No Matching Funds Required Grants Canada 2026

Get 100% funded programs, non-repayable contributions, and refundable tax credits - no co-investment needed from your business

$1M+ Largest Program
25+ 100% Funded Programs
0% Matching Required
$0 Repayment Needed

Why "No Matching Funds" Matters for Your Business

No Upfront Capital Needed

Traditional grants require 25-50% matching investment. These programs fund your project 100% without requiring you to find capital first.

Perfect for Startups

Early-stage businesses often lack capital for matching requirements. These programs let you grow without depleting your runway.

Non-Repayable = Free Money

Unlike loans or repayable contributions, these grants never need to be paid back. Keep 100% of what you receive.

Tax Credits Pay You

Refundable tax credits give you cash even with zero revenue or profit. SR&ED can return up to 68% of your R&D spending.

Three Types of 100% Funded Programs

Non-Repayable Contributions

Traditional grants that cover eligible costs without requiring matching funds or repayment. Available from federal and provincial programs.

Up to $1,000,000

Wage Subsidies (100%)

Government covers employee wages - some programs offer 100% coverage for eligible employers. Great for hiring youth, students, or interns.

Up to $25,000/position

Refundable Tax Credits

Receive cash payments regardless of tax liability. Even pre-revenue startups can claim these credits and receive cheques from CRA.

Up to 68% of R&D costs

Non-Repayable Grants (No Matching Required)

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

Federal

Regional Development Agencies (ACOA, FedDev, PrairiesCan, PacifiCan, CanNor, CED)

Non-repayable contributions to help SMEs directly or indirectly impacted by tariffs to adapt, diversify and grow. Supports investments in technology, market diversification, supply chain optimization, and talent recruitment.

Amount: Up to $1,000,000
Matching: None Required
Deadline: Ongoing
All Provinces SMEs Technology Market Diversification

NADF Business Financing Program

Private/Indigenous

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF)

Provides non-repayable contributions (grants) alongside loans to Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses for start-up, acquisition, expansion, marketing, and technology adoption.

Amount: Up to $99,999 (individuals) / $249,999 (community)
Matching: None Required
Eligibility: Indigenous Entrepreneurs
Ontario Indigenous Startup Expansion

Manitoba Innovation Growth Program

Provincial

Province of Manitoba

Provides non-repayable grants to support small and medium-sized businesses in Manitoba pursuing innovation and technology commercialization.

Amount: Up to $100,000 (50% of project costs)
Type: Non-Repayable
Deadline: Ongoing
Manitoba Innovation Technology SMEs

Enabling Agricultural Research and Innovation

Provincial

Government of New Brunswick - Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries

Offers funding for R&D, agricultural innovation, and technology demonstration within the agriculture, agri-food, and agri-science sectors in New Brunswick.

Amount: Up to 100% of costs, max $90,000
Coverage: 100% of Eligible Costs
Deadline: Ongoing
New Brunswick Agriculture R&D Innovation

PME MTL - Fonds Jeunes Entreprises

Municipal

PME MTL

Supports viable young businesses by offering a non-repayable financial contribution to help with start-ups and growth on the island of Montreal.

Amount: Up to $15,000
Type: Non-Repayable
Location: Montreal, QC
Quebec Montreal Startup Young Business

100% Wage Subsidies

Canada Summer Jobs

Federal

Employment and Social Development Canada

Provides wage subsidies to help employers create summer job opportunities for youth (students) across Canada, particularly in not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers, and small businesses.

Amount: Up to 100% wage subsidy (minimum wage)
For Non-Profits: 100% Coverage
Deadline: Annual (January)
All Provinces Youth Employment Students Summer Jobs

Youth Employment and Skills Program

Federal

Employment and Social Development Canada

Helps employers create quality work experiences for youth while addressing their human resource needs. Supports hiring youth aged 15-30 with significant wage subsidies.

Amount: Up to $25,000
Eligibility: Employers hiring youth 15-30
Deadline: Ongoing
All Provinces Youth Skills Development Wage Subsidy

Digital Skills for Youth Program

Federal

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Provides funding to organizations to create internships that offer underemployed youth training and work experience in digital skills, helping them transition to careers in the digital economy.

Amount: Up to $15,000 per participant
Type: Wage Subsidy
Focus: Digital Skills
All Provinces Digital Economy Internships Youth

Refundable Tax Credits (No Matching Required)

SR&ED Tax Credit Program

Federal

Canada Revenue Agency

Federal tax incentive program that encourages Canadian businesses to conduct research and development in Canada. Refundable for Canadian-controlled private corporations - receive cash even with no tax liability.

Amount: Up to 68% tax credit
Type: Refundable Tax Credit
Deadline: 18 months after fiscal year-end
All Provinces R&D Innovation Tax Credit

Ontario Innovation Tax Credit

Provincial

Government of Ontario

Refundable tax credit for eligible R&D expenditures incurred in Ontario by qualifying corporations. Stacks with federal SR&ED for combined benefits.

Amount: Up to 8% tax credit
Type: Refundable
Stacks With: Federal SR&ED
Ontario R&D Innovation Tax Credit

BC Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit

Provincial

Government of British Columbia

Refundable tax credit for eligible interactive digital media activities conducted in B.C. Ideal for gaming, app development, and digital content creation companies.

Amount: Up to 17.5% tax credit
Type: Refundable
Industry: Digital Media/Gaming
British Columbia Digital Media Gaming Tax Credit

Quebec R&D Tax Credit

Provincial

Government of Quebec

Refundable tax credit for eligible R&D expenditures incurred in Quebec. One of Canada's most generous provincial R&D incentives when combined with federal SR&ED.

Amount: Up to 14% tax credit
Type: Refundable
Stacks With: Federal SR&ED
Quebec R&D Innovation Tax Credit

Alberta Innovation Employment Grant

Provincial

Government of Alberta

Supports companies that create jobs in innovation-focused industries in Alberta through a tax credit on incremental R&D expenditures.

Amount: Up to 20% tax credit
Type: Tax Credit on R&D
Focus: Innovation Jobs
Alberta R&D Innovation Employment

Comparison: No-Matching vs. Traditional Grant Programs

Feature No Matching Required Traditional Grants
Your Investment $0 required 25-50% of project costs
Best For Startups, cash-strapped SMEs Established businesses with capital
Funding Speed Often faster approval Longer review process
Maximum Amounts Up to $1M+ (RTRI) Often higher limits
Repayment Never repay Usually non-repayable
Competition High (more applicants) Lower competition
Examples RTRI, SR&ED, Wage Subsidies IRAP, SIF, ACOA BDP

Tips for Applying to No-Matching Programs

1. Start with Tax Credits

SR&ED requires no application - just claim on your tax return. It's the easiest "grant" to access with the highest certainty of approval if you have eligible R&D activities.

2. Apply Early for Wage Subsidies

Canada Summer Jobs opens in January with limited funding. Apply within the first week of the intake period for best chances. Most wage programs have rolling intakes.

3. Document Everything

Non-repayable programs still require reporting. Keep detailed records of how funds are used, employee hours worked, and project milestones achieved.

4. Stack Programs

Combine federal SR&ED with provincial R&D credits for up to 68% combined coverage. You can often use wage subsidies alongside other project grants.

5. Check Regional Programs

Regional Development Agencies (ACOA, FedDev, PrairiesCan, etc.) often have non-repayable contributions for specific regions. Contact your local RDA office.

6. Consider Industry-Specific Programs

Agriculture, clean tech, and digital media often have 100% funded options. Check if your industry has specialized non-repayable programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "no matching funds required" mean? +
Grants with no matching funds required mean you don't need to provide any of your own money as co-investment. The government covers 100% of eligible costs. Most traditional grants require you to match 25-50% of the funding, but these programs provide full support without requiring you to invest your own capital.
What's the difference between non-repayable contributions and regular grants? +
Non-repayable contributions are essentially grants - money you receive that you never have to pay back. Some government "contributions" are actually loans, but non-repayable contributions function exactly like grants. Always confirm the terms: non-repayable = free money, repayable = loan.
Are wage subsidies 100% funded? +
Many wage subsidy programs cover 100% of wages up to minimum wage or a set cap. For example, Canada Summer Jobs covers up to 100% of minimum wage for eligible non-profit employers. Private sector employers may receive 50-70% coverage. Youth Employment and Skills Program offers up to $25,000 per position.
What are refundable tax credits and why are they like grants? +
Refundable tax credits give you money back even if you owe no taxes. Unlike regular tax credits that only reduce taxes owed, refundable credits like SR&ED (up to 68%) are paid to you as cash. This makes them functionally equivalent to grants - you receive money with no repayment required and no matching investment.
Can startups with no revenue qualify for 100% funded programs? +
Yes! Many 100% funded programs specifically target startups. Refundable tax credits like SR&ED pay out even with zero revenue. Wage subsidies like Digital Skills for Youth help startups hire talent. Non-repayable contributions from NADF and PME MTL support early-stage businesses with no matching required.
What's the largest no-matching-funds grant available? +
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) offers up to $1 million in non-repayable contributions to SMEs affected by tariffs. This program is available across Canada through all Regional Development Agencies and requires no matching funds. For Indigenous businesses, NADF offers up to $249,999 for community-owned enterprises.

Related Grant Resources

Startup Grants First-Time Applicant Guide IRAP vs SR&ED Guide Technology Grants Student Grants All Grants Directory