Grants & Bursaries

Grant Recipients Marketing & Communications Requirements

 

Scroll down this page for information on the following grants and student awards as follows:

  1. Maple Leaf Community Fund – applications open February 9, 2026, close April 10, 2026
  2. OCF Student Awards – applications close April 2, 2026.
  3. OCF Fall Granting – TBD

Questions?  Please contact Jennifer Weicker, Office & Grants Administrator at info@oxfordcommunityfoundation.org or 226-667-6404

 

OCF FALL GRANTING

ABOUT THE GRANTS:  

OCF community grants are made possible by the many generous donors who have contributed to legacy and community funds. A total of $71,200 is available for granting. Grants are typically between $500 – $10,000.

Community funds are powerful tools for local impact. Built on the belief that the people who live in a community are best equipped to shape its future, these permanent funds grow over time to provide steady, reliable grants for local priorities—today and for generations to come.

Because communities thrive when all aspects of community life are supported, OCF invests in a wide range of needs and opportunities through our fall granting program. This includes celebrating arts and culture, advancing education, protecting the environment, preserving heritage, fostering sports and recreation, strengthening health and wellness, and caring for those in need through social services.

APPLICATION GUIDE:

This application guide contains information to assist you in preparing and submitting your request to the Foundation.  The guide contains information about:

  1. Who can apply
  2. Types of eligible projects and initiative 
  3. Grant amounts and categories available
  4. Timeline
  5. How to apply

Link to:  OCF Grant Application Portal

Examples of past grants made can be found on our website under the Grants & Bursaries “Past Recipients” tab and in our annual reports found under the “News & Media” tab.

IMPORTANT DATES for 2025 Fall Grant Program:

 

 

 

 

  1. August 27 -> September 30, 2025 at 4 p.m. – Applications Accepted
  2. November 17 -> December 12, 2025 – Notification of funding, execution of agreements and disbursement of funds
  3. November 30, 2026 – project complete & report due

OCF/LCF MAPLE LEAF COMMUNITY FUND
In Honour of Harvey and Erma Beaty

The Maple Leaf Community Fund was established in honour of the late Harvey and Erma Beaty of Thamesford.  Harvey founded Cold Springs Farm in 1949, guiding its growth from a small family farm into a significant agri-food enterprise that later became part of Maple Leaf Foods.  Maple Leaf Foods’ rich history spans more than a century, rooted in the amalgamation of several of Canada’s most notable food companies.

This fund reflects the Beaty’s enduring legacy and their belief in strong, resilient communities built around access to nutritious food.  

Since its inception in 1994, the fund has distributed over $1.3 million in grants throughout Oxford and Middlesex Counties.

Supporting Community Resilience Through Food Security

The $36,800 in available funding will support capital-related food initiatives for food security programs that promote dignity and foster long-term community well-being.  Grants are intended to support initiatives aligned with one or more of the following focus areas:

  1. Food Literacy– Supporting access to information, knowledge, and skills that enable individuals and families to provide healthy food for themselves (e.g. nutrition education/food safety/meal planning).
  2. School & Other Nutrition Programs– Promoting access to healthy meals through education and direct programming (e.g. school breakfast/lunch/after school programs; nutrition and fitness programs).
  3. Sustainable Initiatives Beyond Conventional Food Bank Models– Strengthening long-term food security and self-sufficiency (e.g. social enterprises supporting food security; community gardens; social profit enterprises offering food-related training for unemployed individuals, at-risk youth or single parents).

Important dates:

  1. Accepting applications until April 10, 2026 
  2. Successful applicants will receive their grant by mid June 2026 and must use the funds as intended by January 31st of the year following the granting year
  3. A report must be submitted on the project by the end of February of the year following the granting year.

While the the funding is available for both Oxford and Middlesex counties (Ontario, Canada); each Foundation will individually conduct outreach, collect and assess applications and review reports for their respective regions.  While this means the Foundations will work separately throughout the granting process, they will still work together to ensure funding is distributed impactfully across each catchment.

To apply for Oxford County, go to:  Maple Leaf Community Fund Application

NOTE: Organizations whose mission substantially involves alignment with political campaigns (candidates); religious organizations; individual or for-profit businesses; or lobbying/advocacy groups are ineligible to apply.

 

STUDENT AWARDS

Thanks to caring and generous donors, awards will be distributed to Oxford County graduates as follows:

  • Joland Family Fund Bursary
  • WDDS Rosemary George Bursary
  • Oxford Manufacturers Skills Development Bursary
  • Lorna & George Roberts Bursary
  • Pat & Barry Smith Bursary
  • Tyler Arts “Athletic” Spirit Award (IDCI)
  • Laurie Hawkins Memorial Bursary (IDCI)
  • Cassandra Hawkins Memorial Bursary (St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School)
  • Klosler Family Fund Bursary

Dates: March 1st to April 1st, 2025.   

Criteria: 2025 Students Awards Criteria

Application: 2025 Students Awards Application

For questions or information, please contact us at info@oxfordcommunityfoundation.org or see your School’s Student Services Department.

 

 

 

 

Questions?  Please contact:   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Weicker, Office & Grants Administrator
Oxford Community Foundation 

226-667-6404
info@oxfordcommunityfoundation.org
447 Hunter Street, Woodstock, ON  N4S 4G7

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