EN
Ambitions
RBC has identified the societal challenges impacting our clients and communities and where it believes it can create positive impact. Community investments are a key lever to drive this impact. To help unlock the talent and entrepreneurial spirit of our community investment partners and better respond to the needs of communities, we have anchored the majority of our community investments around the three ambitions in the RBC Purpose Framework - Ideas for People and PlanetTM.
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.
To reflect the interconnectedness of climate change and biodiversity loss, we intend to support projects that help:
-
Advance climate change mitigation solutions that help reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs), boost energy efficiency and/or promote decarbonization, particularly in the highest emitting sectors
and/or
- Advance nature-based solutions that work with nature, given its inherent ability to sequester carbon and contribute to climate adaptation and ecosystem resilience
or
- Increase environmental sustainability of community spaces by funding capital improvements to reduce the carbon footprint or increase energy efficiency of a newly constructed building, or an existing space
Key Terms
Carbon credits – the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard defines carbon credits as discrete GHG reductions used to compensate for (i.e., offset) GHG emissions elsewhere. Credits are calculated relative to a baseline that represents a hypothetical scenario for what emissions would have been in the absence of the mitigation project that generates the credits.legal bug 2
Circular economy – a system of production and consumption that aims to minimize waste and promote a sustainable use of natural resources – through smarter product design, longer use, recycling and more – as well as regenerate nature.legal bug 3
Clean technology – any good or service designed with the primary purpose of contributing to remediating or preventing any type of environmental damage and/or is less polluting or more resource efficient than equivalent normal products that furnish a similar utility.legal bug 4
Climate adaptation – actions to prepare for and adjust to the current and projected impacts of climate change.legal bug 5
Climate change mitigation – reducing the flow of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.legal bug 6
Decarbonization – human actions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from human activities.legal bug 7
Energy efficiency – using less energy to perform the same task.legal bug 8
Ecosystem functions – the collective intraspecific and interspecific interactions of the biota, such as primary and secondary production and mutualistic relationships. The interactions between organisms and the physical environment, such as nutrient cycling, soil development, water budgeting, and flammability.legal bug 9
Ecosystem resilience – the capacity of an ecosystem to tolerate disturbance without collapsing into a qualitatively different state that is controlled by a different set of processes.legal bug 10
Equitable outcomes – when all people have fair access, opportunity, resources, and power to thrive, with consideration for and elimination of historical and systemic barriers and privileges.legal bug 11
Ecosystem services – the direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human wellbeing, which have an impact on our survival and quality of life. There are four types of ecosystem services: provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services.legal bug 12
Green infrastructure – the natural vegetative systems and green technologies that collectively provide society with a multitude of economic, environmental, health, and social benefits.legal bug 13
Green skills – the knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society. This includes skills in renewable energy expertise, waste management and recycling, and sustainable agriculture and food production.legal bug 14
Low-carbon – an economy with minimal output of GHG emissions.
Low-carbon practices and/or behaviours – a set of actions and/or approaches to decrease carbon emissions.legal bug 15
Nature-based solutions – actions to protect, sustainably manage, or restore natura ecosystems, that address societal challenges such as climate change, human health, food and water security, and disaster risk reduction effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.legal bug 16
Regenerative economy – a holistic, dynamic system that fosters renewal, restoration, preservation, and net positive impacts across ecological, economic, and social systems, necessitating transformational change within and across individuals, organizations and societies.legal bug 17
Renewable electricity – energy produced from renewable sources such as hydroelectricity, wind and solar.legal bug 18
Resilient or resilience – the capacity to anticipate, cope with, recover from, or adapt to shock, disruption, stress or changing factors in the external environment. In the context of climate, this refers to the resilience of the economy to the effects of climate change.
Transition – refers to the economic, energy, technological, and societal transformation that is required to achieve the significant GHG emissions reductions necessary for a low-carbon or net-zero world. This will impact all sectors, and is highly dependent on substantial GHG emissions reductions in high-emitting sectors.
For further details, please refer to our sustainability reporting.
Equip people with the
skills for a
thriving future
Technological and economic forces like automation, artificial intelligence, and geo-political issues are upending how we traditionally think about jobs, the labour market and our careers.
We aim to support community investment partners helping to prepare people to enter, grow or reskill for the changing world of work. We look to fund innovative ideas that help people build in-demand skills, gain meaningful work experiences and/or support industry relevant credentialling, with the goal of helping them to obtain their first job, a better job, or grow within their chosen career.
To help those within and beyond our workforce develop skills to thrive, we intend to support projects that help:
- Build in-demand skills for the jobs of tomorrow by providing opportunities in sectors including the cultural and creative, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to support career preparedness and progression
- Grow career potential through work experience to enable quicker integration and connection to diverse roles that help better position people for future job opportunities
- Create pathways for people to upgrade industry-specific qualifications to help increase their employability and help reduce the time to transition from one sector or job to another
Key Terms
Innovation – refers to practices that enable employees at every level to use and develop their skills, knowledge, experience and creativity to the fullest possible extent.
In-demand skills – refers to relevant technical capabilities or knowledge that enable individuals access to quality jobs and diverse career pathways (e.g., trades, artificial intelligence, technology, agriculture, and green skills).
For further details, please refer to our sustainability reporting.
Drive more inclusive 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 help improve the strength and resilience of our communities by supporting people to become more financially secure, create more inclusive access to healthcare, remove systemic barriers to food security and help people achieve stable housing. While we recognize that we cannot do this alone, we are dedicated to doing our part.
To drive more inclusive opportunities for prosperity, we intend to support projects that help:
- Create stability by addressing food security, housing stability, and access to health services
- Increase financial wellbeing by helping people build financial confidence and manage their current and future financial situations
- Increase accessibility of community spaces by funding the physical accessibility of a newly constructed building, or retrofit of an existing space
Key Terms
Fair and inclusive opportunities – an opportunity that allows for those with the same level of talent and ability, and the same willingness to use them, to participate in ways where they have the same prospects of success. It involves removing barriers and biases that hinder one’s ability to participate and contribute.
Prosperity – consists of opportunities for wellbeing and advancement:
- Wellbeing is a positive state experienced by individuals and societies. It includes emotional, mental, physical, social, and financial wellbeing and the ability of people and societies to contribute to the world with a sense of meaning and purpose.
- Advancement is the development or improvement of an individual’s career, economic, or wellbeing status.
Under-served populations – groups who have been denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. These groups may include but are not limited to people who are socio-economically disadvantaged, geographically isolated, educationally disenfranchised, or those who have been historically excluded due to race, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, or other identity-based factors.
Resilient or resilience – the capacity to anticipate, cope with, recover from, or adapt to shock, disruption, stress or changing factors in the external environment. In the context of communities, this refers to communities being resilient to a wide range of risks while maintaining an acceptable level of functioning without compromising long-term prospects of sustainability development, peace and security, human rights, and wellbeing for all.
Financial confidence - feeling self-assured and capable when making sound financial decisions, which includes the belief in one's ability to manage money effectively, navigate financial challenges, and achieve financial goals.
For further details, please refer to our sustainability reporting.
To learn more about our broader approach, please refer to the RBC Blueprints.
Approach to funding
We aim to support impactful initiatives across Canada, and value community investment partnerships built on trust and shared commitments.
Recognizing that communities and/or projects need support for different purposes at different times, our approach to funding considers ideas and actions at four distinct stages.
We receive thousands of funding requests each year, ranging from under $10,000 to over $2 million. As we receive far more requests than we can support, we encourage organizations to carefully consider their requested amount with the following guidelines in mind:
- In general, our average community investment is $40,000 per year, and maximum annual amount is $500,000
- Funding amounts are determined based on factors including reach and/or impact of proposed project, capacity to deliver, and organization size and/or operating budget
- We generally do not fund more than one project at a time at a single organization. We provide both single-year and multi-year community investments, and will develop long-term community investment partnerships; however, each consecutive application from an organization will be considered independently based on its own merits. There is no guarantee of ongoing support.
- For requests over $100,000, we encourage you to reach out to our team to discuss your project idea prior to submitting an application. Contact information can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
Seed
Help initiate and develop new ideas or projects, focusing on innovative and experimental approaches.
General Guidelines:
- Funding term: Up C$500,000 per year for a maximum of two years.
- RBC and RBC Foundation will consider funding up to 100% of your total project budget and up to 50% of your organization’s operating budget.
- Funding amounts will be determined based on factors including reach and/or impact of proposed project, capacity to deliver, and organization size and/or operating budget. We also consider the overall sustainability plan for your idea, including other committed funding sources.
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 C$500,000 per year for a maximum of three years.
- RBC and RBC Foundation will consider funding up to 50% of your total project budget and up to 20% of your organization’s operating budget.
- Funding amounts will be determined based on factors including reach and/or impact of proposed project, capacity to deliver, and organization size and/or operating budget. We also consider the overall sustainability plan for your idea, including other committed funding sources.
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 $500,000 per year for a maximum of five years.
- RBC and RBC Foundation will consider funding up to 50% of your total project budget and up to 20% of your organization’s operating budget.
- Funding amounts will be determined based on factors including reach and/or impact of proposed project, capacity to deliver, and organization size and/or operating budget. We also consider the overall sustainability plan for your idea, including other committed funding sources.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Build
Help increase physical accessibility and/or environmental sustainability of community spaces.
General Guidelines:
- Funding Term: Up to $500,000 per year for a maximum of five years.
- Project Limits: We may fund up to 100% of a maximum of two projects in one community space per application. Projects must be aligned to either physical accessibility or environmental sustainability, not both.
- Funding amounts will be determined based on factors including your organization’s total operating budget, size of demographic you reach, and the timeline of your project’s start and end date.
This stream is funded through The RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund, which supports retrofits, repairs and upgrades of existing community buildings, as well as the construction of new spaces..
Applications will reopen in Fall 2025.
Community investment ideas that advance clean technologies, drive the implementation of low-carbon practices and behaviours, and promote a low-carbon, regenerative, circular economy, prioritizing collaboration with communities impacted by environmental harm.
For example, ideas that help:
- Support capacity and leadership to drive clean technology solutions
- Build capacity and provide services to help facilitate the decarbonization of buildings
- Promote environmental sustainability across the food supply chain
- Support the transition to environmentally sustainable transportation options
- Reduce waste and prolong the cycle of materials
- Shift consumption patterns and lifestyle choices towards more sustainable ways of living
Exclusions
We will not support:
- For-profit clean technology or climate change mitigation solutions
- Generic education and/or awareness programs
- Retail stores (for-profit and non-profit) and/or commercial operations or events
- Direct payments or subsidies to individuals or businesses
Community investment ideas that help protect, improve management of and/or restore natural ecosystems; advance Indigenous-led conservation; or enhance urban green infrastructure, helping to foster environmentally sustainable and equitable outcomes for people and communities.
For example, ideas that help:
- Conserve areas that are important for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, including those that generate third-party verified carbon credits
- Advance Indigenous-led conservation centred around reconciliation and Indigenous rights, responsibilities and leadership
- Advance best management practices on working landcapes including farmlands, ranchlands and forests
- Enhance green infrastructure in urban settings to help address environmental challenges and support climate adaptation and resilience
- Create experiential learning opportunities that foster understanding, connection and stewardship
Exclusions
We will not support:
- Direct contributions into stewardship endowments
- Land and/or easement purchase
- Generic education programs with no experiential connection
Community investment ideas that implement capital improvements to increase the environmental sustainability of new or existing community spaces.
For example, ideas that help:
- Support the use of renewable energy such as through installing solar panels to generate energy from the sun
- Support energy recovery such as installing an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)
- Install environmental features such as a green roof or bio wall
- Conserve energy by updating windows or insulation
- Alternative heating and cooling, such as a heat pump or ductless air conditioning
- Conserve water by adding low-flow plumbing fixtures, adding a rain sensor or insulating piping
Exclusions
We will not support:
- Generalized projects
- Updates to single family dwellings
- Historic restoration projects
- Upgrades to storage buildings or buildings not associated with community use
Community investment ideas that aim to provide relevant skills and knowledge needed to support early career preparedness and progression.
For example, ideas that help:
- Increase the number of people obtaining the skills needed to enter in-demand industries, such as the trades, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, agriculture, healthcare or green skills
- Re-skill and upskill through the funding of job-ready educational opportunities
- Provide entrepreneurial skills for creating and managing a business
- Support programming that helps bridge the gap between school and career
- Support people complete high school and enter/complete post-secondary education
- Support skill development in the artistic industry that cultivates both hard and soft skills to thrive in creative roles
- Provide English as a Second Language (ESL) training for industry-specific careers
Exclusions
We will not support:
- General language learning not specific to job requirements
- Other organizations’ scholarships
- Equipment and tool bursaries
- Sole funding of travel bursary for end-user beneficiaries
- Programs with unclear pathways to the future of work
Community investment ideas that aim to provide practical work experiences that help individuals explore future career pathways or help increase their competitiveness in the job market or to transition to a new industry.
For example, ideas that help:
- Provide access to paid work experiences (co-op, paid internships, apprenticeships, vocational training)
- Expand access and support to work placements in high-demand sectors with the inclusion of wrap-around support
- Profile artistic talent to new or expanded opportunities or audiences that grows their careers within the creative sector
- Combine classroom learning with on-the-job experience, which can help individuals develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills
- Prioritize access to work experiences for those in rural areas or underserved populations
Exclusions
We will not support:
- Job placements not related to intended career of participant
- Volunteer opportunities
- Programs that are recreational and do not include skill development for job readiness
- Programs that do not have clear pathways to sustained employment
- Salaries of internships at other for-profit companies
- General civic engagement activities
Community investment ideas that allow individuals to enhance their employability by acquiring specialized skills or credentials, progress in their field of work, or help meet the evolving needs of the labor market.
For example, ideas that help:
- Reduce the time required for foreign-trained individuals to secure employment in the sectors for which they are eminently qualified
- Provide training which aligns with the needs of local industries and emerging sectors
- Assist in navigating the workforce transition and re-credentialing ecosystem
- Develop and create access to micro-credentials
- Provide access to mentorships and professional networks to increase pathways and understanding of credential-based industries
- Provide personalized guidance and flexible training options to meet the individual needs of workers, including competency-based assessments and career counseling
- Quickly mobilize resources and support workers who are facing mass layoffs or other significant disruptions to help retain access to income stability and ability to transition to a new job
Exclusions
We will not support:
- Obtaining citizenship or legal status
- General workshops or training that does not result in tangible qualifications/credentials
- Projects that lack a clear pathway to reducing the time for people to secure employment
Community investment ideas that are either responsive to local community needs or strive to tackle root causes with systemic solutions to address food security, housing stability, and access to health services.
For example, ideas that help:
- Provide access to housing with supportive services tailored to individual needs
- Transition people from the lower levels of the housing continuum into better housing situations (or help prevent people from falling down the continuum into homelessness)
- Center around improving current situations of people that have historically faced barriers to housing
- Reduce barriers for people moving into housing (i.e.: legal assistance, targeted financial support to individuals at risk of eviction)
- Maintain housing stock to prevent units from going into disrepair or preventable health and safety issues
- Support regional food hubs to shorten supply chains, reduce costs, and increase food access in remote areas
- Provide innovative new models to addressing access to food
- Reduce food waste in distribution models
- Support initiatives such as community gardens, urban farms, and Indigenous-led agriculture to increase local food production and improve long-term food access
- Support vertical farming and innovative growing solutions
- Remove barriers to access community health services
- Expand community-based screening and early detection for chronic-diseases
- Address service gaps for underserved and remote populations
- Drive collaborative, system-level innovation in the health services space (i.e.: cross-sector partnerships)
- Enable evidence-informed, community-driven models of care
- Advance technology-driven solutions to improve navigation and reduce care disparities
Exclusions
We will not support:
- Emergency beds in shelters or hostels
- Education, awareness programs, or marketing campaigns around housing issues or solutions
- Large-scale housing development projects
- Land or easement purchase cost
- Education, awareness programs, or marketing campaigns around diseases, health issues, or medical solutions
- Hospital equipment
- General disease-based research, advocacy programs, or advocacy
- General operational programs focused on optimization (i.e.: reducing wait times, staffing).
- Local food banks to purchase additional food outside of times of crisis
Community investment ideas that help people build financial confidence and take actions to manage their current and future financial situations.
For example, ideas that help:
- Improve financial wellbeing through tailored financial education
- Generate healthy financial habits through personalized coaching and counselling
- Increase access to available benefits and tax credits
- Address unique barriers to appropriate financial services faced by specific populations
Exclusions
We will not support:
- Long-term support of short relief programs
- Generic education or awareness programs
- Public and/or partisan advocacy campaigns
- Direct payments to individuals or businesses
Community investment ideas that implement capital improvements to increase the accessibility of new or existing community spaces.
For example, ideas that help:
- Create easier access to buildings through installation of ramps, lifts, and automated doors
- Create accessible washrooms, kitchens, and workspaces
- Provide wayfinding signage or Tactile Walking Directional Indicators in flooring
- Support outdoor spaces such as fully accessible trails or courtyard spaces
- Accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices comfortably such as widening doorways and hallways
- Update lighting and acoustics, to support individuals with visual or auditory impairments
- Provide equipment designed to create accessible recreation or cultural experiences
Exclusions
We will not support:
- Generalized projects
- Updates to single-family dwellings
- Paving of parking lots
- General equipment purchases
- Playgrounds
- Post-secondary institutions
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 Fall 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 Fall 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 inclusive opportunities for prosperity.
Please direct your question to the following mailboxes, depending on the ambition alignment:
- Skills for a Thriving Future or Inclusive Opportunities for Prosperity: social-impact@rbc.com
- Transition to a Net-Zero Economy: environmentaldonations@rbc.com
- General Inquiries: donations@rbc.com
- RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund: communityinfrastructurefund@rbc.com
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.
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.
RBC Foundation Recognition Guidelines
The RBC Foundation Recognition Guidelines set forth the expectations and procedures for the recognition of RBC Foundation for gifts to other Canadian registered charities or qualified donees under the Income Tax Act. These guidelines and procedures have been developed to ensure that gifts receive recognition that is appropriate, equitable, and consistent with gift levels.
Our Investments in Action
See how our community investment partners are making an impact in communities coast to coast.
The transition to a net-zero economy starts with students
RBC Foundation has committed over $16 million to programs that teach green skills.
Bold Ideas from Young Leaders: Shaping the Canada We Want
The #CanadaWeWant Conference is an inclusive event that is both a reminder of the potential and power of youth, and an opportunity to honour it.
RBC Foundation’s $14 Million bet to support healthcare workers in Canada
RBC Foundation is donating to support healthcare workers in Canadian hospitals.
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 Webcasts
We are introducing webcasts 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.
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.
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.
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
The information in this webpage is provided for information purposes only. This webpage may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws. Information on this webpage is or may be based on assumptions, estimates and judgements. For cautionary statements relating to the information on this webpage, refer to the “Caution regarding forward-looking statements” and the “Important notice regarding this document” appendices in our latest Sustainability Report, available at www.rbc.com/sustainabilityreporting. Except as required by law, none of RBC nor any of its affiliates undertake to update any information in this webpage.
Includes donations and community investments made by RBC, RBC Foundation or RBC Foundation USA, employee volunteer grants and gifts in kind, as well as contributions to non-profits and non-registered charities.
Source: 2024 Sustainability Report, Appendix 2
Source: United Nations Development Programme
Source: Government of Canada
Source: Global Center on Adaptation
Source: NASA
Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Source: Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Source: Biology Online
Source: University of Waterloo - Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience
Source: Deloitte Insights
Source: University of Waterloo – Waterloo Institute for Social Innovation and Resilience
Source: Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition
Source: 2024 Sustainability Report, Appendix 2
Source: Journal of Global Information Management
Source: World Bank Group
Source: Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Source: 2024 Sustainability Report, Appendix 2