History of the Awards

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 2026.​​

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EXPLORATION PHASE OVERVIEW

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The Exploration Phase of the program supports organizations who can articulate a challenge, opportunity, or key question they are facing, and who are interested in better understanding how they may enable a significant shift / transformation in response to this question, or to understand how it may be possible to overcome this challenge. 

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This phase is intended to provide support for applicants to engage external support to identify needs, develop a project plan / strategy in response to their challenge / question / opportunity and to ultimately develop a pathway or plan to implement this work. 

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FUNDING AMOUNTS​​​

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Exploration Phase – up to $15,000 

Identification of needs, initial development, project planning. 

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Organizations may apply for more than one Investigation or Exploration Phase prior to seeking Implementation Phase support.  

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DEADLINES

 

There are four deadlines for the Future Focus Exploration Phase in 2026:

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Friday, February 6, 2026: Final date for consultation and/or approval to make an application.

Friday, February 20, 2026: Application deadline

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Friday, May 15, 2026: Final date for consultation and/or approval to make an application.

Friday, May 29, 2026: Application deadline

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Friday, August 28, 2026: Final date for consultation and/or approval to make an application.

Friday, September 11, 2026: Application deadline

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Friday, October 23, 2026: Final date for consultation and/or approval to make an application.

Friday, November 6, 2026: Application deadline

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Applications are due by 11:59pm on the deadline date.​​

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Funding decisions are typically made within 8-weeks of the application deadline. 

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POTENTIAL AND INELIGIBLE PROJECTS

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​Organizations can access funds to engage external expertise and to develop and execute plans and strategies to navigate the questions, challenges, and opportunities they face. This work may include projects such as:  

 

• Making changes to established business models and organizational or incorporation structures. 

  • Note: the program does not provide seed funding for the establishment of new organizations or projects that are solely focused on non-profits gaining charitable status, but to support existing entities make necessary changes to ensure their structures are serving the broader needs of the organization and community. 

 

• Developing strategies for new directions and/or organizational sustainability, specifically around: 

  • major shifts in organizational mission or the activity to support the mission. 

  • venue and space-related investigations. 

  • assessments of organizational capacity and ‘right sizing’ for sustainability. 

  • plans for succession from founding organizational leaders.  

 

• Investigating and implementing alternative revenue generating activities or diversifying revenue sources.

  • ​Note: the program does not support the creation or implementation of fundraising plans or events. 

 

• Forming strategic partnerships with other organizations, including resource sharing.  

  • Note: the program does not support the shared creation or presentation of artistic works such as co-productions.​
     

• Addressing organizational life cycle questions, including potential mergers and closures. 

 

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: 

 

• the development and delivery of artistic programming 

• emergency operating funds 

• fundraising plans and events 

• routine, cyclical strategic planning 

• seed funding for the establishment of new organizations 

• learning processes around nonprofit and charitable operating and registration requirements​​

• sector gap analysis.

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Please review the Future Focus program guidelines for further information regarding ineligible project expenses.  

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EXAMPLE EXPLORATIONS

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The following examples are to demonstrate the kind of work that is feasible within the exploration 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 Organizational Strategy Advisor, Jennifer DeDominicis prior to application to ensure program fit.

 

Example One: An established arts organization received notice from its landlord that the space they have been operating in for 10 years will be demolished in 3 years for a municipal development project and they need to find a new space to move into. Funding might support planning intended to inform decision making, including: establishing a comprehensive understanding of their essential space requirements to support operational and programming needs; researching possible scenarios such as finding another turn-key venue, purchasing and converting an existing property, leasing space in an existing arts or community hub, or a new build; learning about existing spaces available for lease or purchase that may be suitable for those scenarios; and understanding whether the organization has the financial and human capacity to undertake any of those scenarios.

 

Example Two: In three years, the founding artistic leader of a visual art charity is planning to retire after 40 years running the organization. The board of directors wants to ensure the founders legacy is honoured, while also looking towards introducing a new artistic leader who will support the organization’s purpose and future direction. Funding might support the engagement of an external consultant to work with the board and staff to understand and determine requirements for an effective leadership transition, organizational impact and core considerations, recruitment strategy, onboarding and supporting the outgoing leader for this significant change.      

 

Example Three: Since the pandemic, a youth-focused arts organization has experienced a significant decline in bookings for the in-school programs that have been foundational to their mission and revenue since the 1990’s. Funding might support engagement with educators and school systems to determine if the program is meeting needs of contemporary students and systems, and how it may need to evolve or change to meet those needs or reconsider its future work and strategy.

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WHO CAN APPLY?

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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 in a significant way to fulfill its mission, and

• Your organization or group has completed at least two years of operating activity, and

• Your organization is operating in the Treaty 7 region (including Red Deer), and

• Your organization is a registered charity, registered non-profit, ad-hoc group, grassroots organization, or operating with a comparable alternative organizational structure, and

• Your organization does NOT have an active Future Focus project or outstanding Future Focus reporting, and 

• Your organization does NOT have an active funding agreement from the Rozsa Foundation, CADA, or Calgary Foundation for the same project. 

• Provincial arts service organizations operating outside out Treaty 7, whose work directly impacts arts organizations in Treaty 7 may also be eligible for the program.

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Organizations can have only one active Future Focus project at any given time. 

Organizations can submit only one application per deadline. 

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Not sure about your eligibility? Contact Ayla Stephen at ayla@rozsafoundation.com.

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