Economic Development and Culture Grants - 2025 Funding Allocation and Museums and Heritage Grants

In accordance with City Council direction, this staff report provides an overview of EDC's annual grant-making activities, including a list of all grant recipients. This report also presents the final phase of the Economic Development and Culture (EDC) multi-year grant reform, which started in 2018 to make all EDC funding opportunities more transparent, equitable, and aligned with the 2019 City of Toronto Community Grants Policy. This final phase includes the establishment of the Heritage Organization Operating Partnership and the Museums and Heritage Microgrant Programs, which will enable museums and heritage spaces to serve as accessible hubs for storytelling, learning, and civic engagement. Through these programs, the City will demonstrate equity, access, and transparency in museums and heritage funding, strengthening inclusive participation, supporting diverse cultural expression, and reinforcing Toronto's cultural infrastructure. No new funding is being requested, and the program will leverage funds currently provided as directed grants, already accounted for within EDC's existing operating budget allocation. The completion of EDC's grant reform is an important step to advancing the Council-approved strategies outlined in the Division's two guiding strategic plans: Sidewalks to Skylines: An Action Plan for Toronto's Economy and Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto.

2. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to negotiate and execute single- and multi-year contribution agreements for not-for-profit heritage organizations funded through the Heritage Organization Operating Partnership program, with funding recipients and grant amounts to be determined annually by the General Manager within the budget allocation for the program, and on such terms satisfactory to the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor. 3. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to establish the Museums and Heritage Sector Development Program to fund heritage activities across Toronto, substantially in accordance with the City of Toronto's Community Grant Policy and the City of Toronto Museums and Heritage Grant Program Guidelines as outlined in Attachment 5 to this report from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, with implementation commencing in Q4 2026. 4. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to negotiate and execute single- and multi-year contribution agreements for not-for-profit heritage organizations funded through the Museums and Heritage Sector Development Program, with funding recipients and grant amounts to be determined annually by the General Manager within the budget allocation for the program, and on such terms satisfactory to the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor. 5. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to negotiate and execute one-time and multi-year agreements with not-for-profit organizations funded through the Cultural Hotspot program and Youth Cultural Incubators Stabilization Initiative program, with funding recipients and grant amounts to be determined annually by the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, within the budget allocation for the program, and on such terms satisfactory to the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.