Desjardins GoodSpark Grants

Desjardins GoodSpark Grants

$3 million in Desjardins GoodSpark Grants for small Canadian businesses

The application period is now closed.

Winners will be announced in the winter of 2023.

  • 150 Grants of $20,000

  • A boost to the well-being of communities

Congratulations to our 2022 recipients

Learn more about our recipients and how they got the good news!

Listen to some of our Grant winners being interviewed

Video Every business begins with a first spark

Description (1 min 59 s)
Desjardins reunited small business owners with the first sparks who believed in them. And in one day, our agents and advisors delivered $3 million worth of Desjardins GoodSpark Grants, because we believe in them too.

Discover the selected businesses

Who can participate?

Small businesses that:

  • Are locally owned and operated
  • Are doing business in at least one of the following provinces: Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan
  • Have a minimum of 1 employee and a maximum of 50 employees
  • Have been registered for at least 1 year (on the contest date)
  • Have a project that tackles at least 1 of the following subjects: sustainable development, employment, innovation and community impact

Read the program rules (PDF, 211 KB) - This link will open in a new window.

Investing in projects that matter

Sustainable development

A project aimed at achieving one or more sustainable development objectives such as maintaining environmental integrity, ensuring social equity or aiming for economic efficiency.

Employment

A project facilitating employee acquisition or retention or promoting equity, diversity and inclusion.

Innovation

New initiatives to help modernize the business.

Community impact

A project that positively influences the vitality of the community through the mobilization and involvement of the company in the community.

About Desjardins GoodSpark Grants

For over 120 years now, we've been supporting small business and GoodSpark Grants are just one more way we support them.

FAQ

How are GoodSpark Grants recipients selected?

Our internal selection committee reviews all applications and selects the 150 Grant recipients based on GoodSpark Grant selection criteria, which include, but are not limited to:

  • The extent to which the small business meets all eligibility requirements
  • The degree to which the Grant is deemed to have a compelling impact on the small business
  • The quality of the applicant’s written description of why they should receive a Grant and how it will be used

How do I know if my project meets the eligibility criteria before I apply?

We encourage all applicants to read the program rules (PDF, 211 KB) External link. This link will open in a new window. and fill out the application form  External link. This link will open in a new window. to the best of their ability. We're not able to provide any comments due to the large volume of applications.

What type of projects are eligible?

To be eligible for a GoodSpark Grant, your small business project must fit within at least 1 of the following categories: innovation, employment, community impact or sustainable development. For definitions of these categories, read the program rules (PDF, 211 KB) External link. This link will open in a new window..

Can I make changes to my application after it's been submitted?

No, you can't make any changes to your application once it's been submitted.

Can I submit more than 1 application?

Only 1 application per small business is allowed, and you can’t submit applications for more than 1 small business.

When will winners be announced and when will the Grants be paid out?

For the 2022–2023 edition, winners will be informed in February 2023, and Grant funds will be paid out by March 31, 2023.

How do I receive the Grant?

In most cases, we, or one of our local representatives, will deliver Grant cheques directly to recipients.

Can Grant cheques be made payable to an individual?

No, cheques must be made payable to the business name as written in the application.

Can I find out why my project wasn't selected?

No, we are unable to provide this information due to the large volume of applications.

Will you contact me after I receive my Grant?

We may also contact you to gather stories or testimonials on the progress of the selected project and on how the Grant funds have helped your small business.