Desjardins GoodSpark Grants
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Grants of $20,000 each to 150 Canadian small businesses annually, totaling $3 million per year from Desjardins' $250 million GoodSpark Fund. Open to businesses across all provinces and industries with 1-50 employees. Focuses on helping small businesses grow and make a positive community impact.
Eligibility Requirements
- Canadian small business
- 1 to 50 employees
- Legally registered in Canada
- Business must demonstrate growth potential
- Must describe how grant will be used for business improvement
- Business must be registered for at least 1 year
- Project must address sustainable development, health/well-being, innovation, or community impact
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $20,000 per business (150 businesses = $3M total annually)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Co-Funding
- Up to 100% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Recurring annual program
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe $250M GoodSpark Fund commitment means this program has long-term stability. Winning applications tell a compelling story about community impact, not just business growth. Desjardins values cooperative principles — businesses that demonstrate how they support their local community, create jobs, or solve local problems stand out. You do not need to be a Desjardins member or customer to apply.
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Success Profile
Small businesses across all sectors with compelling growth stories and community impact narratives. Winners span from food businesses and retail shops to tech startups and service providers. Businesses in smaller communities and rural areas may have a slight edge due to Desjardins' cooperative/community roots.
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Evaluation Criteria
Three-factor internal selection review: (1) Whether the business meets all eligibility requirements; (2) The degree to which the grant application has a compelling impact (community benefit, innovation, sustainability, or health/well-being); (3) Quality of the written description explaining why the business deserves the grant. Human storytelling and community impact narrative are the primary differentiators among eligible applicants.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 7
- Capital equipment purchases supporting business growth
- Training programs for employees
- New business initiatives and programs
- Technology upgrades and new software systems
- Environmental or sustainability projects
- Innovation projects to modernize operations
- Community impact programs tied to the business
Ineligible Expenses 7
- Marketing budget and advertising costs
- Loan repayment
- Rent
- Current salaries for existing employees
- Utilities
- General office equipment
- Taxes
Deadline Notes
Annual program with applications typically opening in spring. Check Desjardins website for current year application window. Winners announced in waves throughout the year.
Ineligible Organizations
- Businesses with more than 50 employees
- Businesses registered less than 1 year before application
- Non-Canadian businesses
- Businesses headquartered in Quebec or the territories
- Non-business entities (non-profits, charities, individuals)
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskLow. No conditions on fund use once disbursed. No repayment triggers identified in program rules. Duplicate application from same business in same year results in disqualification before award.
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How Desjardins GoodSpark Grants Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desjardins GoodSpark Grants | $20,000 per business | Easy | Advance Payment | Recurring annual program |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Annual intake window.... |
| Futurpreneur Canada Startup Program | Up to $75,000 | Moderate | Loan | Ongoing |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Digital Technology Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Open — Call for... |
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