Investment Readiness Program
Branching Out Support Services and the Dufferin Board of Trade awarded 2023 Investment Readiness Program grants
We are pleased to announce that after a rigorous grants review process, Branching Out Support Services’ Granola Project and the Dufferin Board of Trade’s Biz Hub have received Investment Readiness Program (IRP) funding. They were two out of 270 organizations across Canada to receive IRP grants this spring.
Thank you to all local organizations that applied for the third round of IRP funding.
Funded by the Government of Canada, the Investment Readiness Program offered grants ranging from $10,000 to $75,000 for social enterprises in all stages of development of their revenue-generation models.
The goal is to support social purpose organizations in preparing for the social finance market, so that they can attract investors and generate a return while having a positive impact on their communities. Social purpose organizations include charities, not-for-profit organizations, co-ops and social enterprises.
Congratulations to our local IRP grant recipients
Branching Out Support Services
The Granola Project
Awarded $25,000 “Explore” Grant
Dufferin Board of Trade
Dufferin Biz Hub
Awarded $38,000 “Stabilize and Build” Grant
Read more about these projects here.
About the IRP funds…
IRP funds can be used to research, launch, design, measure, and scale up social enterprises to achieve an organization’s sustainability plan to take on investment in the future. Funds are intended to be used to access outside expert advice or services to:
- Explore a new business idea or develop a business plan to test an inspiring idea
- Create a marketing plan to reach new audiences
- Prepare the documentation needed to approach potential investors
- Plan new products or services to grow revenue
Community Foundations of Canada and several partner organizations administered the IRP and distributed the funds on behalf of the Government of Canada. Dufferin Community Foundation was involved in promoting the grants and evaluating the applications as part of the Central South-Western Ontario Region.
IRP’s Central South-Western Ontario Region partners
The Investment Readiness Program is funded by the Government of Canada’s SI/SF Strategy.
