Strategic Initiatives – Canada Cultural Investment Fund

Upcoming changes to funding programs

Canadian Heritage’s 2024-2025 Departmental Plan was tabled on February 29, 2024.

Changes to certain programs, as outlined in the Departmental Plan, will come into effect starting on April 1, 2024, at the earliest.

The Department will communicate with program clients and key stakeholders, as appropriate, regarding these changes. More information will also be available on the webpages of affected programs in the coming weeks.

The Strategic Initiatives component of the Canada Cultural Investment Fund provides financial assistance for projects involving multiple partners that help arts and heritage organizations improve their business practices and diversify their revenues.

By supporting collaborative projects, the Strategic Initiatives component encourages knowledge and resource sharing and the strategic use of technologies. This strengthens the business operations of arts and heritage organizations, helping them make stronger contributions to the Canadian society and economy.

Who can apply

To be eligible, an applicant must be a not-for-profit organization or equivalent Indigenous peoples' organization with a mandate and activities related to the arts or heritage sector, or a post-secondary education institution or a heritage organization governed by another level of government.

Please review the Application Guidelines for full eligibility requirements.

Application deadline

The deadline to submit applications in 2023 is postponed to May 19th for projects starting on or after April 1st of the following year, which is April 1, 2024.

To submit your funding application, please read the section Application process.

Eligible projects

To be eligible for funding from the Strategic Initiatives component, your project must concentrate on one or more of the following four key program priorities:

  • Developing and sharing of expertise, best practices and tools;
  • Marketing and audience development;
  • Innovation, experimentation and development of new approaches; and
  • Strategic use of technologies.

Your project must also:

  • directly benefit a number of not-for-profit professional arts or heritage organizations;
  • demonstrate how it will contribute to the improvement of business practices or revenue diversification of not-for-profit professional arts or heritage organizations;
  • involve the collaboration of at least three partners including the lead applicant; and
  • have measurable results in accordance with the objectives of the Strategic Initiatives component.

How to apply

Read these Application Guidelines in their entirety before completing your application. You must meet all eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package to be considered for funding. A complete application package includes the Application Form and the following supporting documents:

  • Budget Form (Tabs 2 to 8);
  • A list of the applicant's full-time employees, including position titles;
  • A list of the members of the Board of Directors for the lead applicant;
  • The resolution of the Board of Directors or equivalent governing body, signed by the Chair:
    1. endorsing the application; and
    2. designating the person with signing authority;
  • A copy of the applicant's letters patent and/or certificate of incorporation as a not-for-profit organization or equivalent document;
  • A copy of the applicant's bylaws;
  • The curriculum vitae of the project manager and key project resources (i.e. employees and consultants), and if applicable, consultants' proposals;
  • The applicant's most recent strategic plan;
  • Signed financial statements for the last two (2) complete cycles (and management letter, if available);
  • A signed letter from each partner confirming the nature of their contribution (amount in cash or in-kind) and extent of their involvement in the project;
  • A support letter from arts or heritage organizations which will benefit from this project that are not partners, if available; and
  • If applicable, a signed declaration that any federal public servant or former federal public servant is in compliance with the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector and the Policy on Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment and that any federal public holder or former federal public holder is in compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act.

You must contact the program to obtain the Budget template.

Contact us

Department of Canadian Heritage
Strategic Initiatives Component, Canada Cultural Investment Fund
25 Eddy Street, 13th Floor, room 280 (25-13-V)
Gatineau, Quebec  J8X 4B5

Email

patrimoinecanadienfcic-canadianheritageccif@pch.gc.ca

Telephone

819-997-3955
1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)

TTY

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

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

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