Why finding funding is hard

• Funding is scattered. Federal, provincial, municipal, foundation and corporate funders each publish only their own programs, on their own websites, in their own way.
• Deadlines are easy to miss. Many programs open once a year, sometimes for only a few weeks.
• The best fit is often hidden. Useful money for artists and arts groups can come from outside the arts: education, heritage, environment, community and tourism programs.
• Grants are only part of it. Residencies, prizes, fellowships, scholarships and bursaries matter just as much, and are often left out of grant lists.
• Programs for specific communities are hard to find. Funding for Indigenous arts practices, and for Black, newcomer, 2SLGBTQI+, Deaf and disabled artists, exists, but it is spread across many funders.
• Keeping track takes time or money. Some services let you browse a few listings, and charge for reminders and new opportunities.

And in Canada

• Funders do not share their lists. There is no common feed of funding programs, so every listing has to be found and checked one funder at a time.
• Charity status can close doors. Many community funders accept only registered charities, and it takes work to find the programs that also accept artists, collectives and non-profit societies.
• Where you live changes what you can get. Regional arts funding can depend on whether your own town takes part in the regional program, so neighbours can have different options.
• Two official languages. Some programs have their own language or regional requirements, which makes the search harder still.

What this pilot does

This pilot lists 1,854 funding opportunities from 543 funders: 814 grants, 220 prizes and awards, 238 residencies, 19 fellowships, and 563 scholarships and bursaries.

• The funder's page comes first. Every listing links to the funder's own page, which is always the final word.
• You can see how sure we are. Each listing says how far it has been checked against that page, and when. Many have not been checked yet.
• Search and filters. Find opportunities by kind of funding, art form, where you live, who can apply and what is offered. Your choices and saved listings stay in your own browser.

What this is, and is not

This is a pilot, built to learn whether a service like this is useful. It is not a finished service, and it makes no promises about the future: what it lists, how it works and whether it continues may all change. Always confirm the details with the funder before you apply.

Found something wrong or out of date? Use "Report a problem" on any listing.

Who made this

FundingSpark is made by Certifiable Media (opens in a new tab), an indie studio.