Prepare to apply – Enhancing Access to Professional Sign Language Interpretation
Prepare to apply
Before you start your application, gather your supporting documents, and get familiar with the information you will be asked to provide in the application.
On this page
Prepare your documents
You must include the following with your submission for it to be considered complete:
- concept application form, and
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) documents showing the valid business number or registration number
What happens if a supporting document is missing from your application
If your application is incomplete, we will send you an email. You will have 5 business days to submit the missing information. If your application is not complete by that time, we will assess your application with the information on file.
How to answer the application questions
The purpose of this section is to help you fill in the application. It describes the specific information you need for each question on the concept application form.
In this concept application form, you will find these parts:
Completing the form
You must read the complete concept application form that is specific to this Call for Concepts. You must complete all parts of the form, unless otherwise indicated. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) reserves the right to refuse concept applications that are incomplete or contains errors. The concept application form must be submitted by the closing date that is posted on the funding page. We will not accept applications received after the closing date.
Assessment criteria
The criteria used to assess applications for the Enhancing Access to Professional Sign Language Interpretation – Call for Concepts will focus on:
- concept objectives:
- concept application form must demonstrate how well the proposed concept meets at least 1 of the 3 call for concept objectives
- concept activities:
- concept application form shows how the proposed concept meets at least 1 of the eligible activities and includes clear details of the activities
- organizations' capacity:
- concept application form must demonstrate that the applicant organization has or will be developing 1 or more partnerships within the sign language interpretation community (for example, those between educational institutions, associations, user organizations, service providers or the Deaf community)
- concept budget:
- concept application form provides overall budget details, and other funding sources (if applicable) and does not exceed the maximum of $2,000,000 per project
Part 1 – Organization
A - Organization information
The Department uses the information you provide in this section to establish your organization's identity. This information will be used to verify the organization's eligibility for funding based on a valid business or registration number.
Question 1 - Legal Name
Please provide the legal name of your organization. Usually, this is the name associated with your registration with the CRA, or the name that would appear on funding cheques.
Question 2 - Operating (Common) Name (if different from legal name)
Please provide the operating (or common) name of your organization if it is different from the legal name.
Question 3 - Business or Registration Number
Please provide your 15-digit CRA business number or, for registered charities and not-for-profit organizations, your registration number.
Example: 123456789
You can find your CRA business number on tax-related documents or written communications from the CRA.
For more information, please visit CRA website.
Question 4 - Organization Type
Your answer to this question must be 1 of the following:
- not-for-profit organizations
- for-profit organizations
Question 5 - Organization Category
Please indicate your organization’s category. For example:
-
Not-for-profit
- educational institutions (such as colleges and universities)
- sign language interpreter associations, or
- organizations representing sign language users
-
For-profit organizations (*)
- sign language service providers that will not financially profit from the project
* For-profit organizations may be eligible for funding if the nature and intent of the activity:
- is non-commercial
- is not intended to generate profit, and
- supports program priorities and objectives
To be eligible, applicants must be located and operate in Canada.
Question 6 - Year Established
Please indicate the year your organization or business was established.
Questions 7 to 11 - Organization Address
Please indicate the address of your organization or business. Applicants must provide an address that is complete and in the correct format recognized by Canada Post. Information is available on the Canada Post website.
Questions 12 and 13 - Telephone and Fax
Please indicate the telephone number of your organization or business and fax number (if applicable).
Question 14 - E-Mail Address
Please indicate the e-mail address of your organization or business.
Questions 15 to 19 – Mailing address
Please indicate the mailing address if different from your organization or business' address.
Question 20 and 21 - Telephone and fax
Please indicate the telephone and fax number (if applicable) if different from your organization's numbers.
B - Organization contact
Please provide a main contact for the purposes of the Department communicating with your organization or business about the proposed project. This could be the president/organization leader/owner/manager or a delegate of their choice.
Question 22 – Primary Contact Given Name and Surname
Please provide the name of the person in your organization who will be the Department's main contact for the proposed project.
Question 23 – Primary Contact Position Title
Please provide the title of the organization contact identified in Question 22.
Example: Business owner, President, Executive Director.
Question 24 – Primary Contact Preferred Language of Communication
Please indicate the preferred language of the organization's main contact for both written and spoken communication.
Questions 25 and 26 – Primary Contact Telephone and Fax
Please indicate the telephone number of the organization's main contact and fax number (if applicable).
Question 27 – Primary Contact E-Mail Address
Please indicate the e-mail address of the organization primary contact if different from your organization or business' e-mail address.
Question 28 – Secondary Contact Given Name and Surname
Please provide the name of the person in your organization who will be the Department's secondary contact for the proposed project.
Question 29 – Secondary Contact Position Title
Please provide the title of the organization contact identified in Question 28.
Example: Business owner, President, Executive Director.
Question 30 – Secondary Contact Preferred Language of Communication
Please indicate the preferred language of the organization's secondary contact for both written and spoken communication.
Questions 31 and 32 – Secondary Contact Telephone and Fax
Please indicate the telephone and fax numbers of the organization's secondary contact.
Question 33 – Secondary Contact E-Mail Address
Please indicate the e-mail address of the organization secondary contact if different from your organization or business' e-mail address.
Part 2 – Proposed concept
A – Concept Identification
Question 34 – Concept Title
Please provide a brief, descriptive concept title.
Question 35 – Planned Project Start Date
Please indicate the planned start date of your proposed project.
Maximum duration cannot exceed 36 months and must end by March 31, 2027.
Question 36 – Planned Project End Date
Please indicate the planned end date of your proposed project.
Maximum duration cannot exceed 36 months and must end by March 31, 2027.
B – Concept description
Question 37 – Project objectives
Please describe how your proposed concept is clearly linked to at least 1 of the Call for Concept objectives.
During Step 1, the call for concept, you are expected to present your concept ideas. Concepts should provide an overview of quantifiable and measurable goals to be achieved through this concepts' major steps and sub-objectives.
Concepts will be assessed based on their ability to meet at least 1 of the following 3 call for concept objectives:
Objective 1 – Raising awareness about recognized sign language interpretation accreditation/training programs (bringing people into the interpreting field)
Examples of eligible types of concepts, but not limited to:
- promoting American Sign Language (ASL) and langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) interpretation as a career path
- attracting diverse students including persons who are Deaf, Indigenous Peoples, Black, Persons of Colour, Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Intersex and additional sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+) or francophone, and
- creating opportunities for trained interpreters to become ASL/LSQ instructors
Objective 2 – Increasing the number of trained sign language interpreters that can provide services (increasing the number of graduates)
Examples of eligible types of concepts, but not limited to:
- developing a common curriculum for Deaf interpreters
- training more interpreters
- creating a post-graduate peer program to help new interpreters navigate the challenges of the profession, and
- developing learning pathways and common assessment tools for specialized contexts (medical, mental health and legal)
Objective 3 – Improving the overall competencies of sign language interpreters through the acquisition of additional skills (improving skills of interpreters)
Examples of eligible types of concepts, but not limited to:
- developing continuous mentorship initiatives to better support interpreters throughout their careers, and
- developing opportunities for continuous learning such as accessible themed workshops and webinars
Question 38 – Please provide a high-level overview of the key activities of the project (the activities must be clearly linked to the Call for Concepts objectives).
Please describe the proposed key activity(ies) of your proposed concept.
Activities are the steps taken to meet the objectives of the concept. Activities should be specific, measurable and realistic. They should also include overall milestones and timelines, which are clear and feasible. These activities must be relevant to the concept objectives and demonstrate how the concept outcome(s) will be achieved.
Your answer to this question will need to include details regarding only planned key activities.
Note: You must develop at least 1 of the identified types of eligible activities.
If you are selected to go on to Step 2, further details on all planned activities will be requested in the second step of the application process.
Please refer to the Review Eligibility section for examples and additional details on eligible activities.
If you are selected to go on to Step 2, you will need to provide a high-level overview of the following:
- a description of each key activity and explanation of how each relates to the objective(s) of the concept as well as to at least 1 of the call for concept objectives. There should always be a clear link between the activities and the objective(s) (refer to Question 37)
- list the activities in a logical sequence, including timelines and/or duration of each, and descriptions where needed. Timelines must be clearly established and feasible
- if applicable, clear links that show how the proposed major activity(ies) address(es) 1 or more of the program funding priority areas
- the potential impacts on the sign language interpretation sector
- include details about how the concept will be delivered. For example, will there be third-party agreements or will the organization deliver all aspects of the concept?
Question 39 – Please explain the expected results of the project (the expected results must be clearly linked to the project activities)
Please describe, in general, what you are planning to obtain as expected results of your concept.
They should be clearly linked to the objectives identified in question 37 and activities identified in question 38.
If you are selected to go on to Step 2, your expected results will need to be specific, concrete and measurable (qualitative or quantitative) and will need to be defined as outcomes.
Overall, outcomes are the short-term and intermediate changes that are expected to occur as the result of the concept (more than 1 outcome could be directly related to an objective).
They answer the questions "How do we know the concept is successful?" and "How do the activities lead to improvements for the beneficiaries?"
Overall, outputs are tangible products, including goods and services that will be produced to generate the desired outcomes; several activities could contribute to 1 output.
C – Priority areas
Question 40 – Please describe how the proposed concept addresses the call for concept priority(ies)
If your concept meets one or more of the funding priorities, describe how they are met.
The priorities are:
- supporting Deaf persons in becoming specialist interpreters or sign language instructors
- supporting the entry of Black, Indigenous Peoples and persons of colour into sign language, interpretation career pathways, and
- supporting the use of LSQ
Concepts are not required to meet the funding priorities, however, additional consideration may be provided if a concept meets 1 or more of the funding priorities.
D – Organizational Capacity
Note: The application must explain the capacity of the organization to undertake the project.
Question 41 – Please describe the organization's capacity to undertake the project.
Please describe:
- how your concept includes 1 or more partnerships within the sign language interpretation community, such as those between:
- education institutions,
- associations,
- user organizations,
- service providers, or
- the Deaf community
Please note that the elements listed below will be asked and assessed only during Step 2 of the intake process:
- how the concept relates to the ongoing work of your organization
- how achievements and current activities and/or projects are related to your proposed concept
- if your organization has a strategic plan, provide some high-level information that shows how the proposed concept aligns with your overall plan
- any previous work done by your organization
- your previous, current, and your potential partners
- details as to how your concept builds on, and does not duplicate previous work, and
- describe any experience with ESDC/Service Canada/Labour funding programs.
Part 3 – Funding
A - Anticipated sources of funding
Please provide overall details on the funding for the proposed concept.
Note: For all projects funded as a result of this process, applicants may request up to a maximum of $2,000,000 in total funding for a concept.
Overall information
The Department's funding programs generally encourage and/or require applicants to seek cash and/or in-kind contributions for their proposed concept from other sources of funding. Each program has a "stacking limit", that is, a maximum permitted amount of combined funding from federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments for any 1 concept or initiative. Contributions to the concept cannot exceed 100% of eligible expenditures.
The Department uses the information provided in this section to verify that your funding request conforms to any stacking limit or requirement for funding from other sources.
"Other sources of funding" includes any source of funding (including from your organization) other than the program to which you are applying for funding.
Expertise, services, or facilities are examples of in-kind contributions. Each organization and/or partner may offer administrative or managerial services, facilities, or access to equipment. Each organization and concept partner may also lend staff to work on the project. If no money is exchanged for the service or resource, it is considered an in-kind contribution.
Money contributions to cover eligible concept costs are considered a cash contribution.
Question 42 – Source Name
Please include the names of organizations that are anticipated, at this stage of the concept application, to contribute funds and/or in-kind to the project. ESDC should be listed as the first source name followed by any other sources.
Note: If a concept is selected, a full list of all organizations that will contribute financially or in-kind to the concept will be requested as part of the budget details.
Question 43 – Source Type
Please identify the types of organizations that are contributing funds to this concept from the following sectors:
- crown corporation
- federal department or agency
- foreign governments
- not-for-profit
- private sector
- provincial/territorial government
- regional or municipal government
- sponsor/organization/recipient
- union
- other (please specify)
Question 44 - Cash
Please indicate the amount of cash funding, in dollars, that will be provided by each contributor.
Note: Applicants may request up to a maximum of $2,000,000 per concept from the Department for this Call for Concepts.
Question 45 – In-kind ($ value)
Please indicate the dollar value of each in-kind contribution that will be provided.
In-kind contributions are non-monetary goods or services that may be contributed to the concept by your organization or other organizations or partners for which your organization will not be requesting reimbursement. In-kind support may include donated equipment, services or facilities necessary for the proposed concept that would otherwise have to be purchased. For example, a room is being donated for where the concept could take place and some organizations have "donated workers" to support activities.
To be considered valid, in-kind contributions should contribute to the success of the project, and their monetary equivalent estimated at fair market value.
Part 4 – Attestation
To be considered eligible, an official representative must attest that they:
- have the capacity and the authority to submit an application for funding on behalf of the organization
- certify that the information provided in the application for funding and any supporting documentation is true, accurate, and complete, and
- have read and understood all the program's requirements
To do this, the official representative must provide their name, title and the date.
As this is an attestation, no signature is required.
If you need extra space on the form
If you did not have enough space for your answer, please attach a Word document to your email when applying, and specify the question and section meant to be continued. All items marked with an asterisk (*) in the concept application form are mandatory. For example, write the following:
Part 2, Section B, Question 56 continued: insert the rest of your answer
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