OTF funding provides a unique opportunity for incorporated community clubs with limited resources to improve infrastructure and programming in many ways. Many clubs over the past six years have successfully applied for and have been granted funding for initiatives such as court resurfacing, court rebuilds, fixing decks and practice walls, adding bleachers, shelters and sheds, installing lighting, purchasing computers, ball hoppers and ball machines. Funding amounts have ranged from $20,000 to over $100,000 depending on the project scope.
To help spark your interest, I've included some highlights from a recently held OTF workshop on this subject. OTF have excellent resources that are willing to spend time with your club executives to help them get started on the grant writing process. As well, OTF's presentation from the Fall 2013 Grant-writing workshop can be found on OTA's Raise the Net resource centre, available to all OTA-member clubs through the Club Connection newsletter. If you don't receive this newsletter, please contact Jay Neill at the OTA office.
Overview:
- Club must be incorporated as
a not-for-profit organization
- Operating grants are for an
organization’s ongoing program costs. Operating grants may be for a single
year or multi-year but may not exceed a maximum of five years
- Project grants are for
one-time activities or activities with a defined time frame. Project
grants may be for a single year or multi-year but may not exceed a maximum
of five years
- Capital grants (up to a max
of $150K) are for renovations and equipment purchases. OTF encourages
applications that promote multi-use community spaces or shared spaces and
equipment, or improve accessibility or increase energy efficiency.
- The competition for capital
$ is much greater than that for programs (Capital: $1 granted for every 7
to 9 requested, this is 15% of their fund, Programs: $1 granted for every
3 requested)
- OTF are more likely to
support projects that include green initiatives and improved accessibility
- Trillium does not erect
buildings, but renovations to existing facilities are acceptable. Caveat: they do not fund
municipal properties, so if your clubhouse is owned by the city/municipality,
you would not be successful in obtaining funding for that component. OTF
would however assist with furnishings, security system, etc
- First time applicants should
request pre-application counselling with a OTF program manager. Many times
these are initiated by OTF in 15-minute time slots that clubs reps can
register online for and are scheduled and held in a community centre in
your municipality
- Clubs cannot ask for grant
money after the project has started so be aware you must have your
proposal submitted first before any work is started.
Greater and favorable consideration will be given to projects that:
- Engage partners
- Increase access to the
community
- Improve the experience
- Are multi-purpose or
have more than one kind of impact on the community
- Are combined in
purpose with other areas supported by Trillium
- Provide
continuous/long term improvements
- Can be sustained after
Trillium funding is completed
·
the
majority of successful grant applications over the past 6 years have been for
community tennis clubs requesting money for court resurfacing or rebuilds, for
facility improvements (replace roof, decks, bleachers), and for resources and
equipment needed for improving club programming (hiring pros, purchasing ball
machines, nets, racquets, etc)
·
work
with your municipality in partnership to potentially expand your sources of
funding. Your town/city likely has worked with Trillium before and can help you
with grant applications.
·
request
a letter of endorsement from the OTA to help further support your application.
A full set of
FAQs can be found on the OTF website.
