Canadian female athlete holding up a canada flag while running on the track

Athlete Funding Opportunities for Canadian Athletes

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High-Performance Athlete Funding for Canadian Athletes: Funding opportunities, Programs, Policies, and Procedures. 

Sports can be expensive. Between registration fees, equipment, travel, and training, the costs add up fast—and for many athletes and families, it can become a real barrier. But it doesn’t have to be. In Ontario, there are many programs, grants, and scholarships out there designed to help athletes get the support they need to keep playing the sports they love — no matter your background or respective income level.

Whether you’re just getting started, chasing a scholarship, or making a push towards a national team, there’s funding out there for you. This guide breaks it all down into three tiers: Professional, Semi-Professional, and Amateur. We’ve broken it down so you can easily find which programs fit your level. Whatever your goals, you deserve the chance to pursue them, and these programs are here to help make that possible.

Professional Athlete Funding

Sport Canada Athlete Assistance Program (AAP)

This is the federal government’s main funding program for high-level Canadian athletes. If you’re on a senior national team (Olympic, Paralympic, or competing at world championships), your sport’s national organization can nominate you. If selected, you’ll receive a monthly, tax-free stipend to help with living and training costs—about $1,765/month for top-tier athletes and $1,060/month for developing athletes. It’s meant to let you focus on training without the stress of paying bills.

How to Apply:

You can’t apply directly, rather your National Sport Organization (NSO) nominates athletes based on performance and ranking. Talk to your coach or high-performance staff to learn if you qualify. If selected, your NSO submits your name to Sport Canada for funding.

Canadian Olympic Committee Athlete Excellence Fund (AEF)

This is a cash reward program for Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Gold medalists earn $20,000, silver $15,000, and bronze $10,000. In non-Olympic years, $5,000 is awarded for podium finishes at World Championships. It’s designed to help cover training, travel, and living costs.

How to Apply:

No application needed — the Canadian Olympic Committee contacts eligible athletes after verified results.

Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO)

While CSIO doesn’t directly offer financial support, they provide something just as valuable—access to top-tier services that help athletes perform at their highest level. This includes sport science, strength and conditioning, nutrition, mental performance, and sport medicine, all tailored to support high-performance training and recovery.

They also run the Ontario High Performance Sport Initiative (OHPSI), which supports emerging athletes and coaches with the potential to compete on the world stage.

How to Apply:

CSIO support is typically available to AAP carded athletes, or athletes who are nominated by their Provincial or National Sport Organization. If you think you may be eligible, talk to your coach or high-performance director to see if you can be referred.

CAN Fund (Canadian Athletes Now Fund)

CAN Fund gives direct financial support to Canadian athletes training for international competition. It’s one of the few programs where the money goes straight to you, to help with whatever you need—travel, coaching, equipment, physio, nutrition, or just living expenses. Eligible athletes can apply twice a year, with each application valued at $8,000 (so a possible $16,000) per year

Eligibility:

Open to national team athletes (current or recently active), with or without AAP funding. You’ll need to show financial need and a clear plan for your training and goals.

How to Apply:

Apply directly through the CAN Fund website. The form asks for training plans, results, and financial info. There’s also a stream just for female athletes under their #150Women campaign.

Semi-Professional (High-Performance Development) Funding

Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP) – Quest for Gold

Quest for Gold is Ontario’s way of supporting up-and-coming high-performance athletes who are training and competing at the national or international level. It offers direct financial help—through what’s called an Ontario Card—to offset training, travel, and living costs.

Eligibility:

You need to be an Ontario resident, show strong competitive results, and be in good standing with your Provincial or National Sport Organization. It’s geared toward athletes who are on the rise, so if you’re already receiving Sport Canada (AAP) funding, you’re usually not eligible.

How to Apply:

You don’t apply directly. Your Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) sets the selection criteria and nominates athletes each year. If you think you’re in the mix, reach out to your coach or PSO to learn more.

Fueling Athlete and Coaching Excellence Program (FACE) – Petro Canada

The FACE program helps support young, high-potential Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls who aren’t yet on the national team or receiving Sport Canada funding. Each year, Petro-Canada partners with the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees to provide $10,000 in funding, which is split evenly between the athlete and their coach (to help with training, equipment, and competition costs).

Eligibility:

You must be identified as a next-generation athlete by your National Sport Organization and not be currently carded (AAP-funded). FACE is designed to give up-and-coming talent the boost they need to reach the next level.

How to Apply:

Athletes can’t apply directly—you must be nominated by your sport’s national organization. If you think you’re a good fit, talk to your coach or high-performance director about how athletes from your sport are selected.

RBC Training Ground

RBC Training Ground is a free talent identification program whose goal is to find young Canadian athletes (ages 14–25) with Olympic potential. participants will take part in basic fitness tests—like sprinting, jumping, and endurance—and those who stand out may be invited by a National Organization to train in a new sport or receive support in their current one.

Funding & Support: 

Top performers can earn funding, coaching, and access to elite training programs. Some also receive $2,500 bursaries through the RBC Athlete Accelerator to help with costs.

How to Apply:

You can sign up for a testing event through the RBC Training Ground website. No sport-specific background is needed—just show up, give your best, and you might get noticed.

Amateur or Grassroots Funding

Kidsport Ontario

KidSport Ontario offers grants up to $250 per child annually to help cover sport registration fees for families facing financial barriers. If equipment is needed, they can refer you to partner programs. Grants are intended for sport registration fees; travel and competitions are not eligible for funding. The grant is open to Ontario residents 18 year and under from families who meet the financial criteria set by the organization.

How to Apply:

Find a sport program, inform them of your KidSport application, and apply online or via paper form. Applications are processed within 30 days.

Jumpstart (Canadian Tire)

Jumpstart assists children aged 4 to 18 from families in financial need by covering costs associated with registration, equipment, and/or transportation for sports and physical activities. Funding may be available for multiple seasons of the same activity, up to a maximum of $600 per activity. Eligible families must provide proof of financial need, typically through the Canada Child Benefit statement.

How to Apply:

Applications should be submitted before the program’s start date and include details of the sport/activity and proof of financial need.

Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) Funding

Many Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) in Ontario offer their own funding or support programs for amateur athletes. This can include things like travel grants, performance-based awards, development support, or access to training resources. The type and amount of support varies depending on the sport and the PSO’s budget.

How to Apply:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Each PSO has its own criteria and application process. If you’re competing at a provincial or national level, reach out directly to your sport’s PSO or check their website for funding opportunities—they’re often your first stop for sport-specific support.

List of PSO:

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