Requesting Support
Investors Group is committed to supporting grassroots programs that benefit local communities directly and with immediacy. In many cases, corporate participation through the Investors Group Community Investment Program comes as a natural extension of associations involving our Consultants and employees, especially as community volunteers. Hundreds of community organizations receive support in any given year.
Recipient organizations fall within one of these general categories: arts & culture, civic causes, education & youth, environment, health, social services, amateur sport & recreation.
In addition to grant opportunities, funding is also available for community sponsorship events. Commercial sponsorships are not eligible for funding through this program.
Investors Group Sponsorship/Grant Proposal Assessment
Please consider the following information as you create your proposal for funding. We strive to communicate our funding decision to your organization within 30 days of receiving your application.
Section I – Is Your Organization Eligible?
We Fund:
- Organizations that are federally registered charities with the Canada Revenue Agency
- Projects or programs that take place in communities where Investors Group has a business presence
We Do Not Fund:
- Individuals
- Service clubs and fraternal organizations
- Endowments or community foundations
- Religious organizations (except for services/programs offered on a non-denominational basis)
- Organizations whose primary purpose is the advocacy of a particular religious, social, moral, political or economic point of view
- Organizations associated with any discriminatory practices or policies
Section II – Evaluation Criteria
Proposals are evaluated against the following:
- Does the program directly benefit individuals in need?
- Do the programs/projects align with Investors Group’s giving strategy?
- Are Investors Group employees actively involved as volunteers?
- Can the organization provide unique services to an underserved community?
- Has the organization established a clear evaluation process with planned outcomes that supports their mission?
Section III – Request Considerations
Please consider the following information when determining the amount of your request:
- 85% of Investors Group’s donations are under $5,000
- For local/area proposals, Investors Group prefers to fund programs and projects rather than capital campaigns
- When assessing a proposal from an organization with a national office and regional chapters, Investors Group takes the funding received at both levels when considering a donation into account
- As much of our support is provided at the local level through our Region Offices, Investors Group provides a limited amount of support at the national level. Most national partnerships are entered into proactively by Investors Group with the intent of seeking longer term relationships
Section IV – Proposal Check List
Local/Area Proposals
Community organizations that are interested in being considered for funding should contact their local Investors Group Regional Director in writing. Proposals should include:
- Background information on the organization/project, including purpose and track record
- A written outline of your project
- A project budget showing anticipated expenses and incomes
- List of other committed or approached donors, including government sources
- Amount of support requested
- Opportunities for Investors Group employees to get involved (if applicable)
- Most recent audited financial statements
- List of the Board of Directors
- Confirmation of organization's not-for-profit status
- Canada Revenue Agency charitable registration number
NOTE: Multi-year funding commitments are not typically available at the Local/Area level
National Proposals
Complete and submit the Investors Group Corporate Support Application Form.
If you have any questions or concerns and would like to discuss your proposal before completing the application form, please email the Investors Group Community Affairs Mailbox.
FAQ
1. When are applications reviewed?
Applications are reviewed throughout the year, so you may submit an application at any time of the year. If funding relates to a specific event, your application should be submitted no later than 4 months prior to the event.
2. Should I phone to verify that my request has been received?
No. You will receive email confirmation. We review every request submitted through our online application form. Due to the large numbers of requests that we receive, we are unable to confirm receipt of individual requests by telephone.
3. Can I explain my proposal in person?
Due to the high volumes of requests that we receive, we encourage you to send an email to the Community Affairs Mailbox. For local/area proposals, contact your local Investors Group Regional Director. If we determine that your request is aligned with our corporate goals and we have sufficient resources to pursue the opportunity further, we may contact you personally to hear more about your organization and the proposal in question.
4. Can I verify that my request meets the eligibility criteria of Investors Group?
Yes. Before submitting a request, we encourage you to review the Investors Group Sponsorship/Grant Proposal Assessment to determine whether your proposal is well aligned with our corporate goals. If you believe that it is, we invite you to submit an application.
5. Should I print a copy of the application?
Yes. We do recommend that you print and keep a copy of the application for your own records. However, we ask that you do not send it to us as this may lead to duplicate records.
6. The online application form is fairly lengthy. Is it mandatory that I complete the form, or can I just send a less formal email request?
We do require that you submit a completed application form. Completing the application form will provide us with the important information we need to assess your request fairly and in a timely fashion. Well-prepared applicants should be able to complete the application form in 30 minutes or less.
7. When will I hear if my request has been approved?
We strive to communicate our funding decision to your organization within 30 days of receiving your application. We may follow up to obtain a list of your organization's Board of Directors/Trustees (if applicable), a current, audited financial statement of your organization, a detailed budget for the project/campaign for which you seek funding, and/or any additional documentation that may help us to assess your request for funding.
8. Does Investors Group support fundraising events such as luncheons and golf tournaments?
We do not normally provide support to fundraising events; however, exceptions may be made when Investors Group employees are on the board of the organizing charity.
9. How do I determine the geographic scope of my request?
Local/Area: active throughout a province, territory or municipality
National: active throughout Canada
10. Will information I provide to Investors Group be kept confidential?
Yes. Any information you provide to us will remain confidential and will only be reviewed by authorized representatives to evaluate your request.
Contact Us
Local/Area Proposals
Contact your local Investors Group Regional Director.
National Proposals
Please direct all questions/comments to our Community Affairs Mailbox.
Related Information
For more information on the Investors Group Charitable Giving Program, visit Products and Services>Investments.
To review our annual Corporate Citizenship Report, simply select “Reports” from this menu.
