Who can apply

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Your organization must be 1 of the following types:

• not-for-profit or voluntary organizations serving persons with disabilities in the community
• organizations and institutions supported by provincial/territorial entities in partnership with disability organizations (check note below) such as:
  • educational institutions
  • health/social services institutions
• municipalities in partnership with disability organizations (check note below)
• Indigenous organizations including:
  • band councils
  • tribal councils
  • self-government entities

Note: Applicants must demonstrate partnership with 1 or more disability organizations in their application.

The partner or partners must have a leadership role in the overall project design and delivery of activities.

Letter(s) of support from implicated partner(s) must be provided at the time of agreement.

Note to organizations located and operating in Alberta and Quebec

If your project proposal is selected for funding, you may be required to obtain approval from the Alberta or Quebec government before you can accept funding from or enter into an agreement with Employment Social Development Canada (ESDC).

• Alberta: Please consult the Provincial Priorities Act (Bill 18)
• Quebec: Please consult the Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30)

The Québec National Assembly adopted an Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (RLRQ, chapter M-30). This act provides that all Québec public bodies must obtain the authorization of the Québec government before entering into any agreement with the federal government, one of its departments or government agencies, or with a federal public agency. Any entity that is subject to the act is responsible for obtaining the necessary authorization before the conclusion of such an agreement. You may wish to review the provisions of M-30 before applying for funding to make sure you comply with the Act. If your proposed project is successful, ESDC will allow a reasonable amount of time for you to obtain the authorization from the Government of Québec. If you are unable to get the required authorization in a reasonable amount of time, your application may not be funded, even if it meets the Program's eligibility requirements.

Ineligible applicants

The following groups are ineligible for funding:

• individuals
• provincial/territorial governments

Projects

Eligible projects

Your project must meet all of the following criteria:

• align with the objectives of the Call for Proposals (CFP)
• be no longer than 3 years in duration (The start date should be February 1, 2027, and the end date should be February 1, 2030)
• include plans to scale the project so it can grow over the years, and the activities can reach more people and increase their impact

Projects requesting up to $180,000 must meet the following criteria:

• align with the objectives of the Call for Proposals (CFP)
• include plans to scale the project so it can grow over the years, and the activities can reach more people and increase impact

Projects requesting over $180,000 and up to $360,000 in total funding must meet all of the following criteria:

• align with the objectives of the Call for Proposals (CFP)
• include plans to scale the project so it can grow over the years, and the activities can reach more people and increase impact
• have a regional or national scope (delivered in more than 1 province or territory) (check note below); and
• include 1 or more partnerships among diverse groups from within the disability community (check note below). For example:
  • small to medium size disability organizations
  • organizations supporting different types of disabilities
  • organizations supporting persons at the intersection of disability and other identities

Note: Indigenous organizations are exempt from these additional eligibility requirements.

Activities

Below are the key priority areas of the Accessible Canada Act and its regulations as well as example of possible project activities that align with it.

• Employment (Example: workshops and training sessions on inclusive hiring practices paired with a job fair that connects a diverse talent pool with local employers committed to accessibility)
• Built Environment (Example: community seminars that bring together stakeholders to highlight and discuss innovative housing designs to drive improvements in housing accessibility)
• Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) / Digital Technologies (Example: campaign to raise awareness of the importance of accessible digital content, focusing on practical strategies for making websites and applications more inclusive)
• Communication (non-ICT) (Example: interactive training simulations and tools on evacuation procedures that are delivered by persons with disabilities, ensuring community members can effectively participate in safety planning)
• Procurement (Example: toolkits on best practices for incorporating accessibility considerations in procurement processes, empowering organizations to make more inclusive purchasing decisions)
• Programs and Services (Example: national conferences to highlight best practices for accessible service delivery, featuring speakers and case studies from businesses that have successfully implemented inclusive practices)
• Transportation (Example: community panels to present and evaluate local transportation accessibility initiatives, fostering discussion and collaboration on how to enhance accessibility in public transit systems)
• Indigenous accessibility (Example: storytelling events in Indigenous communities focused on sharing personal experiences related to accessibility and barriers, encouraging dialogue and exchange on overcoming these challenges)

What the funding can be used to pay for

Eligible costs

All costs must be reasonable and support project activities. For this CFP, eligible costs could include, but are not limited to:

• wages and benefits
• professional fees
• travel and accommodations
• materials and supplies
• printing and communication
• equipment rental/lease/maintenance
• administration costs
• capital assets
• disability supports for staff of the organization
• accessibility services for events

Ineligible costs

Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to:

• project costs incurred before an agreement is approved and signed by the Department
• costs associated with ongoing general operating costs/service delivery for example:
  • regular telephone and heating costs
  • rent
  • utilities
  • property taxes
  • insurance
  • equipment for staff
  • audit costs
• costs incurred in preparing the proposal
• construction/renovation costs
• costs associated with fundraising activities/lobbying
• staff salary bonuses
• purchase of alcoholic beverages

Other eligibility requirements

• Eligible organizations can only submit 1 application per CRA Business Number for this CFP that must be received by the deadline of July 28, 2026
• Applications must be complete with the attestation checked
• Applications must include all supporting documents, and letter(s) of support from partners when required

How the Department assesses your application

Important notice:

Funding decisions will be made based on the information provided in the application and supporting documents. It is strongly recommended that you review your application carefully before you submit.

Depending on the volume of applications received, ESDC may not contact applicants to provide missing information.

We will review your application in 3 steps:

Step 1: Screening for eligibility

Organizations applying must meet all the requirements to be considered eligible:

• application is received by July 28, 2026
• application is complete and includes all supporting documents
• applicant organization is eligible
• project is eligible

It is important to submit a complete application. Your project will only be assessed if all the eligibility requirements are met.

Things that may impact your eligibility

Your past performance or issues of default in projects with ESDC could impact the eligibility of your application.

Step 2: Assessing on program objectives

Your application will be assessed based on the following criteria:

Project objectives: 24% of overall assessment

• Demonstrate how your project will meet each of the funding objectives

Project activities: 28% of overall assessment

• Demonstrate that project activities are achievable within defined timelines
• Demonstrate that project activities are eligible, clear and connected to the funding objectives

Project impact and results: 21% of overall assessment

• Demonstrate that your project will produce S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) outputs
• Demonstrate that your project will have the required outcomes

Project budget: 5% of overall assessment

• Project costs are eligible and support the project activities

Priorities: 22% of overall assessment

• Include plans for the participation of persons with disabilities in the overall project design and delivery of activities
• Align with key priority areas of the Accessible Canada Act, and its regulations
• Support NAAW activities within underrepresented communities for example:
  • Official Language minority communities
  • 2SLGBTQIA+ community
  • Indigenous communities
    • First Nations
    • Métis
    • Inuit
  • Equity-deserving communities, including Black and other visible minority groups

Step 3: Other considerations for selecting projects to fund

• Geographical distribution to obtain coverage across Canada
• Multi-sectoral partnerships
• Partnerships among diverse groups from within the disability community
• Support for Official Languages within the project (for example, making project-related documents available in both official languages, actively offering project-related services, etc.)
• Support for accessible and inclusive services within the project