Grants & Bursaries

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

1. Maple Leaf Community Fund – applications due April 5 by 2 p.m. 
2. Student Awards – Student award applications now available. Due May 2, 2023
3. OCF Funds, General Fall Granting – now closed, reopens August 2023
4. Community Services Recovery Fund – now closed

Questions?  Please contact: 226-667-6404 or heatherh@oxfordcommunityfoundation.org

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

Maple Leaf Foods is a national corporation with local roots. The company’s rich history traces back more than 100 years through the amalgamation of some of Canada’s most notable food companies. Maple Leaf Foods has always been a champion for food security.

This Donor-Advised Fund honours the late Harvey and Erma Beaty. Harvey founded Cold Springs Farm in Thamesford, ON in 1949 and shepherded Cold Springs’ growth from a small farm to a major agri-food enterprise, which eventually became part of Maple Leaf Foods. We remember the farm and the Beaty’s, including Harvey’s business acumen, concern for the environment and tremendous generosity, especially demonstrated when Cold Springs established this fund in 1994.

Through this fund, $50,000 is available to support the capital-related needs of food security programs that promote dignity and build individual and community capacity. This includes:

1. Food Literacy– providing people with the information, understanding and skills to provide healthy food for themselves and their families. (e.g. nutrition/food safety/meal planning)
2. School & Other Nutrition Programs– promoting, educating and allowing people to access healthy meals. (e.g. School breakfast/lunch/after school programs; nutrition and fitness programs.)
3. Sustainable Initiatives Beyond Conventional Food Bank Models– initiatives that establish a reliable supply of nutritious food and promote self-sufficiency. (e.g. social enterprises that support food security; community gardens; social profit enterprises with a focus on food security including training programs for unemployed, at-risk youth and single parents)

Important dates:

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 DSW Bursary
• Oxford Manufacturers Skills Development Bursary
• George & Lorna Roberts Bursary
• Pat & Barry Smith Leadership Award
• Tyler Arts Athletic Team Player Award (IDCI)
• Laurie Hawkins Bursary (IDCI)
• Cassandra Hawkins Bursary (St. Mary’s)

Dates:  Applications due May 2, 2023.   

Information about each award: 2023 OCF Student Awards FINAL

Application: 2023 OCF Student Awards Application FINAL

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

BRINING NEW MONEY TO OXFORD COUNTY – COMMUNITY SERVICES RECOVERY FUND

About the grants:  OCF’s role as a grant maker is to build connections between donors and the charitable sector.  We build these connections through the generosity of donors who provide financial support by directing their gift to various types of endowment funds. These permanent funds help people invest in the community and in the causes they care about most.

Each Fall, grants from these permanent funds to support initiatives across all of Oxford County and across all areas in our community including:
     1.  arts, culture & heritage
     2.  education,
     3.  the environment,
     4.  health & wellness,
     5.  social services,
     6.  sports & recreation

We fund eligible organizations that:
–  provide services within Oxford County;
–  make services available without discrimination;
–  demonstrate fiscal and management responsibility, and financial need.

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.

Please note:  Organizations must be a qualified donee as defined under the Income Tax Act to be eligible. Examples of qualified donees include registered charities and municipalities. Your charitable registration number must be provided.  For more examples of qualified donees, please go to the CRA website

Note: If you are not a registered charity, your organization may wish to establish a formal agency relationship with a registered Canadian charity who can act as your sponsor.  The registered charity must complete the application and provide their charitable registration number.

Questions?  Please contact:   
Heather Haldane at 226-667-6404
heatherh@oxfordcommunityfoundation.org
447 Hunter Street, Woodstock, ON  N4S 4G7