Administered by The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group · Funded by The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group (private mutual insurer)
$10K to $50K per project for Ontario charities, not-for-profits, municipalities and community groups for learning programs and spaces. Closes Oct 30, 2026.
L.E.A.F. (Learning and Engagement Accelerator Fund) is a private community grant from The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group, a mutual insurer based in Lindsay, Ontario. It supports projects that grow capacity and resiliency in Ontario communities by re-energizing learning and engagement: learning programming and upgrades to the places the community gathers to learn. Each chosen project receives $10,000 to $50,000 depending on the amount requested, and up to $400,000 will be awarded under the 2026 program. LEAF can fund up to 100% of a project; otherwise the remaining funding must be secured or planned within 6 months. Applications opened September 8, 2026 and close October 30, 2026 through the online form on the LEAF website. Each submitted project gets a public page where supporters add stories, images and comments, and community support is one of the four review criteria.
The total program pool, per-organization max, and what your contribution has to be.
Aggregate annual funding across all recipients. Includes federal and provincial allocations where applicable.
$10,000 to $50,000 per project, non-repayable. LEAF can fund up to 100%; otherwise the balance must be secured or planned within 6 months. One submission per project per year; projects already funded by LEAF are not eligible again.
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Find your matches →Demand is far larger than the pool. Trade press reported 216 applications requesting $6.96 million in 2025; against the $400,000 available in 2026, that level of demand would mean about $17 requested for every $1 available (our arithmetic: $6.96M / $0.4M = 17.4). Submit well before October 30 so your public project page has time to gather stories, photos and comments from the community, and close any funding gap on paper.
The practical sequence, from a firm that files these claims every week.
Charities, incorporated not-for-profits, First Nation, Metis or Inuit communities, municipalities and their agencies (including libraries and museums), or an organized community group with a leadership team and a separate bank account with two unrelated signatories. The project must be in Ontario, publicly accessible and not owned by an individual or business.
The three-step online form (Submitter, Project, Supporting details) does not save. Use the Submission Questions PDF on the LEAF site to prepare answers, the budget, LEAF's share of the budget, property owner approval, up to 5 photos or PDFs and an optional YouTube link.
Complete the full form at leaf.thecommonwell.ca/submit-a-project/ before October 30, 2026. No closing time is published, so submit early.
Ask users, volunteers and partners to add stories, images and comments to your public project page and share it on Facebook. Community support is one of the four review criteria.
What you need ready before you apply.
GovMoney's team can prepare, submit, and defend your Commonwell LEAF application end-to-end.
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$10,000 to $50,000 per project, depending on the amount requested. Up to $400,000 will be awarded under the 2026 program.
Applications opened September 8, 2026 and close October 30, 2026. No closing time is published. Recipients are called by November 20, 2026 and others are emailed by December 2, 2026.
Registered charities and foundations, incorporated not-for-profits, First Nation, Metis or Inuit communities, municipalities and their cultural or recreation agencies (including public libraries and museums), and organized community groups with a leadership team and a separate bank account with two unrelated signatories. Individuals and businesses cannot apply.
No. LEAF can fund up to 100%. If it funds less, the rest must be secured or planned within 6 months.
At The Commonwell's sole discretion, based on impact on learning and engagement, viability and a plan to finish within 2 years, demonstrated need, and community support gathered on the LEAF website and through social shares.
Changes to the program tracked by our team.
2026 intake open September 8 to October 30, 2026: $10,000 to $50,000 per project, up to $400,000 in total. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2028.
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