Community Development Pillar – National Projects Sector Funding Program (Canada)

The program focuses on preserving, promoting, and developing Ukrainian Canadian cultural heritage while strengthening the Ukrainian community in Canada through inclusiveness, sustainability, creativity, innovation, and excellence. Priority areas include research and case studies that build national infrastructure capacity, strategies to engage diverse and under-represented Ukrainian heritage communities, governance development and cultural relevance initiatives, collaborations and knowledge exchange through digital infrastructure and emerging technologies, professional development activities of national scope, and projects that help organizations become stronger and more resilient to changing markets and demographics.

The Shevchenko Foundation supports projects that contribute to enriching the Canadian experience through Ukrainian Canadian culture and encourage broad public engagement at the community, regional, and national levels. The Foundation also encourages projects that demonstrate strong financial capability, sound planning, and the use of new technologies and partnership models in preserving and sharing Ukrainian Canadian heritage.

Eligible applicants include Canadian not-for-profit community organizations, artist collectives, Canadian registered private businesses operating primarily in Canada, Canadian chartered educational institutions, and professional, semi-professional, and amateur organizations governed by a board or responsible body. Organizations applying for funding must ensure projects are national in scope and aligned with the objectives of the Community Development Pillar.

Projects funded through this sector may include national collaborations, digital and remote engagement initiatives, governance and leadership development activities, professional exchanges, and projects that build organizational resilience and capacity within the Ukrainian Canadian community. Applications for phased multi-year projects are also accepted, with funding provided in stages based on reporting requirements.

The Foundation assesses applications based on project goals, organizational capacity, financial viability, innovation, public engagement, and contribution to the relevance and enrichment of Ukrainian Canadian heritage in Canada. Applicants are also expected to demonstrate realistic budgets, sound fiscal management, and evidence of financial or in-kind support from other sources.

The Shevchenko Foundation may fund up to 50 percent of total project or program costs, depending on available resources for each grant cycle. Applications must be submitted before the project start date, and applicants must complete final reporting requirements before submitting new applications.

Projects that fall under the regular operational mandates of educational entities such as school boards, universities, or Ukrainian institutes and centres are not eligible under this program. Festivals are also excluded and must apply through the Festival Sector grant stream.

For more information, visit Shevchenko Foundation.