Prepare to apply

What is your organization's legal name? The legal name is usually:

• the name on your registration with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or provincial/territorial equivalent, or
• the name used on funding cheques, bank accounts, etc.

What is the operating (or common) name of your organization (if it differs from the legal name)?

What is your 15-digit CRA business number? (For example, 123456789 RR 0001).

For registered charities and not-for-profit organizations, what is your registration number?

You can find your CRA business number on tax-related documents or written communications from the CRA.

For more information, please visit CRA.

If you do not have a:

• CRA business number, or
• not-for-profit or charity registration number

You must provide 1 of following documents:

If incorporated:

• a copy of letters of patent
• articles of incorporation
• certificate of incorporation
• memorandum of association
• your rules, by-laws, or constitution

If not incorporated:

• a copy of your rules, bylaws, council resolutions, or constitution

If you represent an Indigenous government, you do not need to fill this out.

Choose 1 of the following 3 organization types:

Select the most appropriate category from the following based on what you chose in Question 4.

What year was your organization established?

What is your organization's address? Give a complete address in a format recognized by Canada Post. For more information, please visit Canada Post website.

What is your organization's telephone number, website (if it has one) and email address?

What is the mailing address of your organization (if it differs from your organization's physical address)?

What is your organization's telephone number?

What are your organization's main activities, including your mandate, mission and objectives?

Select the Indigenous distinction(s) your organization focusses on serving the most:

• Indigenous (specify)
  • First Nations
  • Inuit
  • Metis
  • Urban/Non-Affiliated

Select any other target group(s) that best aligns with your organization's mandate (optional - more than one may be selected).

• Seniors
• Newcomers
• Visible minorities (including racialized individuals)
• Youth
• Women
• 2SLGBTQI+
• People with disabilities
• Low income
• Remote / rural
• Individuals experiencing homelessness
• Official Language Minority Communities
• Other (specify)

Who is the main contact person for the proposed project? Provide the contact information for the person who will be ESDC's primary contact person in respect to your application for funding. Include the following details:

• Question 22: Given (first) name and surname (last name)
• Question 23: What is the title of the contact person named in question 22? For example:
  • Business Owner
  • President
  • Executive Director
• Question 24: What official language would your contact person prefer to use in written and spoken communications? Choose either English or French.
• Question 25: Indicate if your address is the same as the organization address, same as the organization mailing address, or different. If it is different, provide the following for the primary contact person (questions 26 to 32):
  • Question 26: Street address (Questions 26 to 31 are mandatory if different from Organization address/number)
  • Question 27: City or Town
  • Question 28: Province or Territory
  • Question 29: Country
  • Question 30: Postal Code
  • Question 31: Telephone number, including extension
  • Question 32: E-mail Address

If we cannot reach the main contact, who else can we contact? Provide the person's full name, telephone number where we can reach them during business hours and their email address.

• Question 33: Given (first) name and surname (last name)
• Question 34: What is the title of the contact person named in question 33? For example:
  • Business Owner
  • President
  • Executive Director
• Question 35: What official language would your contact person prefer to use in written and spoken communications? Choose either English or French
• Question 36: Indicate if your address is the same as the Organization Address, same as the Organization Mailing Address, or different. If it is different, provide the following for the secondary contact person (Questions 37 to 43):
  • Question 37: Street address
  • Question 38: City or Town
  • Question 39: Province or Territory
  • Question 40: Country
  • Question 41: Postal Code
  • Question 42: Telephone number, including extension
  • Question 43: Email address

Not applicable for this funding

Answer this question with "No" and indicate "not applicable" in the text box.

Not applicable for this funding

Answer this question with "No" and indicate "not applicable" in the text box.

Financial management includes what measures are in place to effectively manage the organization's finances. Please describe your organization's ability to effectively manage financial activities. Examples may include financial planning, budgeting, reporting and cashflow management.

Please describe how your organization will manage funding distributed to other parties. For example, how will the organization verify the use of public funds, and that activities and results of the project are being met?

Indicate the total number of people employed in your organization or business. The number of employees must be a whole number.

Important transformations refer to events such as:

• a change in leadership in the board of directors or at the executive level
• a significant reduction, increase or turnover in staff
• a merger with or split from another organization
• a change in mandate or main activities

If you answer yes, provide a description of the changes.

Provide a description of your organization's experience and expertise in administering projects. Your response should demonstrate that you have at least 2 years of prior experience working in IELCC programs, services or research. Please include all relevant experience including past projects and what they achieved.

This information will help the Department to assess the extent to which your organization is capable of undertaking the proposed project activities and achieving the expected results. You may wish to highlight related past achievements in addition to describing current expertise and activities or projects. As well, if you have past projects with ESDC, provide details, such as dates, outcomes, success, etc.

If "Yes", complete the fields for each amount owing. We will not reject your application for this reason. However, you must provide detail as to the type of debt and the arrangements you have for repayment. (Question 52)

Give a short title that describes your project.

State the planned start and end dates of your project.

Your project must be completed within 36 months of the start date.

Funding decisions should be made by the Fall of 2026.

We will notify you in writing (by email) of the outcome of the review of your application. You cannot begin any of the proposed activities or incur any expenses until the approval of your project. As well, both you and the Department must sign a Funding Agreement. Do not assume any commitment until the signing of the Funding Agreement. If you purchase anything for the project after the approval but before the signing of the Agreement, you do so at your own risk.

Describe the objective(s) of your project.

Objectives are statements of desired change that describe what should be accomplished and provide a context in which progress can be monitored and success can be measured.

Proposals should include clear and achievable objectives. The objectives of each proposal should be described in terms of quantifiable and measurable goals to be achieved through this project. Multifaceted proposals should include major steps and sub-objectives.

Project objectives should:

• be S.M.A.R.T.: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely
• be consistent with the program objectives
• identify the specific outcome(s) or expected results that the project is designed to accomplish (example: number of clients served, number of clients trained, number of clients employed, etc.)
• ensure that these outcome(s) are measurable
• identify who will benefit from the project and
• show how meeting the project objectives will help to achieve the identified outcomes

Describe how your project objective(s) links with at least one of the objectives of the program.

Describe, in full detail, the proposed project activities. It must be broken down into clear steps.

Project activities are the steps that will be taken to meet the objectives of the project. Activities should be specific, measurable, realistic, and relevant to the project objectives and demonstrate how the project outcome(s) will be achieved.

Your answer to this question must include details regarding all your planned activities. Refer to the program's Eligibility criteria for examples and additional details on eligible activities.

Describe each activity by:

• explaining how each activity supports the objective(s) you included in Question 56
• listing activities in a logical sequence with clear and realistic timelines as per the example provided below
• identifying major milestones (milestones are significant events or points of progress during the project). These should demonstrate your expected progress and plans to complete the project on time and within budget
• explaining how each activity relates to the expected results of your project in Question 58
• linking each activity to the project costs included in the budget (sections 3B and 3C)
• explaining how the activity creates something new and goes beyond the organization's core, existing or ongoing activities and programming

Example of activity timelines:

• Months 1 to 12
  • Establish a working group to develop tools
  • Host webinars
• Months 13 to 24
  • Pilot tools with participants
  • Launch a survey to assess the impact of new tools
• Months 25 to 36
  • Disseminate results

Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• testing new concepts or approaches for building, improving and/or maintaining quality early learning and child care within an Indigenous context
• supporting the design of new governance models to support Indigenous-led ELCC decision making
• creating and testing partnership approaches to support a coordinated and integrated system of IELCC programs and services
• developing strategies to measure outcomes and successes of IELCC programs including evaluation and results
• developing standards of quality IELCC to help with access, affordability, availability
• supporting culturally relevant and appropriate strategies and partnerships to build and promote a strong, qualified early childhood workforce
• developing approaches to help accredit staff from a linguistic and cultural lens
• developing and exploring innovative approaches to increase IELCC wages and resources comparable to provincial and territorial colleagues
• developing First Nations, Inuit and Métis standards, regulations and licensing grounded in Indigenous cultures and languages
• developing new programming or replicating and adapting an existing evidence-based program to a new ELCC setting, and,
• developing and testing a range of supports for children with diverse physical, psychological, and developmental abilities within an Indigenous child care context

Examples of ineligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• activities where the link to the program objectives is not clear
• normal activities of an organization
• construction, maintenance or repair of child care buildings

Include details about how the project will be delivered. For example, will there be third-party agreements, or will the organization deliver all aspects of the project?

The information you provide here will have a significant bearing on the assessment of your proposed project and of your organization's ability to undertake the project successfully.

Describe the expected results of your project.

For this section, you must:

• show a clear link between the expected results and the project goals and objectives
• clearly describe how the expected results of your project align with the IELCC QIP objectives

Your answer must include the expected outputs and outcomes of your project. Those must be:

• specific
• concrete
• measurable (qualitative or quantitative or both), and
• defined as outputs and outcomes

Outcomes are the short-term and intermediate changes that are expected to occur as the result of the project (more than one outcome could be directly related to an objective). They answer the questions "How do we know the project is successful?" and "How do the activities lead to improvements for the beneficiaries?"

Examples of Outcomes include:

• coordinated local or regional approach to services
• standardized quality assessment criteria for IELCC early childhood educators
• expanded access to specialized tools and resources for early childhood educators

Outputs are direct products, including goods and services that will be produced to get you to the desired outcomes; several activities could contribute to one output.

Examples of Outputs include:

• monthly meetings of a new local or regional steering committee to coordinate the approach to services
• report outlining standardized assessment criteria for ELCC workers and implementation plan to introduce the criteria
• web-based course outline developed to provide expanded access to training for ELCC workers

Your answer to this question must be "yes".

Describe how you will meet and track the expected results of the project. Describe how you plan to gather data, measure, monitor and report back to Canada on the results achieved by your project (and funded sub-projects).

Common data collection approaches include:

• administrative data collected as part of the project's ongoing operations (For example, financial, activities, and results data)
• post-intervention surveys
• key informant interviews
• focus group discussions
• attendance tracking, and
• verbal feedback

Also describe the performance indicators you anticipate you will use to measure results. A performance indicator provides evidence that results have or have not been achieved. They ensure a proper assessment of the progress achieved towards the intended outputs, outcomes, goals, and objectives of the project. Applicants must provide performance indicators, which will clearly demonstrate how they will measure each anticipated result and ensure their project is progressing as planned.

Proposals must include at least 1 result measurement indicator for each of the project's expected results identified under Question 58. In addition, for each result measurement indicator, data collection mechanisms must be provided.

In developing performance indicators, confirm that:

• indicators are specific, relevant, time-based and targeted
• indicators are easy to measure and can be achieved within the proposed timeframe
• data will be available and collectible for each indicator
• indicators chosen will allow you to show progress and highlight changes as a result of your activities and those of your project's sub-recipients

If we select your project for funding, you will have to report on the results of your project. We will use this information to evaluate how your project is progressing towards meeting the expected results.

Here are some examples of indicators linked to project outcomes:

• Outcome: coordinated local and or regional approach to services
  • Indicator: increase in number of new partnerships
• Outcome: better access to specialized tools and resources to provide Indigenous-specific training to IELCC workers
  • Indicator: increase in number of staff who have taken cultural or distinct training
• Outcome: better access in your community, region, or nation to culturally appropriate child care
  • Indicator: increase in number of children enrolled in programs meeting cultural quality standards

Describe how the project relates to the ongoing work of your organization. You may wish to highlight how achievements and current activities and/or projects are related to your proposed project. This information helps the Department to determine the extent to which your organization is able to undertake the proposed project and to achieve the expected results.

Include any previous work done by your organization, your partners and your potential partners. Include details as to how your project builds on, and does not duplicate, this previous work.

You may also wish to include details on your project management processes.

If "Yes", give the main address first and then add other addresses.

If you have more than 5 locations, please continue your answer in Appendix A.

We commit to enhance the vitality of the English and French linguistic minorities in Canada. We support and assist their development and foster the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society. Official language minority communities are English-speaking communities established within the province of Québec and French-speaking communities established outside the province of Québec.

Answering "No" to this question will not invalidate your application.

If your proposed project involves official language minority communities, you should answer "Yes" to this question. Complete the question following the instructions in the application form.

Answering "No" to this question will not invalidate your application.

Indicate the vulnerable groups your project is targeting, if applicable.

Partners collaborate and assist in carrying out the project and contribute resources (including financial), time and expertise to increase project success.

Partners are not a requirement to be eligible for this funding opportunity. However, if partners are involved with this project, you must provide the following information regarding the partner organization(s):

• name of the partner or partner organization
• type of organization, if applicable (for example: not for profit or publicly funded)
• mandate of the partner, including its main activities, mission and goals, and
• nature of partner's contribution to the proposed project (for example: financial or in-kind)

If we select your project, we will ask you to submit a letter from your partner or partners. The letter must confirm their contribution to the project.

We may give further consideration to projects that have partnerships with either one of the following:

• academic institutions
• Indigenous organizations that are involved in labour market service delivery

We encourage applicants to develop partnerships in order to maximize the results and impact of the project.

Not applicable for this funding. Answer this question with "No".

If you are receiving contributions from other sources, tell us the names of all the organizations that will contribute funds and/or in-kind contributions to this project.

Tell us what type of organization is providing the cash contribution from the following options:

• not-for-profit organizations
• municipal governments
• provincial and territorial governments, institutions, and Crown Corporations
• Indigenous organizations including:
  • band councils
  • tribal councils
  • self-government entities
• international organizations
• coalitions, networks or committees
• research organizations or institutes
• educational institutions
• for-profit organizations

Tell us how much cash contributions you will receive in total.

In-kind contributions are non-monetary goods or services people or organizations, including your own, given to the project for free (without requesting reimbursement). In-kind support may include donated equipment, services or facilities necessary for the proposed project that would otherwise have to be purchased.

If you anticipate any donations, indicate the value.

To be eligible as a donation, both of the following must be true:

• it must be necessary for the project to succeed
• the organization who gives it to you provides a document outlining the commitment

We will recognize in-kind donations only if we can estimate the monetary value of the in-kind contribution at fair market value.

Skip this question. If your project is retained, we will ask you to provide proof of the cash and in-kind contributions that you have received.

A forecast of project costs should be split into at least two cost categories: "total administrative costs" and "other program costs".

Examples of costs breakdown for budget items:

• total administrative costs (up to a maximum of 15% of the total budget): $10,000
• other program costs: $200,000

If the project will involve subcontracting, a rationale and description of the process to select the subcontractors must be included.

If applicants intend to contract or subcontract for a value of $25,000 or more, a fair and accountable process that includes the solicitation of a minimum of three bids or proposals is required when contracting for the purchase of project-related goods or services. This includes anyone who is hired to deliver the project who is not an actual employee of the contribution recipient. Failure to comply with ESDC requirements may result in these expenditures being ineligible for reimbursement. In the situation where a contract for goods and services is below the $25,000 threshold, it must still demonstrate the principles of accountability, fairness, and best value for money.

Refer to the Who can apply page for examples of eligible and ineligible expenditures for this funding.

Give the total planned spending from all sources, including us. The amounts should align with those that you put in section A - Anticipated sources of funding of your application for funding.

"Other" means a cash or in-kind contribution from other sources other than us.

Check all statements that apply to your planned spending of the funding from us.

In carrying out the project, you may need contractors or third parties (outside providers) to carry out part of the project activities, such as reporting.

"Associated businesses or individuals" means:

• an officer, director or employee of your organization, or a member of their immediate family
• a business in which an officer, director or employee of your organization, or a member of their immediate family, has a financial interest
• a business connected to your organization

Third Party: a person or organization that has signed an agreement with the organization under the terms and conditions of a master agreement between the organization and the federal government.

Indicate "Yes" or "No".

If "Yes", explain how your project will benefit from the purchase of capital assets. A disposal plan for the capital assets should also be included.

A capital asset is any single or composite asset with a purchase value of more than $5,000 (before taxes). A capital asset is not part of or incorporated into another product and you can still use it at the end of the project.

A composite asset is a group of individual assets that form one identifiable functional unit, where you need all components for the asset to be functional. The group of assets becomes a single capital asset if the total cost of all individual items together is greater than $5,000 (before taxes).

For example, a personal computer composed of a hard drive, a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse and cabling with a total cost of over $5,000 (before tax) is a composite capital asset. Three chairs that each costs $2,000 are not capital assets because each chair can work on its own and each individual chair costs less than $5,000 (before taxes).

Your project proposal must not exceed $2 million over 36 months. If your proposal surpasses this amount, you will not be eligible for funding.

Please give us a breakdown of your total costs per fiscal year (from April 1 to March 31). Please also breakdown your total costs according to project activity and cost category.

For example, this could be the breakdown for a 30-month project with $200,000 in eligible costs:

• December 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027: $30,000
• April 1, 2027, to March 31, 2028: $80,000
• April 1, 2028, to March 31, 2029: $80,000
• April 1, 2029, to April 30, 2029: $10,000

If you need an exception to the $2 million limit we are offering, tell us about the challenges you are facing that would warrant an exception. We may consider an exception, but we reserve the right not to.