FUTURE FOCUS FUNDING
Investigation Phase
The Future Focus Program is a funding collaboration between Calgary Arts Development, the Rozsa Foundation, and the Calgary Foundation. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, who provided additional funds to support the program in 2024.
Introduced in April 2025, the Investigation Phase of the Future Focus Program has separate deadlines and application questions from the Exploration and Investigation Phases. Please visit the Future Focus - Explore + Implement webpage for more details on deadlines and application requirements for those program phases.
INVESTIGATION PHASE OVERVIEW
This initial stage of the program supports organizations to have some time, space, and resources to investigate how to approach a significant circumstance or challenge facing the organization in a new or different way.
The Investigation Phase is intended to support organizations to access experts who can provide initial insights, to increase the staff capacity required to begin to explore change-based work within the organization, and to ultimately articulate the key question or challenge facing the organization that would benefit from further exploration (potentially via the other phases of the Future Focus Program).
The Investigation Phase utilizes a simplified application process that is intended to help remove barriers to starting work within organizations that could ultimately lead to change and transformation.
FUNDING AMOUNTS
Investigation Phase – up to $5,000
Initial planning and consultations, information gathering, development of exploration process.
Organizations may apply for more than one Investigation or Exploration Phase prior to seeking Implementation Phase support.
DEADLINES
Applications to the Future Focus Investigation Phase are due the final Friday of each month, starting May 30, 2025.
Friday, May 30, 2025
Friday, June 27, 2025
Friday, July 25, 2025
Friday, August 29, 2025
Friday, September 26, 2025
Friday, October 31, 2025
Friday, November 28, 2025
Applications are due by 11:59pm on the deadline date.
Funding decisions are typically made within 6-weeks of the application deadline.
EXAMPLE INVESTIGATIONS
The following examples are to demonstrate the kind of work that is feasible within the investigation phase of the Future Focus program. They are not intended to be prescriptive, but to give a sense of scope and use of funds that are appropriate.
You are encouraged to discuss your specific ideas with Rozsa Foundation Funding Manager Ayla Stephen prior to application to ensure program fit.
Example One: A grassroots arts organization with a specific cultural mandate is at cross-roads. Should it continue as is? Should it broaden its mandate? Or is it ready to wrap up its initiatives because it has it achieved its purpose? Funding might support the facilitation of a gathering of interested parties to assess if or how the organization is meeting the needs of its community and inform a path forward.
Example Two: A social enterprise has decided to transition to a non-profit but doesn't know what will happen to their shareholder's contributions and other assets. Funding might be used to engage legal advice around the ramifications of a change to established organizational or incorporation structures.
Example Three: A volunteer run registered charity has a new idea for a revenue generating initiative but has identified that it would require partnership with another organization to execute. Funding might support additional staff capacity to do initial investigations into partnership models between organizations to share resources.
While the projects completed with the support of Future Focus Funding will likely influence the development and delivery of your organization’s existing and future programs, this funding program DOES NOT support:
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the development and delivery of artistic programming
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emergency operating funds
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fundraising plans and events
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routine, cyclical strategic planning
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seed funding for the establishment of new organizations
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learning processes around nonprofit and charitable operating requirements.
INVESTIGATION PHASE APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Applications must be submitted in the online portal. Please email Jennifer or Ayla to access the application link.
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WHAT is the current circumstance or challenge that your organization is hoping to investigate?
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HOW will you start to investigate this?
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What COSTS will you incur to start this investigation? What will the funding pay for?
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What are you hoping to LEARN from this work that will inform your next steps?
WHO CAN APPLY?
Your organization or group may be eligible to apply if:
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Your organization is arts-focused or is an organization engaging the arts to fulfill its mission.
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Your organization is operating in the Treaty 7 region (including Red Deer).
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Your organization is a registered charity, registered non-profit, ad-hoc group, grassroots organization, or operating with a comparable alternative organizational structure.
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Your organization does NOT have an active Future Focus project or outstanding Future Focus reporting.
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Your organization does NOT have an active funding agreement from the Rozsa Foundation, CADA, or Calgary Foundation for the same project.
Organizations can have only one active Future Focus project at any given time.
Organizations can submit only one application per deadline.
Not sure about your eligibility? Contact Ayla Stephen at ayla@rozsafoundation.com.
HOW TO APPLY
Step One: Read the guidelines.
Please read through the program guidelines to get an initial understanding of the Future Focus program, the types of projects it supports, and how applications are assessed.
Step Two: Get in touch.
If you are interested in applying, we recommend getting in touch with us at least TWO WEEKS prior to the deadline you plan to apply for. Please email Jennifer DeDominicis (jennifer@distillconsulting.ca) to request the application link.
Step Three: Complete your application.
If your project and organization are eligible for the funding program you will be sent access to the online application form, which must be completed by midnight of the application deadline.
GET IN TOUCH
There are two main people you can contact about this funding program:
Organizational Strategy Advisor
If you are unsure which direction is best for you and your organization's needs, or if you would like to discuss the key question, challenge, or opportunity your organization is facing, you can book a meeting with Jennifer DeDominicis, Organizational Strategy Advisor. Jennifer is available as a confidential resource for organizations to consider their options and develop strategies to support their work.
Rozsa Foundation Funding Manager
If you are curious about your organization and/or project’s eligibility for this program, or if you have questions about the application, submission process or application portal, please contact the Rozsa Foundation Funding Manager, Ayla Stephen.
Ayla Stephen, Funding Manager: ayla@rozsafoundation.com