CEF Community Services Program

Stream A - No One Is Hungry or Without Shelter 

Programs targeted to low-income individuals/families that:

• Address food shortages for low-income individuals/families experiencing economic/physical barriers accessing adequate, nutritious, and culturally responsive food while also addressing special dietary needs when possible. 
• Foster innovation, partnerships and systems change to create a healthy, sustainable, and just food system for Hamilton. 
• Programs that attempt to locate, access, or retain adequate, safe secure housing, supportive housing, or transitional housing. 

No One Is Hungry or Without Shelter Stream aligns with the following City of Hamilton Initiatives: 

• City of Hamilton Housing and Homelessness Action Plan
• Hamilton's Food Strategy 
• Declaration of Emergency Homelessness, Mental Health, and Opioid Addiction 
• Hamilton's Urban Indigenous Strategy(PDF, 1.09 MB)

Stream B - Everyone Feels Safe 

Programs operating targeted to children/youth/adults that:

• Support community-based programs for those experiencing physical, psychological, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse or neglect. 
• Focus specifically on intimate partner violence within a continuum of services.
• Create safe and inclusive spaces. 

 Everyone Feels Safe Stream aligns with the following City of Hamilton Initiatives:

• City of Hamilton Community Safety and Well Being Plan 
• Declaration of Gender- Based and Intimate-Partner Violence as an epidemic
• Hamilton's Urban Indigenous Strategy(PDF, 1.09 MB)

Stream C - Every Child & Family Thrives 

Community based programs targeted to children and guardians facing barriers to access and families experiencing short/long term crisis that: 

• Foster child/guardian or child/adult mentor interaction. 
• Assist families in crisis by offering mechanisms that support families to reintegrate, stay together, or overcome significant trauma.
• Offer targeted programming to support families facing specific barriers to access. 

Every Child and Family Thrives Stream aligns with the following City of Hamilton Initiatives: 

• Early Years Plan(PDF, 2.36 MB)
• City of Hamilton Community Safety and Well-Being Plan.
• Hamilton's Urban Indigenous Strategy(PDF, 1.09 MB)

Stream D - No Youth is Left Behind

 Community Based programs targeted to at risk youth that:        

• Assist with housing/homelessness, mental health support, addictions, or conflict with the law. 
• Support youth where they are, either through outreach, or by creating safe Drop-In spaces. 
• Promote social navigation, program innovation, system change or collaborative proposals. 

No Youth is Left Behind Stream aligns with the following City of Hamilton Initiatives: 

• City of Hamilton Youth Strategy  
• City of Hamilton Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
• Hamilton's Urban Indigenous Strategy(PDF, 1.09 MB)

Stream E - Everyone Can Age in Place 

Programs targeted to seniors or persons with disabilities that allow them to delay entering a residential/long term care facility by remaining at the home of their choice in the community that: 

• Supports community-based programs that allow individuals to age in place.
• Fosters collaboration amongst community-based programs to better serve individuals.
• Prioritize access to community-based programs for equity deserving groups.

Everyone Can Age in Place Stream aligns with the following City of Hamilton Initiatives: 

• City of Hamilton Age Friendly Strategy
• Hamilton's Urban Indigenous Strategy(PDF, 1.09 MB)

Stream F - Community Capacity Grows 

Programs supporting community wide initiatives that: 

• Provide targeted outreach, community development, social navigation, social development, or human services collaboration. 
• Promote systems change, program innovation, or collaborative proposals. 

Community Capacity Grows Stream aligns with the following City of Hamilton Initiatives: 

• City of Hamilton Community Safety and Well-Being Plan.
• City of Hamilton Community Engagement
• Hamilton's Urban Indigenous Strategy(PDF, 1.09 MB)

Stream G - Everyone Has Someone to Talk to 

Programs targeted to low-income individuals, couples, and families that: 

• Reduce economic/physical barriers to community counselling programs. 
• Ensure access to culturally appropriate counselling. 

Everyone Has Someone to Talk to Stream aligns with the following City of Hamilton Initiatives: 

• Declaration of Emergency Homelessness, Mental Health, and Opioid Addiction
• Hamilton's Urban Indigenous Strategy(PDF, 1.09 MB)

• Legally Incorporated Not-for-profit organizations in good standing at the time of application; or, 
• Organizations with a charitable number in good standing at the time of application. 
• Funded activities must take place within the city of Hamilton providing program services for city of Hamilton residents. 
• Programs that directly serve city of Hamilton residents. An organization’s head office is not required to be located in Hamilton.
• Programs must be delivered consistently year-round, be open to the public, and publicized city wide.

Note that meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee that applications will be funded.

• Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), Hospitals/Healthcare facilities, Foundations, Universities, Colleges, and School Boards. 
• Funding bodies, foundations, or organizations that act in the capacity of a funding agency that make financial allocations or contributions to other groups such as service clubs, private and non-profit charitable foundations or for-profit charitable foundations. 
• Religious organizations except in cases where the applicant demonstrates clear boundaries within CEF requested program and budget, between religious activities and the program requesting CEF funding. 
• Requests that will result in funds being given either directly to individuals or to a third party on behalf of an individual (such as direct cash transfers to, rent subsidies, or educational scholarships) and/or used to establish or contribute to a fund that provides directly to an individual or third party.
• Organizations whose activities are deemed to fall under the jurisdiction of other programs, divisions, departments or agencies of the City of Hamilton or other provincial/federal governments. Specific examples of things that the Community Services Program will not consider includes but is not limited to:
  • funding to build non-profit, social, or affordable housing, operating funds for the shelter component of emergency shelters/residential care facilities etc., all childcare centres, EarlyON programs, all programs providing before/after school childcare/recreational programming/sports of any kind in schools, skill specific
• Employment training/retraining, or requests for professional development courses/events. 
• Community or fundraising events.

Applications deemed ineligible will be assigned a DNQ – Does Not Qualify and will not proceed to the adjudication phase.

• CEF does not guarantee that funding is recommended at the full request amount.
• Funding Requests $15,000 or less: CEF funding requests cannot be 100% of the proposed program and must demonstrate additional and varied revenue sources. 
• Funding Requests Over $15,000: Funding requests cannot exceed 30% of the total program budget. 
• Funding Requests of $30,000 or more require the submission of audited financial statements.

Program delivery and administration costs utilizing the approved categories in the Program Budget Form

• Capital projects, equipment, renovations, or maintenance of permanent physical infrastructure 
• Deficit reduction 
• Funding shortfalls from other funders/donors etc.
• Retroactive activity 
• HST 
• Property taxes 
• Programming outside of Hamilton
• Costs associated with replacing subsidies, continuing sources of funding or revenues including use of reserves or accumulated equity, nor will it replace payments, which could be made under purchase of service agreements. 
• Costs associated with program evaluation, research, needs assessments, development of fundraising plans. 
• Costs associated with the development of fundraising, marketing, sponsorship, corporate funding plans etc.

• Applicants are considered “Returning” in the Community Services Program after receiving funding in the previous year for the same program in the same CEF CS funding stream. 
  • Funding must have been granted through CEF program recommendations, not through motion, or other appeals methodology. 
• Staff reserve the right to define applications as new or returning on a case-by-case basis depending on significant history with the CEF program where appropriate. 
• To retain Returning program status, returning programs must reapply within the correct funding stream. Any changes year to year may result in a DNQ (Does Not Qualify) application rating. Please review the 2026 City Enrichment Fund Recommendations to confirm the granted programs funding stream or contact staff [email protected]. 
  • Appendix A - 2026 City Enrichment Fund Recommendations
• Transitioning Emerging Needs Applicants: Applicants who received an “A” rating through the Emerging Needs Stream in the previous funding year may transition to a Community Services established program stream (A–G) in 2027. Applicants transitioning from Emerging Needs must apply to the stream of impact that they identified in their previous application as the category that aligned with their program. Applicants can confirm the correct stream in their previous application under the Program-Specific Question task or contact staff at [email protected]  Applications submitted to an incorrect funding stream will be deemed Does Not Qualify (DNQ) and will not proceed to adjudication.
• Applicants who received a rating other than “A” must reapply through the Emerging Needs Stream and are not eligible to transition to an established stream in 2027.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate good use of public funds. Organizations will be assessed separately using the following assessment criteria and weight:

• Organizational Capacity 30%
• Program Merit 40%
• Community Impact 30%

Stream A - No One Is Hungry or Without Shelter 

Programs targeted to low-income individuals/families that address food shortages, address economic/physical barriers to access adequate, nutritious, and culturally responsive food, foster innovation, partnerships and systems change, and programs that attempt to locate, access, or retain adequate, safe secure housing, supportive housing, or transitional housing. 

Stream B - Everyone Feels Safe 

Programs targeted to children/youth/adults that support community-based programs for those experiencing physical, psychological, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse or neglect, programs that focus specifically on intimate partner violence, and programs that create safe and inclusive spaces. 

Stream C - Every Child and Family Thrives 

Community based programs targeted to children and guardians facing barriers and families experiencing short/long term crisis. Programs that foster child and guardian/adult mentor interaction, assist families in crisis, and offer targeted programming to support families. 

Stream D - No Youth is Left Behind

Community Based programs targeted to at risk youth that assist with housing/homelessness, mental health supports, addictions, or conflict with the law, support youth where they are either through outreach or by creating safe Drop-In spaces, and promote social navigation, program innovation, systems change or collaborative proposals. 

Stream E - Everyone Can Age in Place 

Programs targeted to seniors or persons with disabilities that allows them to delay entering a residential/long term care facility by remaining at the home of their choice in the community. Programs that support community-based programs foster collaboration amongst community-based programs and prioritize access to community-based programs for equity deserving groups. 

Stream F - Community Capacity Grows 

 Programs supporting community wide initiatives that provide targeted outreach, community development, social navigation, social development, or human services collaboration, and promote systems change, program innovation, or collaborative proposals. 

Stream G - Everyone Has Someone to Talk to 

Programs targeted to low-income individuals, couples, and families that reduce economic/physical barriers to community counselling programs and ensure access to culturally appropriate counselling. 

• Legally Incorporated not-for-profit organizations in good standing at the time of application; or, 
• Organizations with a charitable number in good standing at the time of application. 
• Organizations must be operational for one fiscal year at the time of application submission.
• Programs that take place within the city of Hamilton and directly serve city of Hamilton residents. An organization’s head office is not required to be located in Hamilton.
• Programs must be delivered consistently year-round, be open to the public, and publicized city wide.
• New applicants as defined by:
  • New program applying to the City Enrichment Fund Community Services program area.
  • Existing programs being delivered by a new agency or organization are considered new. CEF funded programs
  • Applicants applying to a different CEF program area and/or Community Services stream are considered new.
  • Any new or existing programs for which an applicant has never received funding from the City Enrichment Fund in the past.

Note that meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee that applications will be funded.

• Established programs funded by the City Enrichment Fund Community Services program in the preceding year.
• New organizations must be operational for a full fiscal year. 
•  Unincorporated groups with not-for-profit goals and governance structure are not eligible under the Community Services Stream. 
• For-profit organizations, for-profit Social Enterprises, and for-profit Work-Integrated Social Enterprises.
• Funding bodies, foundations, or organizations that act in the capacity of a funding agency that make financial allocations or contributions to other groups such as service clubs, private and non-profit charitable foundations or for-profit charitable foundations. 
• Religious organizations except in cases where the applicant demonstrates clear boundaries within CEF requested program and budget, between religious activities and the program requesting CEF funding. 
• Requests that will result in funds being given either directly to individuals or to a third party on behalf of an individual (such as direct cash transfers to, rent subsidies, or educational scholarships) and/or used to establish or contribute to a fund that provides directly to an individual or third party. Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), Hospitals/Healthcare facilities, Foundations, Universities, Colleges, and School Boards. 
• Organizations whose activities are deemed to fall under the jurisdiction of other programs, divisions, departments or agencies of the City of Hamilton or other provincial/federal governments. Specific examples of  things that the Community Services Program will not consider includes but is not limited to:
  • funding to build non-profit, social, or affordable housing, operating funds for the shelter component of emergency shelters/residential care facilities etc., all childcare centres, EarlyON programs, all programs providing before/after school childcare /recreational programming/sports of any kind in schools, skill specific employment training/retraining, or requests for professional development courses/events.
• Community or fundraising events.

Applications deemed ineligible will be assigned a DNQ – Does Not Qualify and will not proceed to the adjudication phase.

• Emerging Needs funding maximum is $25,000
• CEF does not guarantee that funding is recommended at the full request 
   amount. 
• Funding Requests $15,000 or less: CEF funding requests cannot be 100% of the proposed program and must demonstrate additional and varied 
  revenue sources. 
• Funding Requests Over $15,000: Funding requests cannot exceed 30% of the total program budget. i.e. Should the submitted request be $25,000, the total program budget must be a minimum of $83,333.

Program delivery and administration costs utilizing the approved categories in the Program Budget Form

• Capital projects, equipment, renovations, or maintenance of permanent physical infrastructure 
• Deficit reduction 
• Funding Shortfalls from other funders/donors etc.
• Retroactive activity 
• HST 
• Property taxes 
• Programming outside of Hamilton
• Costs associated with replacing subsidies, continuing sources of funding or revenues including use of reserves or accumulated equity, nor will it replace payments, which could be made under purchase of service agreements. 
• Costs associated with program evaluation, research, needs assessments, development of fundraising plans.
• Costs associated with the development of fundraising, marketing, sponsorship, corporate funding plans etc.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate good use of public funds. Organizations will be assessed separately using the following assessment criteria and weight:

• Organizational Capacity 38%
• Program Merit 24%
• Community Impact 38%

• Beginning with the 2027 City Enrichment Fund Cycle, only 2026 Emerging Needs grantees that received an “A” rating are eligible to apply within the Established Programs stream.
• 2026 Emerging Needs grantees that received a “B” or “C” rating and received 2026 funding are not eligible to apply under the Established Program stream for the same application program. An applicant can re-apply for the same program up to a maximum of 3 times before becoming ineligible. 
• Applicants that are transitioning from the Emerging Needs must correctly apply to the Established Funding Stream A-G as identified within their 2026 application. This can be found under the “Program Specific Question” regarding alignment. Failure to apply to the correct funding category will result in a DNQ – Does Not Qualify.
• All applicants to the Emerging Needs stream, are strongly encouraged to contact staff ([email protected]) prior to starting their applying to discuss their program details to determine eligibility and application readiness.

• Legally Incorporated Not-for-profit organizations in good standing at the time of application; or,  
• Organizations with a charitable number in good standing at the time of application. 
• Organizations must be operational for one fiscal year at the time of application submission.

Note that meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee that applications will be funded.

• Unincorporated groups with not-for-profit goals and governance structure are not eligible under the Community Services Stream. 
•  For-profit organizations, For-Profit Social Enterprises, and For-Profit Work-Integrated Social Enterprises.
• Organizations NOT operational for one fiscal year at the time of application submission. 
• Political parties, Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), Hospitals/Healthcare facilities, Foundations, Universities, Colleges, and School Boards. 
• Funding bodies, foundations, or organizations that act in the capacity of a funding agency that make financial allocations or contributions to other groups such as service clubs, private and non-profit charitable foundations or for-profit charitable foundations. 
• Requests that will result in funds being given either directly to individuals or to a third party on behalf of an individual (such as direct cash transfers to, rent subsidies, or educational scholarships) and/or used to establish or contribute to a fund that provides directly to an individual or third party. 
• Religious organizations except in cases where the applicant demonstrates clear boundaries within CEF requested program and budget, between religious activities and the program requesting CEF funding. 
• Organizations whose activities are deemed to fall under the jurisdiction of other programs, divisions, departments or agencies of the City of Hamilton or other provincial/federal governments.  Specific examples of  things that the Community Services Program will not consider includes but is not limited to:  funding to build non-profit, social, or affordable housing, operating funds for the shelter component of emergency shelters/residential care facilities etc., all childcare centres,  EarlyON programs, all programs providing before/after school childcare /recreational programming/sports of any kind in schools, skill specific employment training/retraining, or requests for professional development courses/events. 
• Community or fundraising events
• Applications deemed ineligible will be assigned a DNQ – Does Not Qualify and will not proceed to adjudication 

• Capacity Building Funding maximum request is $15,000.
• CEF does not guarantee that funding is recommended at the full request 
   amount. 
• CEF funding cannot be 100% of the total project cost. Project budgets must include additional revenue sources.

Organizational Capacity Project delivery and administration costs utilizing the approved categories in the Program Budget Form

• Capital projects, equipment, renovations, or maintenance of permanent physical infrastructure 
• Deficit reduction 
• Funding Shortfalls from other funders/donors etc.
• Retroactive activity 
• HST 
• Property taxes 
• Programming outside of Hamilton
• Costs associated with replacing subsidies, continuing sources of funding or revenues including use of reserves or accumulated equity, nor will it replace payments, which could be made under purchase of service agreements. 
• Costs associated with conducting program evaluation, research, needs assessments, development of fundraising plans. 
• Costs associated with the development of fundraising, marketing, sponsorship, corporate funding plans etc.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate good use of public funds. Organizations will be assessed separately using the following assessment criteria and weight:

• Organizational Capacity 60%
• Program Merit 30%
• Community Impact 10%

Registration is Required.

This session is targeted to applicants from the Community Services stream that are returning applicants or those transitioning into the returning applicants stream from Emerging Needs this year who have completed a CEF application before and are comfortable using the online platform.  This session will spend the first 60 minutes updating “what’s new for this year” and the remaining 30 minutes will be reserved for questions and answers. Please note there are a significant number of changes this year in terms of system technology, policy updates, and Community Services Program specific changes.  It is strongly encouraged that you attend even if you are current part of the MYF pilot project. Register via email indicate “UPDATE” in the subject line.

Registration is Required.

This session is targeted  new applicants from the Community Services stream that will be applying specifically to the Emerging Needs stream as a new applicant. This session will spend the first 45 reviewing the program and allow 45 minutes for questions and answers. Register via email indicate “NEW APPLICANT” in the subject line.

Application Information Form

• Applicant Contact Information
• Additional Contact Information
• Organization/Applicant Full Public Facing Name:
• Organization/Applicant Legal Name
  • All Funding agreements and payments will be issued to the Legal name
  • Please note that the legal names of organizations will be made public.
• Organization/Applicant Address
• Is your mailing address different from your Organization/Applicant address?
• Legal Status of Organization (Select all that apply)
  • Not-for-profit
  • Registered Charity
  • Individual Artist or Collective (not eligible in SAL)
  • Unincorporated group with not-for-profit goals and governance structure
• Organization Date Established (must be at least one year prior to Application Intake
• Is your organization’s head office located in the city of Hamilton?
• Will the program for which you are applying take place within the city of Hamilton? 

Program Information Form

• Confirm Program Area
• Is this application for a returning program? 
• Community Services Stream
• Program Name
• Brief Summary of your program. (60 words) 
• Organization’s Mission or Mandate Statement. (Max 200 words)
• Provide a brief history of your organization. (Max 250 words)
• Provide a detailed description of your program (Max 1000 words). 
• Specify how the funding from the City Enrichment Fund will be used (Max 500 words) 
• Describe how this program can be scaled should the total funding request not be received. (Max 500 words)
• How will your program increase community participation? (Max 500 words) (Not applicable to Organizational Capacity Building applications)
• Provide a minimum of three (3) measurable outcomes in support of your program (Max 500 words) 
• Describe formal program partnerships that you have that related specifically to this program. (Max 300 words)
• Provide a description of your team members. (Max 300 words)
• How does this program enrich the City? (Max 300 words) (Not applicable to Organizational Capacity Building applications)
• What City of Hamilton strategic priorities does your program align with? (Select up to three that apply)
• Describe how your program is aligned with the community priorities checked above. (Max 200 words)

Organization Capacity Form

• Indicate if your organization has the following policies, plans, or accreditations. Provide last reviewed and/or updated date.

Community Services Program Specific Form 

• Established Program
• Emerging Needs Applications
  • Specify which one of the following Community Services streams your Emerging Needs request aligns with. Select one stream.
  • Please explain how the program for which funding is being requested through emerging needs fits with the specific stream description as listed in the program guidelines for the stream selected above. (Max 500 words)
  • Please indicate what other specific funding sources have been sought for this program. Please also explain what the impact on your program would be if CEF funding is not received. (Max 500 words)
• Organizational Capacity Building Applications
  • Describe how this funding will help your organization develop for the future, prepare for emerging challenges, enhance program delivery, advance and/or create new, innovative programming or systemic change in the human services sector at an organizational or systems level.
  • The City of Hamilton is committed to advancing Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA). The Community Services program area asks applicant to reflect on the following equity deserving groups: Indigenous communities, Persons with disabilities, Francophones, newcomers and immigrants, refugees, racialized communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, geographically underserviced areas, low-income individuals/families and women. How will this organizational capacity building project reflect your organization's commitment to advance IDEA?

Budget Information Form

• Brief Revenue and Expenses 
  Provide point form, brief notes to support proposed budget of line items.
• In-kind: Provide the estimated volunteer hours and value of other in-kind contributions. The total in-kind value will automatically be reflected on the program revenue.
• Ensure that the budget presented is for the specific project or program and is not the budget for the entire organization. 
• CEF cannot be the only source of revenue for the project.

Attachments – Support Material and Documents

• Mandatory Attachments
  • Board of Directors list. Include role titles, length on the Board
  • Most recent annual report (incorporated organizations only)
  • Financial Statements - 
    • Audited Financial Statements required for applicants with requests of $30,000 or more
    • Audited Financial Statements or Review Engagements required for applicants with requests less than $30,000
      • Must be signed by Board of Directors   
      • Financial Statements may not be more than 3 years from the granting year 
      • If submitting Audited financial statements, they MUST be signed by Board of Directors   
• Optional Attachment Examples:  
  • Staff list. Include job titles and whether full or part-time
  • Program Marketing Material 
  • Poster, flyer, pamphlets
  • Program Specific Material (schedules, advertising etc.)
  • Annual Reports (charitable organizations)

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility Form

To help us understand how IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility) groups are currently supported through City Enrichment Funds, please identify the target population for the specific program you are apply to for this application. These are for data collection only and will not be scored or affect your program’s overall evaluation.

Declaration Form

Complete declaration form to certify to the accuracy of your application, and that your organization understands the terms and conditions related to the application. All declaration statements must be agreed to in order to submit.

Signing Authorities Form

Approved funding recommendations will be sent a City Enrichment Fund Funding Agreement. To ensure accurate delivery, please provide the correct signing authority(s) for your organization.

Application Guides

Community Services - Organizational Capacity Building Application Guide(PDF, 269.36 KB)

CEF Community Services Established Programs Application Guide(PDF, 277.69 KB)

Community Services Emerging Needs Application Guide(PDF, 289.31 KB)