A sponsorship provides financial support to a not-for-profit organization for a specific event or initiative. It is time-sensitive and transactional in nature: brand visibility, advertising, tickets, and other benefits are offered in exchange for a monetary contribution. The invoice is provided by the organization and sponsorship fees are not eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

A donation is a gift given to a not-for-profit organization. It can be in the form of cash, goods, or services.
NOTE: CN only accepts online applications for cash donations. For in-kind donations of goods or services, please write to the partnership team. Donations are intended to directly support an organization's mission. It can be program-specific or for general needs. Gifts are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

Due to the significant volume of requests that CN receives, we must prioritize funding for certain types of organizations. At the current time, these types of organizations or requests are not eligible to receive funding from CN:

• Politically affiliated programs, organizations or lobbyists
• Business or contract fundraisers
• Private clinics
• Private elementary and high schools
• Amateur sports teams
• Religious or sectarian organizations (except for non-denominational projects or activities organized for the benefit of society in general)
• Individuals or individual families
• Multimedia and art productions including films (documentary and feature), music and plays
• Individual researchers
• Initiatives benefitting people outside Canada and US
• Volunteer Action Centers
• Infrastructure projects

For donations:
There are two application cycles per year, to ensure equitable evaluation and distribution of funds for the most meaningful and impactful projects and organizations across our network.
1st cycle:

• January 1 to March 31: Application period
• April 1 to June 30: Application portal closed for evaluation of donation requests

Applicants will be notified by June 15 if their application is approved or declined.
2nd cycle:

• July 1 to September 30: Application period
• October 1 to December 31: Application portal closed for evaluation of donation requests

Applicants will be notified by December 15 if their application is approved or declined.

For sponsorships:

The application period for sponsorship requests remains from January 1 to November 30, after which the request portal is closed until the end of the year. Please note that the response time for sponsorship requests is 6 to 8 weeks. Therefore, if you submit a sponsorship request less than 6 weeks prior to your event, we cannot guarantee a response.

We look forward to supporting initiatives that align with our shared values and goals.

Please complete the application form. Only requests submitted online by a nonprofit organization will be considered for funding by CN.

Note: Under the CN Railroaders for Change initiative, our focus is to provide funding for supportive services that help people stay housed safely. We will respectfully decline any funding applications for bricks-and-mortar housing projects. Thank you for your understanding.

If your Indigenous community or organization is seeking sponsorships or donations, we invite you to submit your request with our Indigenous Relations team.

APPLY

We believe everyone needs a safe place to call home. Choosing to help with homelessness prevention through CN’s Railroaders for Change initiative brings focus and depth to our longstanding commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our neighbouring communities. It complements our community investments in Safety, People, and Environment —providing a clear, high-impact way for employees and partners to make a difference.

Our areas of focus include:

CN Railroaders for Change

• Education programs to reduce stigma around homelessness
• Awareness campaigns to prevent homelessness
• Community organizations and supportive services for people living precariously
• Food insecurity
• Victims of gender-based violence
• Substance abuse and addictions
• Employability programs for at-risk youth and adults
  • Transition programs for youth exiting foster care services, individuals exiting detention centers or mental health institutions
  • Mental health initiatives for individuals at risk of becoming unhoused
  • Community services for vulnerable families and individuals at risk of becoming unhoused, including financial or legal services for eviction prevention
  • Community services for newcomers living precariously


• Projects to improve social connections for unhoused individuals
  • Research or applied studies in homelessness prevention such as data knowledge transfer initiatives and/or creative solutions using innovative technologies and logistics expertise

Safety

• Emergency Response & Public Safety: first responders, equipment, disaster response, communication systems
• First Responder & Personnel Support: firefighters, law enforcement, training, mental health
• Health & Life-Saving Interventions: medical equipment and emergency health support

People

• Youth education, especially in skilled trades
• Organizations promoting equity, inclusion and belonging
• Emergency disaster relief

Environment

• Climate change mitigation change
• Clean water and biodiversity protection
• Sustainable forest management

We believe everyone needs a safe place to call home and choosing to help with homelessness prevention brings focus and depth to CN’s longstanding commitment to the safety and well-being of our neighbouring communities. It complements our community investments in Safety, People, and Environment —providing a clear, high-impact way for employees and partners to make a difference.

No. Only requests made through our online application form will be considered. This ensures you provide all the information we need to review your request promptly.

We do our best to review applications in a timely manner.

For Donation requests, depending on the date we receive your application, we will provide a response by:

1st cycle: June 15
2nd cycle: December 15

For sponsorship requests: Within 6-8 weeks, depending on the value of your request. Funding applications that are equal to or exceed $25,000 may take longer to evaluate.

Please note that given the high volume of applications we receive, we do not accept telephone or email inquiries regarding the status of your request.