Partners Providing Grant Funding

​Options Mississauga is a self-contained organization. We are not a subsidiary of or owned or operated by any other group. We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. One of the advantages of being a social enterprise is that about 2/3 of the money we need to operate is internally generated, mostly through the sale of printing products and services. However, we have obtained grants from a number of organizations over time. These grants have in the past – and continue to be - absolutely essential in allowing us to use innovative strategies to provide the kind of employment and employment training that we are known for. Recently Options Mississauga has received funding from the following organizations: 

Region of Peel

​We have recently been awarded a 2 year CORE Grant for 2022 and 2023 (our second consecutive grant of this nature) which is of huge importance to our charity since the Region provides substantial funding to cover some of our fixed costs to allow us the resources to undertake important strategic initiatives. An innovative approach to funding that speaks to the kind of partner the Region is to our charity. Options has a long historical relationship with the Region of Peel, including as a valuable resource for exchanging information and networking​​. The Region has also provided funding in the last year to assist with our fledgling Arts Enterprise and the purchase of additional print equipment. Our business revenues would not be the success it is without this attention and support from the Region.

---

Community Foundation of Mississauga

​This agency is a great example of what being together as part of the community is all about. The Community Foundation of Mississauga (CFM) has provided substantial grant funding for a number of projects for Options over the years,  Our most recent grant from CFM was to facilitate the purchase a high end cutter with scoring/folding and perforating capabilities. This is a key ingredient to our business strategy, allowing us to do more printing of large specialized jobs in house. But just as good is the fact that CFM also supports Options by sending business our way - in this case having us assemble and send out mailings. It is a great relationship and Options is really fortunate to have such a hands-on and plugged-in organization in the Mississauga community.. During the height of Covid the Community Foundation of Mississauga served as a direct link to the Emergency Community Services Fund (ECSF), a federal government funding program allowing us to obtain critical technology in the face of Covid to work remotely and keep our charity operating. The Community Foundation of Mississauga is everything it is supposed to be. And their "Vital Signs" point-in-time insight into myriad aspects of Peel Region is simply an absolute must-read!

---

Gov. Of Ontario, Ministry of Community and Social Services

​The MCSS provides Options with $60,000 per year in core funding, the only ongoing funding we receive from any organization. And although it represents a relatively small (about 10%) of our annual budget, it is really important core funding that we can depend on. The MCSS is also an invaluable resource for networking and finding out what is going on from a policy and practical standpoint with regard to intellectual disability in the Province. Finally, there have been a few times over the last 15 years that Options needed some short term, one-time funding and the MCSS was there to help us when we really needed it. It is a great relationship, and the inherent knowledge and expertise in the MCSS provides a great partner with which to discuss Options’ ideas and plans.​

---

Ontario Trillium Foundation

​Next to the MCSS and the Region of Peel, over the last twenty years OTF has provided more funding to us than any other single organization, much of it more than 10 years ago when Options needed significant investment to develop our business, and through that investment, be able to support many more individuals who have a mild intellectual disability. When we first obtained a Trillium grant our annual business revenues were well under $100,000. They have now been sustained (before Covid-19, anyway) for more than 5 years at a level above $200,000 per year. The two large trillium grants we received were absolutely instrumental in providing the funds for the early part of this growth, and without them we simply could not have developed the robust, competitive business we have today.

---

Canada Summer Jobs

​Options Mississauga has participated in this federal government program for many years. Essentially this program subsidizes the wages of 1 - 3 summer students, permitting us to hire where we would not otherwise have the financial means. It possibly provides the best "return for every dollar invested". Options has had really great, diverse students over time in several areas: marketing, social worker, graphic design, IT support  - and we try to reserve one summer position each year for an individual who has a mild intellectual disability.  This program has a corollary benefit: Options is a fairly unique place to work (being both a business and a social program provider) and it is typical for students at exit interviews to say they have gotten more out of their work term (specifically exposure to areas and topics they would not normally encounter) with Options than any other job experience they have had.

---

At Options we have an informal policy of making sure all of our business and social partners know about the role our grantors have played, and continue to play, in the provision of service to individuals who have an intellectual disability. And these grantors realize that their funds are highly leveraged by Options since we can utilize investment to grow our business and serve more people while paying for most of the cost of operation ourselves. It is a great model that works! And our mission and values resonate with many agencies- too many to name here - who offer us support in various ways.
A good example? This year we received a capital grant from a new partner, Ian Martin & Associates, to purchase an industrial shredder. This has allowed us to launch a boutique shredding business tailored to the local Port Credit neighbourhood. And best of all? The shredding process can be effectively managed by the people we support, providing sustained employment. One of the goals of our charity/social enterprise is to steadily increase the percentage of our operating costs we can internally generate, which is not easy but we are slowly getting there. Covid-19 has caused a temporary slump, to be expected, but we have the infrastructure - including a wonderful local Port Credit business community as customers - to continue to be a success.

Partners In Fundraising

Rama

​Options is proud to be a part of the bingo operation at the Rama Gaming House. Our participation provides much needed revenues for the operation of our employment training program.​