Apply for funding
How do we support communities?
Cenovus supports organizations through donations and sponsorships that reflect the needs of the communities where we live and work. These opportunities are aligned with our social investment and business priorities.
Eligibility criteria
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Eligible organizations
- Registered charities or not-for-profits.
- Projects/programs in communities where we operate.
- Initiatives with direct community benefit.
- Programs with measurable social outcomes.
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Not eligible
- Political organizations.
- Advertising or solicitation campaigns.
- Private or corporate foundations.
- Private, fee-based schools.
- Religious institutions.
- Individual pursuits (except scholarships).
- Projects recognizing or named after individuals.
- Endowments.
- Memorial campaigns.
- Monuments, books or films.
- Crowdfunding, including GoFundMe.
- Organizations that engage in discriminatory behavior or have values, purposes or practices that conflict with ours.
Ready to apply?
Tips for a strong application
- Ensure your organization or program is eligible (see above).
- Provide a clear project description and budget.
- Demonstrate alignment with our focus areas or business priorities.
- Highlight your commitment to acceptance and belonging.
- Explain how you measure and report impact.
- Showcase how you collaborate with others to achieve greater impact.
- Share ideas for company recognition and employee engagement (if any).
- If your request is over $10,000, please include audited or reviewed financial statements.
FAQs
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How long is the review process?
Our goal is to let applicants know as quickly as possible if we can support their request, however, it may take up to eight weeks to respond.
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When do you consider multi-year partnerships?
Multi-year support is considered when there is strong alignment with our business goals and community impact.
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Is there a maximum or minimum level of support Cenovus provides?
No. Funding varies based on project scope, alignment with focus areas, and available budget.
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How do I schedule a meeting with someone on the Social Investment team to review my funding proposal before I submit my request?
While our team would love to meet teams from all organizations interested in funding, we don’t have enough resources to discuss every proposal. All proposals must be submitted through the online application form.
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Do you give swag for silent auctions, raffles, grab bags or other types of giveaways?
No, we don’t typically provide gifts or giveaways. Our program focuses on strategic social investments.
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Does Cenovus help with natural disasters?
Cenovus monitors current events and will respond to natural disasters on a case-by-case basis depending on the severity of the event and proximity to our operations. Unfortunately, our funds are limited and we cannot support all causes.
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What is your application cycle/When does your application portal open and close/What is your budget cycle?
We evaluate funding proposals year round, however our application portal is closed from mid-November until early February each year to allow the team to close out our budgets in December and plan for the following year.
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I have questions about my organization’s donation or sponsorship payment; who should I reach out to?
For questions, please email social.investment@cenovus.com.
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How do you process donation and sponsorship payments?
Cenovus uses Benevity as our application portal and payment disbursement provider. Once a payment has been approved it can take up to one month for a payment to be disbursed through Benevity.
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I have a question about my Benevity Cause profile or Benevity payment; where should I go for more information?