Who can apply

This page explains:

• Eligibility
• How we assess your application

Eligibility

To apply, you must meet all the following eligibility criteria.

Applicants

Your organization must be 1 of the following types:

• not-for-profit organization
• municipality
• provincial or territorial government, institution or Crown Corporation
• Indigenous organization including:
  • band council
  • tribal council
  • self-government entity
• coalition, network or committee
• research organization or institute
• educational institution
• public health and social services institution
• for-profit organization provided that the nature and intent of the activity is non-commercial and does not generate profit

For organizations with offices in multiple locations, each individual location is eligible to apply for funding. However, they must operate independently and have a separate governing structure. Organizations that do not operate independently may only receive a maximum amount of $25,000 for all locations.

Organizations can only submit 1 application per project. Multiple projects may not exceed a total of $25,000 per organization.

The following organizations are eligible with the agreement of their provincial or territorial government:

• post-secondary institutions
• social service and public health institutions
• provincially/territorially funded institutions

Projects

Your project must meet all of the following criteria:

• be no longer than 52 weeks
• request no more than $25,000
• meet at least 1 program objective
• seniors will lead or play a vital role in its planning and/or delivery
• seek to benefit seniors and communities
• demonstrate cost effectiveness

Activities

Examples of eligible activities:

• organize weekly in-person sessions for seniors to provide them with support or training and the opportunity to socialize
• organize financial literacy seminars to local seniors inviting financial experts to give tips on how to manage finances
• provide sessions on how to manage online banking and how to avoid financial scams
• capital assistance for age-friendly exercise equipment that would make it easier for seniors to remain actively engaged
• teach seniors the tools they need to connect with others online
• set up seniors led meetings with other seniors, creating an online support network of seniors
• transportation to provide a personal service to seniors:
  • transportation services for appointments
  • home visit
  • service call
  • meal delivery service
• renovations and repairs to facilities owned by the organization that specifically run programs and activities for seniors

Ineligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• activities where the role of seniors is minimal or not clearly described
• core operational tasks (tasks regularly or normally carried out by your organization such as human resources, accounting)
• projects seeking funding to renovate or maintain an establishment that is:
  • not owned by the applicant; and
  • does not provide direct seniors’ programming (for example theatres, healthcare establishments such as health and foot clinics)
• items of a personal or medical nature such as:
  • wheelchairs
  • scooters
  • cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  • first aid equipment
  • automated blood pressure monitor
  • defibrillators
  • hearing aids
  • medical or therapeutic treatments
• purchase of gift card
• purchase of vehicle
• purchase of land or buildings, including new construction
• the purchase of equipment for a new building that your organization does not yet occupy
• programs or services that fall within the responsibility of other levels of government

What the funding can be used to pay for

Eligible costs

All costs must be reasonable and support project activities. Costs cannot exceed $25,000.

Quote

Should your project require renovations and/or repairs, provide a minimum of 1 quote.

Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to:

• core operational expenses of an organization, such as:
  • salary dollars unrelated to project activities
  • utilities
  • day-to-day maintenance of facilities including general operating costs of your organization that are not related to this project
• activities where the role of seniors is minimal or not clearly described
• salaries for elderly caregiving services
• purchase of gift card
• purchase of vehicle
• purchase of land or buildings, including new construction
• repairs or renovations to a building or the purchase of equipment for the new building that your organization does not yet occupy
• decorating and beautification costs, such as:
  • painting
  • landscaping for aesthetics purposes
• unexpected costs, planned contingency costs, or costs for potential price increases

How we assess your application

We will review your application in 3 steps by:

Step 1: Screening for eligibility

We will screen for eligibility based on whether the:

• application is received by the deadline
• application is complete
• organization is eligible
• project is eligible

It is important to submit a complete application. We will assess your project only if all of the eligibility requirements are met.

Things that may impact your eligibility:

• your past performance or issues of default in projects with ESDC may impact the eligibility of your application
• when determining the eligibility of your application, ESDC may review information in the public domain including, but not limited to, materials on your website and media articles

Step 2: Assessing on program objectives

We will assess your application based on the following criteria:

National priorities: 10% of overall assessment

• If applicable, demonstrate how your project meets at least 1 of the national priorities

If your project meets any of the criteria in this section, it will receive extra points in the assessment process.

Senior involvement: 10% of overall assessment

• Demonstrate how seniors will be actively involved in the planning, development and/or implementation of your proposed project
• Outline the participation of seniors in the project activities

Benefits to seniors: 15% of overall assessment

• Demonstrate how seniors will benefit from the project
• Demonstrate how your project will address the identified needs of seniors

Benefits to the community and Community Support: 15% of overall assessment

• Describe how your project will benefit the community
• Provide a letter of support from a third party, that clearly includes the following:
  • the date (no earlier than July 1st, 2023)
  • the support for the proposed project; and
  • the project’s benefit to the community

Cost effectiveness: 10% of overall assessment

• Provide a brief and clear justification of how you intend to use the money
• Demonstrate that the costs are reasonable and support the project activities

Project activities: 10% of overall assessment

• Clearly describe activities, timelines and milestones that are specific, detailed and realistic (such as activities and timelines that can be achieved)
• Indicate the expected results of your project and how they will be achieved. They must be clearly defined and realistic

Consideration for new or not recent recipients: 10% of overall assessment

Your organization is considered new if you have not received any NHSP funding before, or if you have received funding prior to 2018.

Priorities of funding allocations: 20% of overall assessment

Funding is distributed as equitably as possible with reach across all provinces and territories in Canada. Funding may be prioritized for projects that:

• specifically target vulnerable seniors’ populations: 10% of overall assessment:
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • people with disabilities
  • members of racialized and newcomer groups
  • members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
  • low-income seniors
  • veterans
  • members of official language minority communities
  • seniors who primarily speak languages other than English and French
• specifically target (or reach out) to seniors in rural and remote areas: 10% overall assessment.