Intake October 13, 2026 to January 19, 2027, 4:59 pm ET. Apply by November 24, 2026 if project costs start before March 31, 2027.
Private AI Build & HostingData Analysis + VisualizationTraining WorkshopsManaged CloudFunding Application SupportOfficial page Details as of November 6, 2026
FedDev RTRI (Regional Tariff Response Initiative)
Open- Pays for
- Liquidity, pivot, productivity, resilience and diversification projects
- Who qualifies
- Southern Ontario businesses with $1 million or more in revenue facing tariff pressure
- Money
- Non-repayable up to 50%: liquidity up to $2 million, pivot projects up to $1 million ($3 million combined cap). Larger pivot projects repayable up to 75%; total cap $20 million.
- Status
- Open since September 8, 2026. Liquidity support ends by March 31, 2028; pivot projects must be complete by March 31, 2029. FedDev takes one application per company at a time.
Secure ModernizationCPCSC Contract-Ready AssessmentManaged CloudData Analysis + VisualizationFunding Application SupportOfficial page Details as of November 6, 2026
NRC IRAP (including DI Assist)
Open- Pays for
- Developing new technology; DI Assist covers defence and dual-use development
- Who qualifies
- Incorporated for-profit businesses with up to 500 employees
- Money
- Non-repayable contributions (DI Assist may include loans)
- Status
- Through an IRAP advisor.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
OCI Critical Industrial Technologies (other streams)
Open- Pays for
- Five streams for SMEs adopting 5G, AI, blockchain, cybersecurity, quantum or robotics
- Who qualifies
- Ontario SMEs in advanced manufacturing (not automotive), construction, agri-food or mining
- Money
- Varies by stream
- Status
- Interest form.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
OCI Future Ready (Critical Industrial Technologies)
Open- Pays for
- Training in 5G, AI, blockchain, cybersecurity, quantum or robotics, delivered by an external consultant such as LRJ
- Who qualifies
- Ontario SMEs under 500 global FTE in advanced manufacturing (not automotive), construction, agri-food or mining
- Money
- Up to $10,000, up to 50% of costs (1:1 match), reimbursed
- Status
- Rolling intake; start with OCI's intake form.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
OCI Retail Modernization Project Grant
Open- Pays for
- Point-of-sale, RFID, inventory and CRM hardware and software
- Who qualifies
- Ontario storefront retailers open to the public with 1 to 50 full-time staff, incorporated and operating for 1+ year, with $100,000+ revenue, not home-based. Can't be combined with DMAP.
- Money
- Up to $5,000, non-repayable
- Status
- First come, first served.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Ontario Job Grant
Open- Pays for
- Third-party training of up to 52 weeks
- Who qualifies
- Private and non-profit employers (not government or designated broader public sector such as school boards, hospitals, universities, colleges, children's aid societies, DSSABs or Employment Ontario providers)
- Money
- Up to $10,000 per trainee; employers with 100+ staff pay half, under 100 at least one-sixth. Previously unemployed new hires up to $15,000, possibly 100%.
- Status
- Year-round; one application at a time; priority to employers not funded in the last 6 months.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Ontario Together Trade Fund
Open- Pays for
- Competitiveness projects for tariff-hit businesses, including equipment, machinery and specialized expertise
- Who qualifies
- Ontario businesses with 5+ FTE, 3+ years of financial statements, tariff impact (a targeted sector such as steel, auto or aluminum, or a 30%+ revenue loss) and a $200,000+ project. Consulting firms can't apply.
- Money
- Usually 10 to 20% of eligible costs as a grant or loan, up to $5 million (up to 75% only for exceptional benefits to Ontario). Loans are interest-free during the project (up to 2 years), usually repaid over 4 years, and up to 30% forgivable (max $1.5 million).
- Status
- Continuous intake since April 23, 2025.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (business stream)
Open- Pays for
- Distinct growth projects, not ongoing operations or maintenance
- Who qualifies
- Southwestern Ontario businesses operating 3+ years with 10+ employees (5 in rural areas) that will create 5+ jobs (or grow 30% if under 15 staff) and invest $500,000+ ($200,000 rural)
- Money
- Up to 15% of costs, mostly as loans up to $5 million, interest-free during the project (up to 4 years) and up to 30% forgivable (max $500,000). Grants in limited cases. Can't be combined with other Ontario programs.
- Status
- Period 24 opened November 3, 2026; deadline January 21, 2027.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Student Work Placement Program
Open- Pays for
- Co-op and work-integrated learning wages
- Who qualifies
- Employers hiring eligible students
- Money
- Up to $5,000 per student
- Status
- Year-round.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Digital Main Street
Ongoing- Pays for
- Free workshops and a directory of service providers
- Who qualifies
- Small businesses
- Money
- No grant (the $2,500 grant has closed); free services only
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
SR&ED tax incentive
Ongoing- Pays for
- Experimental development with technical uncertainty
- Who qualifies
- Canadian-controlled private corporations
- Money
- 35% refundable credit on up to $6 million of qualifying spending
- Status
- Claimed through annual tax filing.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Productivity Mega Deduction (proposed)
Proposed- Pays for
- Immediate write-off of most depreciable property acquired on or after September 15, 2026
- Who qualifies
- Any taxpayer (some limits)
- Money
- Tax deduction
- Status
- Proposed; draft legislation, not yet law. Ask your accountant.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
FedDev RDII (defence)
Paused- Pays for
- Defence supply chain
- Who qualifies
- Southern Ontario defence suppliers
- Status
- Paused since May 1, 2026.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Canada Digital Adoption Program
Closed- Pays for
- Digital adoption grants and loans
- Who qualifies
- Canadian small businesses
- Status
- The program has ended.
Search the program name for its official page.Details as of November 6, 2026
OCI Technology Demonstration Program
Closed- Pays for
- Implementing a completed DMAP
- Who qualifies
- Businesses with $750,000+ revenue, a completed DMAP and 1 to 499 employees
- Money
- Up to $50,000
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Programs
For non-profits and charities
FedDev RTRI (support for organizations that help businesses)
Open- Pays for
- Programs that help businesses adapt, grow and trade
- Who qualifies
- Chambers of commerce, associations, BIAs and similar organizations
- Money
- Not specified
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Ontario Trillium Foundation: Grow
Status unconfirmed- Pays for
- Scaling proven programs over 2 or 3 years
- Who qualifies
- Non-profits, as for Seed
- Money
- Higher than Seed
- Status
- No 2026–27 date posted.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Ontario Trillium Foundation: Seed
Status unconfirmed- Pays for
- New, unproven projects: project staff, purchased services, project equipment, overhead up to 15%, evaluation up to 10%
- Who qualifies
- Non-profits with 3+ board members (half at arm's length), board-approved financial statements and 1+ year of history
- Money
- $5,000 to $75,000 a year, for up to 12 months; 10% held back until the final report
- Status
- No upcoming deadline posted.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
CIRA Net Good
Closed- Pays for
- Internet infrastructure, online safety and policy engagement. Excludes websites, apps, platforms, hosting and software.
- Who qualifies
- Canadian organizations with projects benefiting Canadians
- Money
- Up to $100,000 for one year
- Status
- The 2026 call closed March 18, 2026.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Ontario Skills Development Fund (Training Stream)
Closed- Pays for
- Workforce training projects
- Who qualifies
- Employers, training providers, unions, business and industry organizations, hospitals and community organizations
- Money
- Round 6: $260 million in total
- Status
- Round 6 closed October 1, 2025; watch for the next round.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Ontario Trillium Foundation: Capital
Closed- Pays for
- Equipment and renovations that keep, expand or improve access to a service; development costs up to 20%. Excludes websites, apps, large custom software and programming.
- Who qualifies
- Non-profits operating 12+ months, First Nations, small municipalities and some religious entities
- Money
- $10,000 to $200,000, over 6 or 12 months
- Status
- The 2026 window ran February 4 to March 4, 2026. Recent windows have opened in February.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Waterloo Region Community Foundation: Community Grants
Closed- Pays for
- Projects bringing people together in shared spaces
- Who qualifies
- Local registered charities, qualified donees, or non-profits with a charitable partner
- Money
- Spark $5,000 to $10,000; Scale $10,001 to $30,000
- Status
- The 2026 window ran February 23 to March 30, 2026.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Programs
Donated and discounted technology
Google for Nonprofits (incl. Ad Grants)
Ongoing- Pays for
- Ad Grants and Google Workspace for Nonprofits
- Who qualifies
- Registered charities and non-profit corporations (not government, hospitals and health organizations, or schools), verified through Goodstack
- Money
- Ad Grants up to US$10,000 a month in search ads (keep a 5% click-through rate and conversion tracking)
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
Microsoft for Nonprofits
Ongoing- Pays for
- Discounted software: Azure credit each year (TechSoup cites up to $3,500), 10 donated Power Apps seats and discounted Windows licences. Donated Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 ended July 1, 2025; discounts continue.
- Who qualifies
- Eligible non-profits
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
TechSoup
Ongoing- Pays for
- Discounted software and hardware
- Who qualifies
- Eligible non-profits
- Money
- Discounts
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
AWS Imagine Grant
Status unconfirmed- Pays for
- Cloud-centred mission projects
- Who qualifies
- Eligible non-profits
- Money
- Credits, cash and technical support
- Status
- Check AWS for the current cycle.
Official page Details as of November 6, 2026
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Planning a funded project?
A fixed-price assessment doubles as the technical plan for your application. The fee for writing the technical sections is flat, never a percentage.