Jumpstart FAQ

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a registered charity (#1379 29 451 RR0002) dedicated to removing financial barriers so kids across Canada have the opportunity to get off the sidelines and get into the game. 
 
Jumpstart’s core purpose is to enrich the lives of kids (from 4 to 18) in need through sports and physical activity. We assist with the costs associated with registration, equipment and/or transportation. 
 
Jumpstart helps kids explore a range of options by supporting over 70 different activities. In addition to enabling participation in high-profile sports like hockey, soccer and swimming, Jumpstart helps kids take dance lessons and martial arts classes, play ringette or take part in several dozen other activities. What kids do is up to them; we’re here to help them do it.

As a registered charity, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities receives donations and sponsorships from a wide variety of sources. Canadian Tire Corporation is Jumpstart’s biggest supporter as it funds all the general administrative expenses of Jumpstart, which means 100% of customer donations go directly to help kids in need. 
 
Vendors from Canadian Tire, FGL Sports, Mark’s and Canadian Tire Financial Services are also key supporters, and funders, for the charity. As is the Government of Canada as well as several provincial governments that provide grants in support of youth and active living initiatives. 
 
Anyone can make a donation to Jumpstart. Customers from across the Canadian Tire enterprise have been very generous to Jumpstart. We have also received donations from young children who donated their birthday party money; customers who donated in memory of a loved one; Canadian Tire employees and business partners who participated in fundraising events.

The Jumpstart Individual Child Grant application (the “Application”) is an online application that a parent/guardian can use to submit a request for funding to Jumpstart on behalf of their child/children. The following are a list of participants as they relate to the Application: 

Parents/Guardians: parents/guardians are able to submit an application through the Jumpstart grant system for funding on behalf of their child/children. 

Collaborators: Jumpstart understands that in some cases parents/guardians may need support to help complete their application. During the application process, the parent/guardian can identify a collaborator to assist them with their application. The collaborator may be a family member, support worker, a representative from a service organization, or any other individual whom the parent/guardian identifies in the application. 

Jumpstart: A Jumpstart regional manager will review and verify all applications for funding. If an application for funding is approved, the approved funding amount will be delivered by Jumpstart to the service organization (as defined below). 

Service Organization/Payee: The “Service Organization”, or “Payee”, is the registered business, non-profit, or charitable organization running the sport or physical activity program. 

Jumpstart does not provide funding directly to parents/guardians, relatives, collaborators, or any non-registered businesses.

Please have the following ready to apply for funding assistance with Jumpstart: 

• Child demographic information (name, age, gender) 
• Program details (name of organization, location, activity, cost) 
• Upload copy of total household income (must include Canadian Child Benefit (CCB) documentation, pages 1 and 2). No other type of documentation will be accepted 
• Provide proof of program registration (attachment or link) 

Complete all sections of the form, or save as draft until you are ready, then submit.

Upon approval of funding, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to: 

• work directly with the service organization to ensure a spot is available for their child/children in a program; and 
• notify Jumpstart as soon as possible in the event that a child stops attending a program, moves to another program, or if a program is full or cancelled. In such circumstances, the parent/guardian must work directly with the service organization to arrange for a refund to be sent back to Jumpstart before a new application is made for additional funding. A child will not be eligible to receive additional funding if they have already reached the maximum amount of funding, even if the child did not attend the program, until a refund is received by Jumpstart. 

Yes, view a copy of their Terms and Conditions.

No, Jumpstart funds activities that meet our core purpose, which is to remove barriers for children from families in financial need to participate in sport and play.

Jumpstart supports children between the ages of 4 to 18 from families in financial need that are enrolled in sport and play in Canada.

If you have not already completed an application in 2021, please visit the Individual Child Grant page and click the 'apply' button. 
Once the registration process is complete you will have the ability to create a new grant request and apply for funding assistance. 
If you already have an account, please log in using your email and password.

Unfortunately, the parent/guardian of the child will need to apply for funding for their child/children. Jumpstart realizes that family situations change, and we are here to offer assistance so that kids can continue to participate in the sports they love—or to learn a new sport. You can direct the parent/guardian to the Jumpstart website to apply for funding—jumpstart.canadiantire.ca and/or encourage them to call the Call Centre (1- 844-YES-PLAY). If the parent/guardian is reticent about sharing their financial information, let them know that all information is kept confidential.

No, it is the responsibility of the parent to work directly with the service organization to ensure a spot is available for their child.

Jumpstart assists with the costs associated with registration, equipment and/or transportation.

Yes, funding can be requested for more than one child in a family as long as the children are between the ages of 4 – 18.

Yes. Children can be funded for successive seasons in an activity up to a maximum of $300 per activity; subject to Chapter discretion and/or local demands. The annual maximum is $600; again, subject to Chapter discretion and/or local demands.

Jumpstart typically supports participation in sports or physical activity programming at the House League level. Exceptions are up to the discretion of the Chapter and/or Jumpstart Regional Manager; with the Regional Manager having ultimate approval.

Applications for assistance can typically be submitted from January 15 to November 1, with the goal to be equitably distributed over Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter activities.

Typically, it takes between 6-8 weeks for an application to be processed. If a new Payee needs to be approved, it could take longer. A Payee is the organization where the cheque for approved Jumpstart funding will be sent. If the organization is not an existing Payee, then they will need to be reviewed and approved by the Jumpstart Finance team as part of the application process—hence why, in these instances, the application process could take longer.

If you are having difficulty uploading financial details, please try taking a picture with your phone and upload the picture. Please ensure the information in the documents is viewable or your application will be declined. You should also ensure that the cache and cookies are cleared and the browser you are using is current. The minimum requirements for browsers are as follows:
Firefox: version 38
Explorer: version 9.0
Google Chrome: version 44

We recommend clearing your browser history, cache, and cookies it normally addresses the issue. Open your web browser and go into “Setting” or press and hold CTRL, SHIFT, DELETE (together) and remove your history at which point you should be able to apply online.  

Please note: our online application is not compatible with mobile devices.

1. Clear your browsing history
2. Clear cache
3. Clear cookies
4. Restart browser
5. Restart computer (If steps 1-4 don’t work

You can make a secure donation online at: jumpstart.canadiantire.ca. For donations of $20 or more, you will receive a charitable tax receipt. Alternatively, you can send a cheque (payable to Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities) to:

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities 
Attention: Jumpstart Finance Team 
2180 Yonge Street, PO Box 770, Station K 
Toronto, Ontario M4P 2V8