Grants and Funding

November 1, 2024 Update:

The Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation is pleased to announce that after completing its internal strategic review, the Foundation is once again accepting new grant applications from November 1, 2024 to January 15, 2025. The Foundation will be reviewing submitted applications from January 16, 2025 to March 31, 2025.

**Please note that the grant application window has now closed and the Foundation is currently reviewing all applications. Once the next application window has been determined, more information will be posted to this page.**

As part of the strategic review, the Foundation has carefully reviewed its grant application process to align with its recently updated definition of heritage and to ensure a more inclusive approach to the grant awarding process through the newly created Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Funding Stream.

Please visit the Grant Application page for additional information and to submit an application. If you have any questions, require an alternative format, or require any assistance in completing the form, please email wrhf@regionofwaterloo.ca.

The Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation, thanks to an annual per-capita allocation from the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, offers funding for investment in heritage-related endeavours. Since 1973, the Foundation has distributed over $2.7 million to a wide variety of projects throughout the Region of Waterloo.

There are three types of grants available: Project/Event Grants, Building Grants, and Publication Grants.

Grants are made to promote:

  • An understanding of, and appreciation for our local heritage
  • Preserving in perpetuity places, objects, events or figures of local heritage or historical significance
  • Public accessibility. For publications, this may involve placing copies in public or school libraries. Buildings or sites should be open or visible to the public.
  • The completion of deserving undertakings that may not otherwise reach completion.

Any individual or group in the Region of Waterloo may apply for funding. More detailed information about the application process can be found here.

Project/Event Grants
Project /Event Grants assist in events or programs that are focused on local heritage preservation and appreciation.

Building Grants
Building Grants assist in the acquisition, holding, preservation, maintenance, conservation, restoration, reconstruction, and management of property, heritage landmarks, historic buildings and objects of historical, architectural, recreational, aesthetic or scenic significance in Waterloo Region.

Publication Grants
Publication Grants support the publication of works such as books, manuscripts, pamphlets, guides, or maps of historical significance to Waterloo Region. Support will be considered for a portion of a larger project when the portion relates to the heritage of the Region, even though the total project may encompass something of a broader nature. Authors are encouraged to contact the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation as soon as an outline for the publication is available for examination.

Equity Funding Stream
Eligible projects may receive funding from the Foundation's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Funding Stream. Find more information about this funding stream here.