First time applicants, and those requiring further information or assistance with the application, should contact OCAF staff prior to submitting a Stage 1 application. Organizations must start the application process approximately eight months prior to an event. OCAF has a two-stage application process which ensures that organizations do not dedicate significant time, effort and resources to an ineligible project. Stage 2 applications should be assessed by the OCAF Board approximately six months prior to an event. We are open to relaxing these timelines in light of the challenges presented by the Covid-19 health crisis. Please contact Thomas Vaughan at tvaughan@ocaf.ca to discuss the eligibility of your event.
| Stage 2 Deadlines | Board Meetings | Event Dates (rough guidelines) |
| February 28, 2020 | April 23, 2020 | October 2020 or later |
| May 15, 2020 | June 11, 2020 | December 2020 or later |
| September 11, 2020 | October 9, 2020 | January 2021 or later |
| November 6, 2020 | December 4, 2020 | June 2021 or later |
| January 15, 2021 | February 5, 2021 | August 2021 or later |