Application guidelines - Anti-Racism Action Program

Anti-Racism Action Program

On this page:

• Objectives and expected results for the Anti-Racism Action Program
• Application deadline
• Who can apply
• Eligibility
• Eligible projects
• Eligible expenses
• Limits of government assistance
• Applying for more than 12 months
• How to apply
• Application process
• How applications are evaluated
• Evaluation criteria
• Application processing time
• Funding decisions
• How funding is provided
• Funding conditions
• Anti-racism and anti-hate
• Workplace well-being
• Official languages requirements
• Acknowledgement of financial assistance
• Environmental Assessment Act
• Access to information requests
• Disclosure of information
• Audits of recipients and evaluation of the Program
• Contact us
• Glossary

Objectives and expected results for the Anti-Racism Action Program

The Anti-Racism Action Program (ARAP) is one important means by which the Government of Canada implements Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.

The objectives of the program are to:

• support communities confronting racism and discrimination, promote intercultural and interfaith understanding and foster equitable opportunities to participate fully in Canadian society;
• promote and engage in discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination at the domestic and international levels; and
• strengthen research and evidence to build understanding of the disparities and challenges faced by racialized and religious minority communities, and Indigenous peoples.

The ARAP is intended to help address barriers to employment, justice and social participation among Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities. Initiatives funded under the ARAP are expected to:

• increase the capacity of organizations to focus on systemic barriers to employment, justice and social participation;
• increase the delivery of resources, programs, campaigns and services which address barriers to employment, justice and social participation;
• increase participation by Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities in projects which address barriers to employment, justice and social participation; and/or
• increase the availability and accessibility of data, evidence and community insights regarding the disparities experienced by Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities.

Successful applicants to the ARAP will be expected to report on how their projects contribute to these results.

Application deadline

The application intake is now closed.

Who can apply

The following groups and institutions are eligible for funding:

• Canadian Indigenous organizations;
• Canadian not-for-profit organizations and associations;
• Non-federal Canadian public institutions such as boards of education, schools, colleges and universities, chambers of commerce, law enforcement and police agencies, hospitals and other health care institutions; and
• Provincial, territorial, municipal and regional governments and their agencies.

Eligibility

We are responsible for determining the eligibility of each applicant, its project, and project-related expenses.

The Program is highly competitive. Requests for funding typically exceed our available resources. If your organization is eligible, submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

Eligible projects

To be eligible, your project must align with 1 or more of the following 3 key themes:

• Employment: reducing barriers to hiring, leadership training and workplace skills training;
• Justice: promoting interventions for youth and encouraging positive relationships between communities and the criminal justice system; and
• Social participation: promoting participation and reducing barriers in community sport, arts and culture.

The ARAP will also prioritize projects that target online hate and promote digital literacy.

The following three points are important to consider when developing your proposal:

• Projects can focus on the needs of a single community: Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities. Projects do not have to create opportunities for interaction between two or more distinct communities.
• The ARAP can fund projects that build on the core business of the applying organization.
• The ARAP provides one-time funding for projects of a fixed term. The ARAP projects component does not provide on-going program funding.

Eligible expenses

Only project-related cash expenses are eligible; these may include:

• salaries, benefits and consultant fees directly related to the project;
• travel and accommodation within Canada, which must not exceed the rates permitted for travel on government business;
• hospitality (only for meals and refreshments for workshop participants);
• promotion and communication;
• evaluation and audit;
• insurance (recipients must ensure that any public events funded by the Program are covered by appropriate insurance);
• rental of office space and equipment not normally used in your organization’s daily operations.

In all cases, administration/overhead costs (e.g. rental of office space) will be limited to a maximum of 15% of the total project funding.

We cannot fund expenses incurred prior to receiving your application. If you incur expenses for your project before receiving written confirmation of your funding approval, you will be doing so at your own risk.

Expenses that will not be considered for funding include:

• any type of Director’s fees for volunteer members of Boards or other governing bodies;
• annual general meetings or regular executive board meetings of an organization or association, including related travel;
• ongoing production of newsletters, newspapers, magazines, journals, or radio and television broadcasts;
• capital costs or expenditures; and
• in-kind expenses.

Limits of government assistance

To ensure the success of your project, we encourage you to have other funding sources. This may include contributions from your organization, the private sector, or other levels of government.

Total government assistance cannot exceed 100% of total eligible project-related expenses. Total government assistance includes all levels of government funding: federal, provincial and municipal.

We can fund up to $500,000 of eligible expenses per fiscal year (for a maximum of three years). Please consult with the program to determine a suitable amount to apply for given the scale and scope of your proposed project.

Applying for more than 12 months

The Anti-Racism Action Program can support projects that end before April 1, 2022. If your project spans more than 12 months, you must show that there is a need for a multi-year commitment and that you have the capacity to complete the project. This is demonstrated with a realistic project timeline and budget projections, as well as sound governance.

How to apply

Please contact us to receive an application package.

Read the Application Guidelines in their entirety before completing your application.

You must meet all the eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package to be considered for funding. A complete application package includes:

• the ARAP Application Form;
• a balanced (no surplus or deficit) ARAP Budget Form; and
• the following supporting documents:
  • most recent financial statements (annual audited statements if available);
  • documents demonstrating your organization's legal constitution, bylaws, and incorporation; and
  • letters of support from project partners (if applicable).

Additional documents may be required, depending on the nature of your project.

Application process

• Complete, sign and date the Application Form;
• Complete the Budget Form;
• Attach all the required supporting documents; and
• Submit your application through only one means (i.e., by email, mail, in-person, etc.).

Email submissions

We encourage you to submit your application package electronically, at the following email address: pch.antiracism-antiracisme.pch@canada.ca

The email must be sent no later than 11:59 p.m. local time on the date of the application deadline for your application to be considered.

Mail or in-person submissions

You can mail, courier or hand-deliver your complete application package to the nearest office of the Department of Canadian Heritage or headquarters of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Your application must be postmarked or hand-delivered no later than the published deadline to be considered.

Please contact us if you wish to submit your application package by fax.

How applications are evaluated

We fund projects that have clear objectives and measurable results. Funding decisions are based on the number and quality of applications received. Your application will be evaluated based on the criteria below. It will be compared with other applications received and prioritized in relation to the funds available.

Failure to comply with any conditions of a previously funded project will be considered in the evaluation of your new application and could result in the rejection of your new application.

Evaluation criteria

The following criteria will be used to evaluate all eligible applications:

• The application demonstrates how the project contributes to one or more of the program objectives;
• The application demonstrates the need for and value-added of the project and provides evidence that supports this need;
• The applicant has the required experience, resources, and capacity to successfully carry out the project (with regard to past experience, financial situation, human resource capacity, and governance structure);
• The extent to which the applicant has included stakeholders and beneficiaries as active participants in project design and implementation;
• The applicant has planned for the resources needed to successfully deliver the project, on time and on budget;
• The project directly addresses barriers experienced by Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, or religious minorities;
• The project activities are clearly described and are linked to the goals of the project;
• The project is designed to effectively reach its target audience, beneficiaries, and participants;
• The application contains an effective evaluation plan and expected results are both realistic and measurable;
• The application contains an outreach and dissemination plan (where applicable);
• The proposed budget is reasonable and takes into consideration the efficient and prudent use of public funds; and
• The proposed budget is balanced (no surplus or deficit) and detailed.

Application processing time

For application processing time, please refer to the Service standards for Canadian Heritage funding programs or contact the program.

We will acknowledge receipt of your application within two weeks of the date your application is received by the Department.

Funding decisions

We reserve the right to target our funding to specific projects.

Please note that decisions regarding eligibility and funding amounts are final.

How funding is provided

We provide funding in the form of a contribution.

A contribution is a conditional payment issued for a specific purpose, as outlined in a funding agreement. The funding agreement is signed by you/your organization/your group and by us and specifies the terms and conditions to receive payment. At the end of your project, you must submit a final report.

Funding conditions

You may be required to submit interim reports during your project. If you receive $250,000 or more as a contribution, you are required to submit an audited financial report.

Additional funding conditions may apply and, if applicable, will be included in your funding agreement.

Workplace well-being

The Government of Canada is committed to promoting healthy workplaces where harassment, abuse and discrimination are not tolerated. Organizations that receive funding from Canadian Heritage must take measures to creating a workplace free from harassment, abuse and discrimination.

Official languages requirements

We are committed to taking positive measures to enhance the vitality of official language minority communities and to promote the use of English and French in Canadian society. If you receive funding, you agree to comply with the official languages requirements set out in your application and in your funding agreement.

Acknowledgement of financial assistance

If you receive funding, you must publicly acknowledge – in English and in French – the financial support received from the Government of Canada in all communications materials and promotional activities. Additional requirements may be included in your funding agreement.

For additional information, please refer to our Guide on the public acknowledgement of financial support.

Environmental Assessment Act

If you receive funding, your project may be subject to the provisions of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. If your activities are to be carried out on federal lands, we will contact you for additional information prior to the start of your project.

Access to information requests

We are subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. The information you submit in your application may be disclosed in accordance with these acts.

Disclosure of information

By submitting your funding application, you authorize us to disclose any information submitted with this application within the Government of Canada or to outside entities for the following purposes:

• to reach a decision;
• to evaluate the results of the project; and
• to support transparency, accountability and citizen engagement.

Audits of recipients and evaluation of the Program

We reserve the right to audit your accounts and records to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of your funding agreement. We also conduct periodic Program evaluations, during which you may be required to present documentation.

You must keep any records, documents, or other information that may be required to perform the audit or the evaluation for five years. Demonstrated failure to maintain such records may result in the repayment of amounts previously received.

Contact us

For further information, please contact us by:

Email

pch.antiracism-antiracisme.pch@canada.ca

Mail

Department of Canadian Heritage
Anti-Racism Action Program
15 Eddy Street
(15-8-113)
Gatineau, Quebec
J8X 4B3

Telephone

819-997-0055
1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)

TTY

1-888-997-3123 (toll-free)

Agents are available to answer your questions Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ET).

Glossary

This glossary contains definitions for some important terms used in the application guidelines, the application form or any other documents that could be required in the assessment of your project.

Administrative costs

Administrative expenses such as office supplies, telephone, fax, Internet, utilities, postage, courier, photocopying/printing, and rent for office space.

Audited financial report

An audited financial report includes a statement of operations for the given period with regard to the project and is prepared by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization.

Audited financial statements

A complete set of financial statements including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Audited financial statements are completed by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization. The certified accountant performs auditing activities in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards principles.

Cash flow

A presentation of all anticipated revenues and planned expenses that will occur over the length of your project. At the beginning of your project, your cash flow will have only forecasted revenues and expenses. Over time, your cash flow will be updated to reflect the actual revenues and expenses.

Final financial report

A final financial report includes, as separate items, the budget as well as all the revenues realized and expenditures incurred for the given period with regard to the project being funded.

Final report

A final report is submitted at the end of your project based on the requirements in the funding agreement. Your final report needs to provide the results of the activities you have undertaken for the duration of your project.

Financial statements

A complete set of financial statements, including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Financial statements may be audited or unaudited.

Honorarium

Payments for services provided by a person who is not a staff member of the organization, or by a firm that is separate from the organization. For example, it includes fees for, or in respect of, services provided by writers, translators and event managers.

Indigenous communities

Indigenous communities are First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

In-kind contribution

In-kind contributions are considered real contributions to the cost of the proposed activities but are not reimbursable. Donated goods and services may be considered in-kind contributions if they are essential to an event’s success; if they would otherwise have to be purchased or paid for by the recipient; if they can be measured at fair market value (i.e., in relation to similar goods and services); and if they are balanced by an equal expense in the budget.

Interim reports

Interim reports are submitted during your project based on the requirements in the funding agreement. These reports indicate the results of the activities undertaken for a specific period. In addition, they include a status report on the work to be accomplished and updated revenue and expense reports.

Liability insurance

Insurance for claims arising from injuries or damage to other people or property.

National in scope

Projects that are delivered or have an impact in three or more provinces and/or territories.

Official-language minority communities

The official-language minority communities are the Anglophone communities residing in Quebec and the Francophone communities residing outside of Quebec.

Partners

All parties (individuals, communities, community-based organizations, public and private sector institutions and funding bodies) with a vested interest in a particular issue.

Social Participation

Involvement in social, cultural, physical, educational, recreational activities that increase one’s sense of belonging and well-being.

Volunteer

An individual working on behalf of others without receiving financial or material gain.