A Vital Idea is a program or project that has been piloted or is currently in operation that helps make Toronto a better place to live, work, learn and grow. The Vital Ideas grant program is unique in that is provides grants of up to $30,000 for strategic activities beyond direct programming. Vital Ideas enables proven, effective organizations to expand their reach, share their experience and better sustain their impact. The investment in these strategic activities is meant to be a one-time investment in building the capacity of not-for-profits.

Funding
The Toronto Community Foundation supports strategic activities that help make the impact of a Vital Idea more sustainable. In other words, the Vital Idea grant is not program funding but is a capacity-building grant (for use to increase the effectiveness of a program). The Community Foundation provides grants of up to $30,000 over one year for activities such as:

• Replication: Encouraging increased use of the Vital Idea by other organizations and/or neighbourhoods and setting the groundwork for the expansion required.
• Documentation: Ensuring that the beneficial impact of the Vital Idea is clearly understood.
• Promotion: Communicating the benefits of the Vital Idea among those who can use it or help support it to grow.

Our goal is to help connect these Vital Ideas with others in our community who can learn from them, benefit from them, and support them to increase their impact. Our aim is to ensure that Vital Ideas secure the attention and support they deserve so that they can sustain and grow their contribution to improving Torontonians' quality of life.

Toronto Community Foundation's Community Knowledge
Initiatives that present compelling giving opportunities for our community of donors will be included in our Community Knowledge, which is at the core of our mission at the Toronto Community Foundation: connecting philanthropy with community needs. Our Community Knowledge showcases innovative and effective solutions to our city's most pressing issues.

Public Recognition
Initiatives funded by the Community Foundation and its donors through the Vital Ideas program will be announced to our donors, volunteers, supporters, other community stakeholders and the media to further promote these initiatives.

Eligibility
The Vital Ideas program is open to any registered charitable organization located in the City of Toronto whose work directly benefits Toronto residents in one or more of the Toronto's Vital Signs® issue areas listed above. Not-for-profit organizations that are not registered Canadian charities that wish to submit an application should refer to "Who Can Apply?" for additional application requirements.
Who Can Apply? Information Sheet ››

How to Apply
The application must be complete for consideration, and should contain one four-page letter (Profile and Request) and required attachments described in the Application Guidelines. One copy of the complete submission should be delivered in person or by mail to the Community Foundation at the address below. It must also be provided digitally by e-mailing it to ngodkewitsch@tcf.ca.

Application Guidelines & Deadline
The 2011 Vital Ideas Application Guidlines and Form will be available here in October 2010.

Contact
Nadien V. Godkewitsch, Program Officer
Toronto Community Foundation
33 Bloor Street East, Suite 1603
Toronto ON  M4W 3H1
T: 416.921.2035 ext. 204  F: 416.921.1026  E: ngodkewitsch@tcf.ca