No.  Please wait until you have obtained your charitable status and have a solid body of annual support behind your organization before applying.

Applicant organizations should be one of two types:

• Community-based organizations serving citizens of Cambridge, Ontario.
• Faith-based, Christian organizations which exist primarily to serve people outside their own membership.   

No.  Grants are limited to one active grant per organization at a time.  Exceptions are made for umbrella organizations that are proposing distinctive initiatives within their network or for specialized RFPs (Requests for Proposal) that Bridgeway has invited.

We don't typically partner with small charities as Bridgeway does not view its role as assisting in the start-up of organizations.  Such organizations are at a critical stage in their development, and need a core group of committed founders, donors, and board members who will grow their organization to a degree of sustainability. 

No.  We would assess this organization as lacking the health required to be sustainable, and it would be therefore not be eligible.

No.  Bridgeway does not continue to enable organizations facing financial crises.

We generally look to the organization’s mission statement, website and other public materials to determine if it is operating from an explicitly Christian orientation.  Frequently Christian organizations also have a board-approved Statement of Faith that defines the essence of what they believe.

We applaud the hundreds of non-faith-based organizations in Canada that operate with Christian principles of solidarity with the poor, compassion, integrity, and empowerment.  However, we regret we cannot assist such organizations that do not have an explicit commitment to deliver their services in the name of Christ.  Bridgeway views our partners as those who can unreservedly express our family's faith in action through delivery of services to the broader community.

An exception to this principle is made for our priority area which includes community organizations based in Cambridge, Ontario.

To assess whether or not an organization is eligible, we typically look at the location of the office, and at who is benefiting from the grant.  Most of our partners are frequently charities located in Cambridge. 

If an organization is based outside of Cambridge, yet the beneficiaries are mainly Cambridge citizens, we will also consider partnership.

No.  Cambridge Fund applicants do not need to operate out of a faith perspective, and all local agencies are warmly invited to apply. 

We recommend Canadian Christian charities join both the Canadian Council of Christian Charities, and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.  There are various levels of membership offered in each of these organizations.  Belonging to one or both of these organizations is viewed as positive by Bridgeway, though is not a requirement for partnership.

We recommend charities larger than $250,000 in annual revenue have their finances audited professionally.  Organizations with unaudited statements are not typically approved for Bridgeway partnership.

Being the only major initial funder to back a small charitable organization is a responsibility that we don’t believe we should assume.  Bridgeway partners have demonstrated that they can attract funding from a broad base of supporters, not just one large funder.  We measure the size of our grant against the organization’s revenue, seeking to grant at a level of 10% or less of annual revenues.  

Bridgeway seeks organizational partners which exist to serve those outside their own memberships.  While churches and denominations play an essential role, they generally exist to support their own membership in faith development. We regret that in most cases, churches or denominations are not eligible for partnership.

Bridgeway cannot directly support initiatives nations outside Canada.  As a charitable foundation, we are required by law to grant to Canadian charities only. 

However, certain eligible Canadian charities who demonstrate their ability to effectively monitor projects in other nations can become Bridgeway partners.  It is up to the Canadian charity and its local leadership to approach Bridgeway if funding is required for projects outside Canada.