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Community Investments - Canada

Approach to funding

Recognizing that communities need support for different purposes at different times, RBC and RBC Foundation’s approach to funding considers ideas and actions at various stages:

Seed

Help initiate and develop new ideas or projects, focusing on innovative and experimental approaches.

 

General Guidelines:

  • Funding Term: Up to two years
  • Maximum Amount: C$1 million (up to C$500,000 per year)
  • Project Limits: Up to 100% of a project budget and 20% of an organization’s total operating budget

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

 

Scale

Help expand and grow successful projects, increasing their reach and/or impact.

 

General Guidelines:

  • Funding Term: Up to three years
  • Maximum Amount: C$1.5 million (up to C$500,000 per year)
  • Project Limits: Up to 50% of a project budget and 20% of an organization’s total operating budget

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

 

Sustain

Help maintain and support ongoing projects to help ensure long-term success and stability.

 

General Guidelines:

  • Funding Term: Up to five years
  • Maximum Amount: C$2.5 million (up to C$500,000 per year)
  • Project Limits: Up to 25% of a project budget and 20% of an organization’s total operating budget

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

 

Respond

Help enable rapid response to an immediate community need, such as those related to disaster or humanitarian relief.

 

General Guidelines:

  • Funding Term: One year
  • Maximum Amount: C$500,000
  • Project Limits: Up to 20% of an organization’s total operating budget

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

 

Build

Help increase accessibility and/or environmental sustainability of community spaces.

 

General Guidelines:

  • Funding Term: Up to five years
  • Maximum Amount: C$2.5 million (up to C$500,000 per year)
  • Project Limits: Up to 100% of project budgets of C$250,000 or less, and up to 50% of project budgets over C$250,000. Up to 20% of an organization’s total operating budget.

This stream is funded through The RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund, which supports retrofits, repairs and upgrades of existing community spaces, as well as the construction of new spaces, with the goal of increasing accessibility and environmental sustainability in our communities.

Applications are open from February 19 to March 28, 2025.

 
RBC logo

Ambitions

RBC has identified the societal challenges it believes it can create positive impact on. Community investments are a key lever to drive this impact. That’s why, to help unlock the talent and entrepreneurial spirit of our community investment partners and better respond to the direct needs of communities, we have anchored the majority of community investments around the ambitions in Purpose Framework - Ideas for People and PlanetTM.

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Support the
transition to a

net-zero economy

Climate change and biodiversity loss are two of the biggest environmental challenges facing the planet, and the impact people are having on the environment is placing us on unsustainable path.

In our approach to community investment, we acknowledge that Indigenous Peoples play a critical role in stewarding the planet’s biodiversity and in addressing current environmental crises. We further recognize that communities who are at the forefront of the impacts of climate change play important roles in shaping solutions.

With this perspective in mind, we aim to support community investment partners helping to advance positive environmental change.

Glossary

Equip people with the

skills for a
thriving future

Advanced technologies are creating millions of rewarding careers, but livelihoods are also being displaced and industries dislocated by the rapid shift in skills required.

We aim to support community investment partners that provide people with skill building, reskilling, upskilling, mentorships, apprenticeships, work experience, work readiness and exposure opportunities.

Drive more equitable opportunities for prosperity

Disparities are widening and concerns around affordability are impacting the resilience of our communities.

We aim to support community investment partners that address inequality by responding to local needs or addressing issues at a systemic level, which includes tackling root causes with long-term solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applications are accepted online on a rolling basis through the RBC Community Investment Hub. To prepare for your application, under each ambition section, you will be able to preview questions applicable to our seed, scale, sustain, and respond funding streams.

The RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund application will be available in Winter 2025.

Audited financial statements are required for applications over C$50,000. Exceptions may be made for seed funding to organizations less than five years old.

Please refer to the general guidelines and eligibility to help inform your application.

Our ambition areas are not mutually exclusive, and we recognize there will be natural intersections between or among them.

Where our community investment partners see themselves matters; we encourage you to select the ambition that most closely aligns with the primary intent or purpose of the project. Each application provides opportunity to identify alignment with multiple ambitions.

We generally do not fund more than one project at a time at a single organization.

Upon completion of your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email from RBC’s Community Investment Hub informing you that your application has been successfully submitted.

Applications for seed, scale, sustain, and respond funding are accepted on a rolling basis. We aim to respond to all applications within 90 days of submission.

The RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund has a defined application period. The next application period will open in Winter 2025.

We do not accept applications through branches.

All applications, whether national or regional in scope, are accepted through the RBC Community Investment Hub.

Yes. If your organization is not a qualified donee, as defined by Canada Revenue Agency, you may still be eligible to apply. Please refer to the general guidelines and eligibility for more information.

Our partnership commitments are being fulfilled until the end of their current terms, including those that are part of the RBC Future Launch, RBC Tech for Nature and RBC Emerging Artists signature programs.

Going forward, the great ideas of our community investment partners will be funded through our three ambition areas – supporting the transition to a net-zero economy, equipping people with the skills for a thriving future, driving more equitable opportunities for prosperity.

Apply for Funding

Ready to submit an application? We invite charities and non-profit organizations to submit innovative ideas for funding consideration. Please refer to guidelines and eligibility and eligibility community investment application criteria for your cause.

Apply for Community Investment Funding

Apply for community investment funding, including donations, for your cause under one of the three ambition areas.

Apply Now

RBC Foundation

The RBC Foundation is a Canadian Registered Charity and Private Foundation. Solely funded by RBC, RBC Foundation provides donations exclusively from RBC’s annual earnings, not from third-party or client donations.

Our Investments in Action

See how our community investment partners are making an impact in communities coast to coast.

Accelerating Green Skills in Atlantic Canada

RBC Foundation is funding Atlantic region post-secondary programs to support the development of green skills for a net-zero economy.

The Canada We Want – Youth Share Ideas to Shape a Better Canada at Annual RBC Showcase

Young people have the ability to create meaningful change in society and they need a platform for their voices to be heard. The Students Commission of Canada, with the support of RBC, provides not just a platform, but a loudspeaker.

When Nature Thrives, We Thrive

RBC Foundation helps Nature Conservancy of Canada work towards faster and more effective conservation outcomes.

Making Canada More Accessible

RBC Foundation’s C$1.25 million donation to the Rick Hansen Foundation will help support accessible enhancements to the built environment.

Resources for Community Investment Partners

Register for Community Investment Partner Webinars

We are introducing webinars for current or potential Canadian community investment partners to ask questions and hear more about our community investment strategy and the ambitions we focus on before submitting an application.

Register

Become eligible for RBC employee support

RBC supports unique passions through charity-of-choice giving and volunteering opportunities year-round. Become eligible to receive direct donations and volunteer support from RBC employees by registering your organization in Benevity.

Learn More

Apply for a Royal Business Community Account

When you want to maximize the impact your organization is making, the Royal Business Community Account can help you keep costs low while giving you what you need to manage your financials.

Learn More

Outside of Canada? Find your region and apply for funding

We help communities around the world by funding initiatives through community investments, including donations, and sponsorships.

Learn More