United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) invites applications from not-for-profit (NFP) organizations for capital grants that aim to expand, or enhance, community service spaces. This is part of UWGT’s Community Real Estate Initiative, which aims to:
- Protect not-for-profit organizations from market pressure and displacement.
- Support ownership and revitalization of community spaces.
- Build sector capacity in social purpose real estate, including supporting organizations in developing, owning, and operating social service spaces.
As part of this long-term vision, UWGT is currently inviting applications for our 2025-2026 Expanding Community Service Space Capital Grant1 . These grants intend to support the work of community service organizations by increasing and enhancing community service space capacity in locations that are not-for-profit owned or in partnership with public and not-for-profit institutions. UWGT is also interested in supporting mixed use projects where investments can be used to create deeply affordable housing and community service space.
1) Please note, there will also be a distinct stream and process for this grant launching in early 2026 for Indigenous-led organizations ONLY. Indigenous-led and serving organizations are welcome and encouraged to apply for any Expanding Community Services Space Capital Grant call that best suits their capacity, community, and project needs.
Project Objectives
Grants will support:
- Pre-development work which includes costs related to the pre-construction phase of a project including consulting studies, municipal approvals, and site assessments.
- Small capital project implementation which includes costs related to the construction and fit out of community service space(s), including mechanical, electrical and plumbing.
Projects must align with UWGT’s mission to address poverty and be located in NFP-owned or public institution-partnered spaces. Mixed-use developments combining affordable housing and community services are encouraged.
Priority will be given to projects that:
- Demonstrate environmental and financial sustainability
- Address unmet needs in high-growth, high-density, or underserved areas
- Promote collaboration and enhanced service coordination
- Are funding ready and operationally feasible.
Is my organization eligible?
- Be an incorporated not-for-profit organization and/or registered as a charity by the Canada Revenue Agency
- Have financial statements for calendar year 2024 OR fiscal year 2024/25 that have been audited by a licensed public accountant, or be trusteed by a registered charity that has financial statements for calendar year 2024 OR fiscal year 2024/2025 year that have been audited by a licensed public accountant
- For organizations with annual revenue of less than $100,000, a review engagement for at least one fiscal year that has been conducted by a licensed public accountant would be acceptable
- Have been in operation for at least 24 months
- Provide services out of a physical location in one or more of the following geographic areas: Peel Region, Toronto, or York Region
- Provide services out of a not-for-profit owned location or space leased from a public institution or non-profit organization
- Provide services to people living in, or at risk of poverty
- Provide social or community services as your primary mandate
- Be a UWGT funded agency; or be a SPRE Accelerator Program participant who meets all other eligibility requirements as described
- Have completed all funded phases of work and required final reporting, if previously funded by the ECSSC Grant
- For-profit organizations
- Full-day childcare
- Government or government agencies, boards, or commissions as primary recipients (projects may be in partnership with these organizations)
- Hospitals and long-term-care facilities as primary recipients (projects may be in partnership with these organizations)
- Grant-making foundations
- Individuals
- Organizations that could be deemed discriminatory, as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code
- Organizations whose purpose is solely related to political activity, as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency
- Organizations without a clear demarcation between religious and community service functions as evidenced in the organization’s by-laws, articles of association or letters patent
- Organizations without a head office or program service location in Peel Region, Toronto, or York Region
- Professional Associations
- Residential facilities that are licensed and regulated under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act and funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
- Residential facilities that are funded or managed by Corrections Canada
- Residential facilities under the Homes for Special Care Act
- Retirement homes regulated by the Retirement Homes Act
- Services mandated by the Child, Youth and Family Services Act
- Unions
The Expanding Community Service Space Capital Grant will fund projects for the following streams:
- Pre-development work for large and small capital projects (e.g., consulting, feasibility studies, architectural drawings etc.)
- Large capital projects: $3,500,000 or more in anticipated construction costs
- Small capital projects: $3,500,000 or less in anticipated construction costs
- Is anticipated to be completed within approximately 5 years of receiving funds
2. Implementation and construction of small capital projects (e.g., construction costs, furniture, fixtures and equipment)
- Small capital projects: $3,500,000 or less in anticipated construction costs
- Will be completed within 24 months of receiving funds.
- Projects must be located on property owned by a not-for-profit or by a public institution (municipal government, public agency, etc.).
- Projects must include a community service space component and will result in the expansion and/or enhancement of community services.
The Expanding Community Service Space Capital Grant will NOT fund projects if:
- The project is located in a property that is leased in the private market (i.e., the project is located in a retail storefront owned by a for-profit landlord)
- The project is located in a property with legal claims against it. (Please note, property and title searches will be conducted to ensure eligibility).
- The project or organization is already funded through the 2024-2025 Expanding Community Service Capital Grant and phases of that work including final reporting are not complete.
Definitions
- Predevelopment Work: These are costs related to the early stages of project development and may include “soft costs” related to pre-construction activities including consultant fees, pre-construction design, surveys, and feasibility studies.
- Small Capital Implementation Costs: These are costs primarily associated with the physical construction of the proposed capital project including but not limited to foundations, wall assembly, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, finishes, furniture, fixtures and equipment.
- Community Service Space: Is non-residential space, that is used to support programming, service provision, events and agency operations.
How much can I apply for?
Funding Term:
Up to 2 years (April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2028)
Funding Range:
- $50,000 – $250,000 per project
- Applicants may apply for more than one project, however it is unlikely that more than one project will be funded per organization, given the limited amount of funding.
How will my application be assessed?
All applications will be reviewed by committees of UWGT staff, volunteers, and sector experts. Proposals must meet eligibility and assessment criteria, demonstrate evidence-based outcomes, and align with UWGT’s strategic priorities across Peel Region, Toronto, and York Region. The review committees may request further information from applicants.
Applicants will be notified of decisions in March 2026. Funding contracts will commence between April and June 2026.
Assessment Criteria
Community Benefit and Alignment
- Alignment with UWGT’s mission to alleviate poverty.
- Clear articulation of project scope, population(s) served, and service enhancements.
- In-person access in high-poverty or underserved areas
- Focus on structurally disadvantaged groups (e.g., Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, women, people with disabilities)
- Projects that support deeply affordable housing and community services will be prioritized.
Project Budget
- The project budget is clear and identifies specific needs for UWGT funding
- Budget is appropriate and reasonable
- Budget demonstrates contributions from other sources of funds
- The project has sufficient guaranteed funds to effectively be completed
- Projects must demonstrate cost due diligence through a competitive bidding process for applicable predevelopment work and construction budgets
- Construction budgets should be broken down by divisions and include payment schedules
Organizational Capacity to Deliver the Project
- Demonstrated history of working with the population(s) to be served. Culturally reflective services and applications from Black-led and Indigenous-led organizations will be strongly considered.
- Demonstrated basic organizational health: good governance; financial management and oversight; compliance with human resource policies and practices; and risk management.
- Demonstrated ability to steward UWGT funding, including a record of timely and accurate reporting to funders.
- Validated confirmation that the organization leading the project has policies in place to guide reconciliation, equity and inclusion
- Validated confirmation that the organization leading the project has demonstrated community representation at the Board, senior management, and/or staff levels
- Established support from the partners for collaborative applications, this can include letters of support.
Project Plan and Feasibility
- A clear project plan that provides details on the following will need to be provided:
- Project overview, tasks, key deliverables, milestones and objectives
- Detailed project budget and financing planDetailed operating plan
- Detailed risk matrix with mitigations
- Details on the management team and coordination plan for work to be completed
- Details on existing key project stakeholders and partners at the time of application (i.e., Funders, consultants, construction manager, etc.).
- Project overview, tasks, key deliverables, milestones and objectives
- Detailed project budget and financing plan
- Detailed operating plan
- Detailed risk matrix with mitigations
- Details on the management team and coordination plan for work to be completed
- Details on existing key project stakeholders and partners at the time of application (i.e., Funders, consultants, construction manager, etc.)
- Project plans must be feasible and in a prepared state of readiness, demonstrating a likelihood of success.
- Small capital implementation projects where existing zoning is in place or the rezoning process underway will be prioritized.
- Sites owned by community service organizations and public/non-profit partnership will be prioritized.
Impact Measurement & Evaluation
- A plan to monitor and evaluate project impacts is provided
- An evaluation of organizational learning will be provided
- Evidence of connection between project design and identified objectives or impacts
- Measurable outputs and impacts relevant to the funding request. For example, measurable impacts can include the following:
- Square footage of community real estate acquired, preserved or constructed
- Percent increase and number of visitors accessing community services space
- Additional program or service offerings and/or hours provided
- Number of residents accessing services that reflect target demographics easurable impacts can include the following:
- Square footage of community real estate acquired, preserved or constructed
- Percent increase and number of visitors accessing community services space
- Additional program or service offerings and/or hours provided
- Number of residents accessing services that reflect target demographics
How do I apply?
Deadline: January 9th, 2026 by 5:00 pm.
You will be required to complete your application in SurveyMonkey Apply (SMA). Paper applications will not be accepted. The application will take time to complete and can be saved and returned to at any point. Please submit one application per project if your organization is seeking funding for more than one project.
Contact us at communityrealestate@uwgt.org if you would like to receive the questions in an alternative format.
The full application is accessible through a web-based platform compliant with Accessibility for Ontarians Disability Act.
If you face any barriers in accessing the platform or require a different format for the application, please contact communityrealestate@uwgt.org.
Important Dates
| Information Sessions: | Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 11:00am |
| Application Deadline: | January 9, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. |
| Notification of Decisions: | March 2026 |
| Commencement of Funding Contracts: | April – June 2026 |
How can I get more information?
Information Session
United Way Greater Toronto held a virtual information session on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Please watch the recorded session or download the slide deck for more information.
Office Hours
There will be 3 upcoming office hours sessions where grantees can ask questions about their applications. They will occur on:
Sessions will occur:
- December 3rd, 10am-12pm
- December 10th, 2pm-4pm
- December 16th, 11am-1pm
Meeting ID: 846 3455 6775 | Passcode: 657088
Contact Us
Still have questions? Please send us an email at communityrealestate@uwgt.org and our team will get back you!
Note: Phone support can be provided via a platform with live captioning and can be scheduled during the day and early evening.