Open Call 2026

Apply for a Grant

The Ralph M. Barford Foundation believes that every individual deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

In 2026, RMBF is launching its first open call for grant applications. Any eligible qualified donee working in our focus areas in Canada is invited to apply.

Questions? Please see our FAQ.

View FAQ

Are You Eligible?

Before beginning the Letter of Intent form, please confirm that your organization meets all of the following criteria:

  • You are a registered charity or other type of qualified donee in Canada.

  • Your work aligns with one of our funding focus areas:

    Multiple Sclerosis:

    Research and academics; alternative research approaches are welcome

    Programs that directly improve quality of life, access to care, and day-to-day wellbeing for people living with MS

    Children’s literacy

    Programs that support children to read at grade level by the time they leave elementary school.

    Post-secondary scholarships and/or bursaries

    Scholarships are primarily achievement-based; bursaries are primarily needs-based. Both open doors to post-secondary education for promising students.

  • Your request fits one of two funding types. We accept requests for unrestricted funding to sustain existing activities and measurable outcomes, or project funding for a specialized or new initiative. We are open to funding multi-year requests.

  • Your LOI is submitted by an authorized person. The person submitting must be, or have permission from, an authorized signing officer of your organization.

1

Letter of Intent

The purpose of the Letter of Intent is to give RMBF enough information to assess organizational eligibility and project fit before inviting a full proposal.

Deadline: Monday, Oct 5, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET. The online submission form closes at the deadline. We encourage organizations to submit early if possible.

All LOI applicants — successful or not — will be notified of the outcome on Thursday, Oct 15, 2026.

2

Full Proposal

Full proposals will be accepted by invitation only, following a successful Letter of Intent. On Thursday, Oct 15, invited organizations will receive a private link to submit a full application form.

If you are invited to submit a full proposal, you will be asked to schedule a 30-minute introduction call with the Foundation team to take place between Oct 19–30. Please feel free to bring any questions that will help you to strengthen your application.

Deadline: Thursday, Nov 5, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET.

Full proposals are reviewed by RMBF's Executive Director and Grants Committee, which formulates recommendations for the Board of Directors. Final funding decisions are made by the Board in Dec 2026, and all applicants will be notified of the outcome shortly thereafter.

Questions asked in the full proposal will build on the LOI, and will include details about:

  • The anticipated outcomes of the funded activities, including who will benefit
  • How will the impact of the activities will be evaluated
  • Anticipated timeline of activities, and key milestones
  • Document submission: financial statements, budget, other optional materials

Key Dates

Week of Aug 10, 2026
Open call launches; LOI form available online
Monday, Oct 5, 2026
LOI submission deadline
Thursday, Oct 15, 2026
All LOI applicants will be notified of their application status. Organizations that are invited to submit a full proposal will receive the application link and an invitation to schedule a short Zoom call with the RMBF team.
Oct 19–30, 2026
Short Zoom calls with RMBF for applicants that are invited to submit a full proposal
Thursday, Nov 5, 2026
Full application deadline
Mid Dec 2026
Final grant decisions communicated to all applicants
Mid-late Dec 2026
Funding will be dispersed