COMMUNITY
Community Boost Program Uplifts Deserving Non-Profits
Habitat for Humanity Niagara and Autism Ontario share how receiving the Community Boost Program grant has supported them. Applications are now open for 2026 Community Boost grants.
By Alexander Kahn
The 2025 recipients of CAA Niagara’s Community Boost, Autism Ontario South Region and Habitat for Humanity Niagara, each receive their $10,000 grant. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF CAA
As a not-for-profit association, CAA Niagara understands the challenges that organizations face. With the Community Boost Program, non-profit groups in the Niagara Region can gain access to meaningful support — beyond just the financial — that helps them to strengthen their impact and allows them to continue offering the important services they provide to the community. Launched in 2019 by CAA Niagara, the Community Boost Program selects two non-profits in the region each year to receive a grant of $10,000. Additionally, recipients receive volunteering, marketing and advertising support from CAA Niagara over the course of one year. Each recipient’s branding is displayed on two fleet vehicles to raise awareness of their organization as well. The 2025 recipients of the CAA Niagara Community Boost funding program are Habitat for Humanity Niagara and Autism Ontario. Habitat for Humanity Niagara focuses its efforts on creating affordable housing, helping people who are experiencing housing insecurity move into their own homes. Autism Ontario — South Region supports and advocates for individuals who are on the autism spectrum, as well as their families.
CAA Niagara presents Habitat for Humanity with a grant that will support building six new homes in Welland. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF CAA
A Habitat for Humanity build in progress, above, with the completed home, below, ready for its new owners to move in. | PHOTOS: COURTESY OF CAA
“Lots of companies give us [donations], but it doesn’t come with the level of support that CAA actually provides. We were so blown away with the hospitality that they give.”
CAA Niagara presents Autism Ontario South with a grant that will be used to support their annual summer camp program. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF CAA
Habitat for Humanity Niagara’s grant is going directly toward the construction of six townhouses in Welland, which will provide families with attainable and affordable housing. “When these families get their homes, they don’t pay a down payment. Thirty percent of their gross income is calculated for their mortgage, and Habitat holds the mortgage,” says Sarah Pritula, director of philanthropy and major gifts at Habitat for Humanity Niagara. “Ideally, these families would be able to save up and build a nice savings so that in 20 years, when the mortgage is over for Habitat, the families can take over the remainder.” Autism Ontario’s grant is going toward a summer camp that provides full support to autistic individuals. The camp recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. “[The camp] requires the most funding,” says Janine O’Brien, the fund and volunteer team lead at Autism Ontario South Region, “because we hire an additional 20 to 30 extra staff members on contract for the summer. [This is required] to ensure that we can have that one-on-one support for all our campers [who] are attending, who may have different support level needs.” Developing awareness of their services within the community is a particular challenge, O’Brien explained. She noted that the awareness created by this program, through advertising and having Autism Ontario’s logo and name on two CAA vehicles, was highly valuable to their non-profit organization. Pritula was impressed to see how much support they received through the grant program. “Lots of companies give us [donations], but it doesn’t come with the level of support that CAA actually provides. We were so blown away with the hospitality that they give.” Applications for the Community Boost Program are open throughout March 2026. We encourage all eligible non-profits to apply. CAA