New grant opportunity! Learn more about the Community Services Recovery Fund below or navigate to the Community Services Recovery Fund website.
FAQs
Who can apply?
Grants are given to organizations identified by the Canada Revenue Agency as a qualified donee or to projects and programmes where there is a direct working relationship between the qualified donee and the not for profit. Not sure if you qualify? Check out Charities and giving – Canada.ca or give us a call.
What will be Funded?
Preference is given to innovative projects, programmes, ideas or initiatives which:
- Encourage networking and collaboration among organizations
- Demonstrate innovative or interdisciplinary approaches
- Reflect diversity and inclusivity
- Work towards meeting one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- Emphasize prevention rather than remediation
What won’t be Funded
- Annual Fund drives
- Debt reduction
- Direct religious or political activities
- Projects, programs or expenses that will be completed before the grant decision takes place
- Endowment funds
Ongoing Grants
The Community Services Recovery Fund- is now closed


SCF is proud to announce the #CommunityServicesRecoveryFund alongside @CommFdnsCanada thanks to the support of @ESDC_GC. Now more than ever, charities and non-profits are playing a key role in addressing persistent and complex social problems faced by all communities, the #CommunityServicesRecoveryFund, funded by @ESDC_GC, is supporting organizations as they strengthen and adapt.
Sarnia Community Foundation will be supporting a broad and diverse range of charities and non-profits to adapt, modernize and support recovery in their communities. The #CommunityServicesRecoveryFund officially launches in the new year! We’re eager to work with @CommFdnsCanada in partnership with @ESDC_GC to administer the $400M fund to support recovery in the sector!

SCF Community Impact Grants 2023- Grant stream is closed until 2024

St Clair Child and Youth 2020 Grant
Community Impact Grants are made by the Sarnia Community Foundation once per calendar year.
Applications that do not fall within the posted guidelines will not be considered for funding.
- Encourage networking and collaboration among organizations
- Demonstrate innovative or interdisciplinary approaches
- Reflect diversity and inclusivity
- Work towards meeting one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- Emphasize prevention rather than remediation
Community Impact Grants are awarded for definite purposes. Pilot or demonstration projects must include provision for evaluation and a realistic plan for financial viability beyond the pilot stage to be considered for funding.
DEADLINE for applications is 4 pm April 28th, 2023
Petrolia Community Fund - Opens October 2023
Projects funded in 2021 include:
- Parents for Parks for the building of a fully accessible play structure in Greenwood Park – $2,000
- YMCA for audio equipment – $1,500
- St Paul’s United Church Community Refrigerator- $1,500
- Organization for Literacy – Train your Brain Programme $ 3,000
- Lambton Young Theatre Players for operational costs related to restarting programmes when the lockdown is lifted – $1,000
- Rebound – Art Day Workshop – $2,000
SCF Micro Grants

SCF Micro Grants are generally for specific projects that do not fall within the time frame of the SCF Community Impact Grants or the Petrolia Community Fund Grants and range between $200 and $500 dollars. The grant is to be used for time limited projects or events that will benefit the community at large.
A limited number of Micro Grants is available in any given year. Multi-year funding is not available.
Donor Advised Grants

Some of our donors have established funds that allow them to direct grantable income associated with their fund to specific charities or projects in the community. We’re always interested in hearing about community needs and are happy to provide our fund holders with information about projects and programmes that might interest them as they make their decision. These grants are made throughout the year and the Foundation Staff would be happy to advise you whether your project might be eligible.
For further information on the grant process for Community Impact, Donor Advised and Petrolia Community Fund Grants please call 519-332-2588
Previous Investments in Our Community
Emergency Community Support Fund
The Sarnia Community Foundation was proud to be part of an extraordinary granting partnership in 2020. This opportunity was via the Community Foundations of Canada and delivered a portion of The Government of Canada’s $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund within Lambton County. SCF made grants totalling over $185,000 to 19 agencies working to combat the effects of COVID 19 on their operations in our community.
Grants were made to
- Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile – Hands on Art Program – $5,000
- VON – Tablets for Visiting Nursing Staff – $28,700
- Rebound – SPECTRUM – LGBTQ2S+ – $10,000
- Victim Services of Sarnia-Lambton Inc. –PPE & COVID Training and Equipment – $4,000
- Big Brothers Big Sisters – Virtual Programming Assistance – $10,000
- Lambton Mental Wellness Centre – Essential Supplies to Reinstate Services – $ 5,200
- Organization for Literacy in Lambton – Reopening Post-Pandemic – $11,200
- Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada – Play From Home Packs – $2, 500
- St. Clair Child & Youth Services –Safe Environment Furnishing– $22,000
- Huron House Boys’ Home – COVID-19 Extended Programming – $10,560
- Big Brothers Big Sisters- Family Activity Boxes- $5000
- International Symphony Orchestra – Digital Chamber Series – $7,313
- Huron House Boys Home- Basic Needs Support- $8,630
- County Of Lambton Long Term Care- Connectivity Support for Residents- $14,200
- Lambton County Developmental Services – Accessible Website- $5,000
- St. Clair Child & Youth Services –Safe Environment Lochiel Site- $6,427
- Sexual Assault Survivors Centre- Safe Return to Work- $6,500
- Alzheimer’s Society Sarnia Lambton – Virtual Programme Expansion – $15,000
- Bluewater Health – Patient Connectivity- $7,620

Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile

Sarnia-Lambton Rebound

St. Clair Child & Youth Services

Victim Services of Sarnia-Lambton Inc.
Donor Advised Grants
In 2020 our donors and fund holders responded to community needs by asking SCF to make grants to more than 30 agencies or programmes that directly affect our community.
These caring people made a difference to the individuals served by these agencies:
- Boys and Girls Club
- Huron House Boys Home
- Circles
- Lambton Youth Choir
- St Clair Child & Youth Services
- SSVP Food Bank
- The International Symphony
- St. Joseph’s Hospice
- Petrolia Discovery
- West Lambton Community Health
- Women’s Interval Home
- CEE Hospital Foundation
- Rayjon
- Victoria Playhouse Petrolia
- The Inn of the Good Shepherd
- Kidney Foundation of Canada-Sarnia Lambton Chapter
- Lambton Mental Wellness Centre
- John Howard Society
- Bluewater Health Foundation
- United Way

West Lambton Gift for Child Nutrition Programme

Gift to John Howard Society

Gift to Lambton Mental Wellness Centre for the rural WRAP programme
Community Impact Grants
In 2020 the Community Grants Committee recommended grants to more than 20 agencies or programmes including :
- Inn of the Good Shepherd
- Rebound
- YMCA Strong Kids
- Habitat for Humanity
- Pathways
- The Parkinson’s Society
- Kineto Theatre
- St Clair Child and Youth
- Women’s interval Home

Gift to the Inn of the Good Shepherd

Gift to Pathways

Gift to Rebound