Our FOCUS

The Solcz Family Foundation is committed to improving the welfare of the Windsor-Essex community with a focus on supporting projects and programs that provide opportunities for children, youth and families.

We focus our funding where it can do the most good, prioritizing initiatives that strengthen our community and drive meaningful, lasting change. We place particular emphasis on those who are underserved and facing the greatest barriers. We prioritize:
 
  • Access & Opportunity for Children, Youth, and Families
    Community‑based programs that expand access to tools, resources, and opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise be available or accessible.
  • Root‑Cause & Systems Change
    Approaches that address underlying, systemic issues to create long‑term, generational impact.
  • Collaboration & Sector Capacity
    Partnerships, shared services, and capacity‑building efforts that strengthen organizational effectiveness and reduce costs over time.
  • Local Impact (Windsor–Essex)
    Funding that directly benefits Windsor–Essex.

OUR PRIORITY AREAS

At the heart of the Solcz Family Foundation’s work is a commitment to staying closely connected to the Windsor-Essex community. We believe that meaningful impact begins with listening. By maintaining open and on-going dialogue with local charities, we keep track of evolving community needs to ensure our work remains relevant and responsive. These conversations allow us to learn directly from those working on the front lines, adapt our approach where needed, and focus our resources where they can have the biggest impact. 

While we recognize that there are many areas of need, we have chosen to focus on six priority areas that, through our conversations, have emerged as the most significant issues facing our community right now.

Our priority areas are:

FAMILY VIOLENCE

FOOD SECURITY

POVERTY &
HOMELESSNESS

ACCESSIBILITY

HEALTHCARE & MENTAL WELLNESS

SUBSTANCE USE & 
ADDICTIONS

 GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

Please carefully review the following eligibility guidelines prior to submitting a funding proposal. After reviewing these guidelines should you still have questions regarding eligibility, please contact the Foundation via the contact form. The Foundation reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any request at its sole discretion and meeting eligibility does not guarantee funding.

  • Charities must be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. Proof of charitable designation is required upon applying. Charities must be in good standing with the Canada Revenue Agency and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
  • Charities must demonstrate alignment with the Foundation’s mission, focus, and funding priorities.
  • Charities must serve the Windsor-Essex community. Charities located outside the region may apply if the proposed project/program directly serves Windsor-Essex populations. Charities located within the Windsor-Essex region will receive priority attention.
  • Charities must be in operation for at least one year prior to submission.
  • Only one submission is permitted per charity per cycle.
  • Charities must maintain general liability insurance. Proof is required.
  • Submissions will only be accepted through the Foundation’s online application portal (accessible through the Foundation’s website).
  • Currently, the Solcz Family Foundation is only accepting single-year funding requests. “Single-year” refers to the funding commitment, not program/project duration/timeline.
  • Funding requests are for a maximum of $100,000.

 SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY

We’ve Evolved Our Funding Model! 

Charities are navigating unprecedented pressures: record‑high demand for services, limited organizational capacity, rising operating costs, flat or declining funding, and challenges attracting and retaining staff and volunteers.

Our solution? A responsive, needs‑based funding strategy designed to support charities where it matters most.

Our revised funding streams are:

Pilot or Expanded Programs

Helping charities introduce new programs or expand current programs. This includes scaling existing programs to reach more people, introducing new approaches to address emerging needs, and piloting innovative programs that advance the charity’s mission.
 

Eligible support includes:

  • salaries and wages
  • materials and supplies
  • Professional development
  • transportation costs
  • technology/equipment
  • rent
  • evaluation
  • insurance
  • marketing and communications

* Only new or added costs for the pilot/expansion are eligible. Regular, on-going costs are not eligible. 

Sustaining Core Programs

Helping charities to sustain proven, core programs (essential day-to-day programs that support the on-going work of the charity as they meet critical community needs).

Eligible support includes:

  • salaries and wages
  • materials and supplies
  • transportation costs
  • technology/equipment
  • rent
  • evaluation
  • insurance
  • marketing and communications 

* This is short‑term support to offset a portion of core program costs and intended to help bridge core program costs while the charity pursues longer-term solutions. A realistic post-grant sustainability plan is required.

Capacity Building & Infrastructure Projects

Helping charities to explore ways to operate more effectively and reduce costs over time.

Eligible support for capacity building includes:

  • staff and volunteer professional development
  • organizational planning
  • social enterprises 
  • community outreach to build awareness

Eligible support for infrastructure* includes:

  • renovations/upgrades to the charity that improves efficiency and/or reduce long-term operating costs
  • new infrastructure to meet growing demand

* Infrastructure costs are eligible only when the applicant owns the building or structure. Projects on leased or third‑party properties are not eligible.

What We Fund

  • Projects/programs addressing at least one of the Foundation’s priority areas.
  • Charities that support the welfare of children, youth, and families.
  • Projects/programs designed to improve lives and meet demonstrated community needs, top priority is given to the most need.
  • Efforts to reduce barriers and increase access to essential services.
  • Projects/programs with measurable impact and outcomes, long-term prevention.
  • Collaboration between charities.
  • Programs with a plan for long-term sustainability beyond the grant period/post-grant viability. 
  • Community and/or internal learning.

What We Don’t Fund

  • Individuals or for-profits, or non-profits that do not have registered charitable status with the Canada Revenue Agency.
  • Sponsorships, tickets, galas or similar. 
  • Endowments or reserve funds.
  • Political activities.
  • Retroactive costs/ expenses already incurred for the proposed project/program.
  • Operating deficits, debt repayments, or loan payments.
  • Charities that have not demonstrated efforts toward sustainability.
  • Charities with unresolved past grant obligations or reporting issues with the Foundation. 
  • Projects/programs that take place outside, or do not support, the Windsor-Essex community.
  • Projects/programs that duplicate existing services without clear added value. 

* Meeting the Foundation’s eligibility requirements/funding specifications does not in any way guarantee that the applicant organization will be invited to submit an application or be awarded a grant. The above lists may not be comprehensive; eligibility determinations are at the discretion of the funder.