Apply for funding for the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care - Quality Improvement Projects

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

On this page

• Application period
• Description of the funding
• Objectives
• Eligibility
• How we assess your application
• Steps to apply
• After you've applied
• Contact us
• Glossary

Application period

You can apply between January 31, 2023, and April 14, 2023, at 2:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Description of the funding

• Quality Improvement Project funding will help develop and promote best practices or innovative models in Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) programs
• We will fund Indigenous communities, governments and organizations that are exploring ways to improve IELCC
• You can apply for up to $2 million
• Projects can last up to 36 months
• You can submit 1 application. If you submit more than 1 application, we will only review the first one you submit

If you want to know more, please see the IELCC program and the IELCC Framework.

Objectives

We will fund projects that aim to achieve at least 1 of the following objectives:

• defining what high-quality Indigenous ELCC means to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. This could include:
  • designing governance models that support Indigenous-led ELCC decision-making
  • testing different ways of developing partnerships, and
  • designing ways to measure results and success
• finding ways to support ongoing education and training for IELCC leaders, management, and staff
• building and strengthening local IELCC licensing rules and procedures, and
• making tools and training that support IELCC staff who work with children with special needs

Eligibility

To apply, you must meet all of the following conditions.

Application for funding

• We received your application before: April 14, 2023, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
• The application is complete

Eligible applicants

• Your organization must be 1 of the following types of recipients:
  • Indigenous communities
  • Indigenous governments
  • Indigenous organizations

Eligible projects

• Your project would last no more than 36 months
• You are not requesting more than $2 million over the length of the project

How we assess your application

If your project is eligible, we will assess it based on the following criteria.

Organizational capacity

• Your proposal shows that you have at least 2 years of prior experience working in IELCC programs, services or research

Project relevance

• You describe the goals of your project and show they are both achievable and realistic
• You show how your goals align with 1 or more of the objectives of this call for proposals:
  • defining what high-quality Indigenous ELCC means to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. This could include:
    • designing governance models that support Indigenous-led ELCC decision-making
    • testing different ways of developing partnerships, and
    • designing ways to measure results and success
  • finding ways to support ongoing education and training for IELCC leaders, management, and staff
  • building and strengthening local IELCC licensing rules and procedures, and
  • making tools and training that support IELCC staff who work with children with special needs

Project activities

• You have well defined and realistic activities
• Your activities include milestones that correspond to your expected results
• Your activities support the project goals and create something new, instead of continuing existing programming

Project results

• You show a clear link between the expected results and the project goals
• The indicators you chose to measure your results are specific, relevant, time-based and targeted. You can measure them easily, and we expect that you can achieve them within the proposed time-frame

Budget

• You describe how you will use the funds
• Your costs are well reasoned and relate to the planned activities

Additional funding considerations

We may give additional consideration to projects that have partnerships and specifically those with 1 or more of the following:

• Academic institutions
• Indigenous organizations involved in labour market service delivery

We may prioritize projects for funding that demonstrate the following objectives:

• defining quality ELCC within an Indigenous context, and
• finding ways to support ongoing education and training for IELCC leaders, management, and staff

We may prioritize project proposals based on geographical and sectoral representation.

Steps to apply

1. Read the applicant guide
2. Gather your supporting documents and information
3. Decide how to apply

Step 1: Read the applicant guide

Read the applicant guide to complete your application form. This guide includes details for each question of the form.

Step 2. Gather your supporting documents

• Completed application form
• Letter(s) from partner(s) confirming partnership

Note: If you are unable to provide a supporting document with your application package, please provide a rationale as to why you cannot provide it.

Download files

Step 3. Decide how to apply

Apply online

You can apply for funding online through the Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) platform.

Creating a GCOS account allows you to apply for various funding opportunities with Employment and Social Development Canada in a secure web environment.

GCOS allows you to apply and track your application status, sign agreements, manage active projects, submit supporting documents, and review past projects submitted through GCOS.

Apply using GCOS

Information you need to know if you apply online

• Private and public organizations must have a CRA business number to apply online
• You can print a copy of your application before submitting your application
• After you print a copy of your online application, click "submit" to complete your application. If you do not click "submit", your application will not be sent to us

Apply by email

1. Ensure you have all your supporting documents and completed application
2. Print and sign the signature pages
3. Send your complete application package by email to: EDSC.AGJEA.PAQ-QIP.IELCC.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca

Apply by mail

1. Ensure you have all your supporting documents and completed application
2. Print and sign the signature pages
3. Send your complete application package by mail to:
   Indigenous Early Learning Child Care (IELCC) submissions
   Coordination Unit mailstop 402
   National Grants & Contributions Delivery Centre (ESDC)
   140 Promenade du Portage Phase IV Floor 4
   Gatineau QC  K1A 0J9

After you've applied

We will review your application. We expect to make funding decisions by Fall 2023.

Online

You will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt

By email

We will automatically confirm receipt by email.

By mail

We will confirm receipt within 21 days.

Contact us

If you have questions or need help with this application process, contact EDSC.AGJEA.PAQ-QIP.IELCC.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca.

We will answer questions sent before April 13, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. (EDT).

Information sessions

We will hold 2 information sessions on the following dates:

• English: February 21, 2023
• French: February 23, 2023

Additional information sessions have been scheduled on the following dates:

• English: March 21, 2023
• French: March 23, 2023

You can join online or by phone. If you want to join, send an email to EDSC.AGJEA.PAQ-QIP.IELCC.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca. We will send you details via email on how to do so.

In your email, let us know if you prefer English or French. Also, let us know if you need any special accommodation to attend.

Glossary

Early learning and child care (ELCC)
Activities designed to support the learning and development of children less than 6-years old.

Indigenous organizations
Organizations that both:

• have mandates that support First Nations, Inuit, or Métis, and
• are governed by people who self-identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis

Indigenous Peoples
A collective name for the first peoples of North America and their descendants. Canadian law recognizes 3 distinct peoples: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

Partnerships
Groups or people that you collaborate with and that contribute to the project.

Special Needs
Includes any physical, social, emotional, behavioral, or learning needs that need unique accommodation.