Backgrounder: New Horizons for Seniors Program

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects that make a difference in the lives of seniors and their communities. Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others.

The objectives of the NHSP are:

• Promoting volunteerism among seniors;
• Engaging seniors in the community through mentoring of others;
• Expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
• Supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors; and
• Providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.

NHSP funding supports Community-based projects and Pan-Canadian projects.

Community-based projects

Community-based project funding supports activities that engage seniors and address one or more of the program's five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance. These projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding and, as of this year, up to $5,000 in new small grants funding for organizations that have not received funding within the last five years. Approximately $35M is provided each year for community-based projects.

The NHSP 2018-2019 call for proposals for community-based projects closed on June 15, 2018. Organizations were invited to apply for funding of up to $25K for projects that help empower seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others and support communities by increasing their capacity to address local issues.

Approximately 1,905 projects across Canada were approved through the previous NHSP call for proposals for Community-based Projects and 1,885 of these are now in progress.

For more information, visit Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program – Community-based projects.

Pan-Canadian projects

Pan-Canadian funding supports multi-year projects using collaborative and innovative approaches to address seniors issues. 

Projects that have received funding through the NHSP fiscal year 2015 to 2016 call for proposals for pan-Canadian projects are using a Collective Impact approach where project partners work together to achieve measurable results in addressing social isolation among seniors.  These funded projects are up to three years in duration and are receiving financial support of up to $750,000.

The pan-Canadian funding stream of the program can fund multi-year projects up to 5 years' duration.

The available annual budget for pan-Canadian projects is approximately $8 million.

For more information, visit Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program – pan-Canadian projects.