The CN Stronger Communities Fund provides responsible community investment by supporting registered, not-for-profit organizations.

1. Does CN have any specific focus in its donations and sponsorships?

   Yes. CN has three community investment focus areas (click on your choice to learn more):

   1. Health and Safety for Young People
   2. Transportation Education
   3. CN Railroaders in the Community and United Way / Centraide

2. Exceptions - How do I determine if I am eligible for a CN donation or sponsorship?

   CN receives far more funding requests than we can support. For this reason, we are selective in the initiatives we choose to fund. If your request or organization appears on the following list, it is unlikely that CN will provide funding.

   We do not consider the following types of funding requests :

   • Academic chairs
   • Advertising in yearbooks, handbooks, journals, event programs or recruitment initiatives that is not a component of a negotiated sponsorship or partnership agreement
   • Advocacy or lobbying for narrow or specific interests
   • Amateur sports
   • Capital campaigns
   • Endowments, contingency funds or deficit campaigns
   • Religious or faith-based projects or programs
   • Support for individuals
   • Support of fund-raising or participatory events, such as tournaments, walks and marathons
   • Travel, accommodation or meals

   We do not consider requests from the following types of oganizations:

   • Civic or service clubs or fraternal organizations
   • Commercial fund-raising organizations
   • Organizations outside of countries where CN maintains operations
   • Organizations whose primary mandate is to conduct advocacy or lobbying;
   • Organizations already receiving funding from United Way or Centraide
   • Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, faith or lifestyle
   • Organizations that represent a conflict of interest for CN or that pursue an agenda contrary to the interests of CN, its board members, employees and/or other parties as deemed relevant by CN
   • Political parties
   • Private foundations or clubs
   • Private schools
   • Unregistered charities

3. How can I determine if my community group is eligible to receive a CN donation or sponsorship?

   Please see question #2 above.

4. How to Apply - How do I submit a request for a donation?

   Application form – Non-profit organisations.

   Before you apply for funding, please ask yourself these questions:

   • Does your request align with the focus of the CN Stronger Communities Fund?
   • Does your request fall outside of our list of exceptions?

   If you answered “yes” to both these questions, we encourage you to review the application instructions and then submit your request through our easy-to-use online application form.

   You will require the following information:

   • Information about your organization, including your CRA business number or IRS EIN number.
   • Contact information including email addresses.
   • Details of your request, including what you are asking for, timelines, and who will benefit.
   • Descriptions of the project or program, including goals, desired outcomes, and other funding sources.

   When you submit your request, you will receive an immediate confirmation of your submission. We will provide you with a status update within two weeks; however, it may take several weeks for us to fully review and decide on your request. We appreciate your patience.

5. Should I apply if my request is not within the areas of focus?

   Organizations can apply for requests that are outside of our focus areas. However, it is less likely that CN will provide support for your request. Please be aware that if your request falls under one of the categories we tend not to support, your request may be declined.
   
   Please see question #1 above for our Focus Areas and question #2 for Exceptions.

6. How do I submit a request for a donation?

   Please see question #4 above.

7. My community organization does not have Internet access or an email address. How can I submit an on-line application to CN?

   You can apply from any Internet-connected computer at a library or community centre, through a friend or board member or even at an Internet café. You can get a free email address through Hotmail or Yahoo. Visit our Guidelines to learn more.

8. Who should I call to discuss my request?

   CN cannot accept telephone calls regarding our community investment program due to the high volume of requests we receive. However, CN makes it easy for you to understand the goals of our community investment program, our eligibility criteria and how to apply online through this FAQ page.

9. Should I call to confirm that my on-line submission was received?

   No. Once you submit your online application, a confirmation message will appear on your screen. In addition, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your request within thirty (30) minutes of your submission. The confirmation email will be sent to the email address you provided in your application. Within thirty (30) days of your submission, you will receive another email updating you on the status of your request. Please be aware that we cannot respond to telephone or email inquiries about submitted applications.

10. When will I know if my request has been approved by CN?

    Within thirty (30) days of your submission, you will receive an email updating you on the status of your request. At that time, you will learn if your request has been declined, approved or is pending upon further consideration.

11. If I send a request to CN by mail, will it be considered?

    We strongly encourage you to submit your request through our on-line application form. It's fast. It's easy. And it ensures that you provide all the information we need to review your request promptly.

12. Why has CN gone to an on-line request process?

    CN has adopted an online application process for many reasons:

    1.	It simplifies the application process for community groups: our form requests only the information that CN requires to consider your request. There is no guessing on what we want or what is the best way to submit.
    2.	It provides a fair and level playing field for all community groups: CN wants to assess requests on their merit, not on the size or resources of the submitting organization.
    3.	It provides consistency for our reviewers. Our online application process ensures that we get the information we need every time and in a consistent format.
    4.	It improves our community responsiveness. By creating a single point of entry for all requests, we are assured that we can review all submissions in a timely and effective manner.

13. Do you have any resources for community-based organizations?

    No. For Canadian organizations seeking not-for-profit resources, we recommend that you visit either CharityVillage at charityvillage.ca or the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy at ccp.ca .

    For U.S.-based groups, we suggest you visit NonProfit Gateway at nonprofit.gov.