What this program offers

On this page

• Program objectives
• Funding priorities
• Glossary

Program objectives

Projects submitted for this grant (up to $25,000) must meet at least 1 of the following program objectives:

• promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations
• engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others
• expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse
• supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors
• providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors

Funding priorities

Projects submitted for this grant (up to $25,000) do not have to meet 1 of the following National priorities. However, if your project does meet 1 or more of the National priorities, it will receive extra points during the assessment process.

Note: The quality of the information is also important. Fully describing how your project meets the priority(ies) will be a part of the scoring.

Priority 1: Supporting healthy aging

Including:

• addressing social isolation, including through supporting seniors' digital literacy
• addressing ageism
• supporting mental health and seniors living with dementia

Priority 2: Preventing senior abuse

Including:

• providing measures to reduce crimes and harm against seniors including elder abuse
• developing educational material to prevent unscrupulous practices, financial fraud and scams from happening to seniors

Priority 3: Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion

Including:

• promoting intergenerational mentoring and engagement
• advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and helping to secure a better quality of life for Indigenous seniors
• collaborating with diverse communities notably by serving members of the following vulnerable groups:
  • have low income
  • are Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis)
  • are 2SLGBTQIA+
  • are Black or racialized
  • are members of Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs)
  • are persons with disabilities
  • are immigrants or newcomers
  • are living in rural and remote communities
  • are at increased risk of social isolation due to factors such as being an informal caregiver or living alone
  • are veterans

Priority 4: Supporting financial security

Including:

• helping seniors navigate and access government services and benefits and providing support to file their taxes
• supporting financial empowerment of seniors

Glossary

Here is a list of key terms used within the “Prepare to Apply” section.

Active participation

For this CFP, project participants (Seniors) have defined roles and activities that they are expected to do as part of the funded project. Seniors are active partners rather than being passive.

Administration Fees

Costs tied to the administration of the project (bookkeeping, etc.) up to 25% of the total project cost.

If the amount you request exceeds 25%, ESDC will adjust the amount requested to respect the 25% maximum allowable.

Ageism

Can include attitudes and actions that reflect either prejudice or discrimination against an individual based on their age.

Applicant Guide

This term is interchangeable with the Prepare to Apply section where you will find detailed instructions for each question. It will help you complete the application.

This term is interchangeable with the Prepare to Apply section where you will find detailed instructions for each question. It will help you complete the application. ESDC recommends that you keep a copy of the Prepare to Apply section open while you are completing the application form.

Capital assets

A capital asset is any single or composite asset that costs more than $1,000 (before taxes). It is not part of another product, and you can still use it at the end of the project. For example:

• equipment
• electronics
• furniture
• appliances

A composite asset is a group of assets that form 1 unit, where you need everything for the asset to work. A group of assets is a single capital asset if the total cost is more than $1,000 (before taxes).

For example, a composite capital asset could be:

• components of a public address system for seniors’ events including:
  • an amplifier ($600)
  • two speakers ($150 a piece)
  • a microphone ($150)
  • a stand and cables ($100)

This equals $1,150 since they are a collection of items that are designed to function together.

Four chairs that each cost $300 are not capital assets because each chair works on its own.

Capital assistance

Capital assistance is limited to activities that are directly tied to the project activities. It cannot be used for new construction (expanding the size of an existing space or a new building). Renovation, and/or retrofit activities that increase access to programs, services and support for persons with disabilities by improving accessibility in facilities (for example ramps, accessible doors or washrooms, elevators) are not eligible. For funding for these projects please see ESDC’s Enabling Accessibility Fund.

Capital expenditures (facilities)

Material and equipment that organizations are able to buy, build or repair that offers new activities or on current activities. For example costs related to building renovation or repair projects, such as:

• alternations
• renovations
• repairs
• leasehold improvements

Individual items include:

• shed or a greenhouse
• lumber
• building materials
• supplies
• labour
• contractors to complete the proposed costs
• trades people to complete the proposed costs

Confirmed funding

The amount of money or other in-kind contribution that an individual or organization guarantees for your project.

Constitution

A document from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that includes your organization’s business or registration number.

• This is a tax-related document that includes your organization’s business or registration number with the CRA.

If your organization is not incorporated, send a copy of your rules, by-laws, council resolutions or constitution. Indigenous organizations that are part of a band must include a copy of a Band Council Resolution (BCR) or any other permission required.

Note that the BCR must reflect knowledge and approval of the activities in your proposal.

Core activities / Organization’s Primary Activities

The main activities of your organization or business (goods and/or services), including your:

• mission
• mandate
• objectives

Activities that the organization is already undertaking as part of their normal planned business. For example, already scheduled book club meetings on Thursday evenings.

Core operational tasks

These are the regular tasks carried out by your organization to manage operations such as human resources and accounting. These tasks are the foundation of the organization and are crucial for it to function. These tasks are not specific to the funded project.

Disability

The Accessible Canada Act defines disability as: “Any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment — or a functional limitation — whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society”.

This definition is based on the social model of disability.

Donations (In-kind contributions)

Non-monetary goods or services for which reimbursement will not be requested.

These contributions to the project can come from:

• the applicant organization
• other organizations
• partners

In-kind support may include donated equipment, services or labour necessary for your project that would have to be purchased otherwise.

Honoraria

Small token payments made to express gratitude or to symbolize respect. Such payments are not used as:

• an alternative to a service contract or agreement
• professional fees
• a replacement for salaries or wages

Impact

The improvement or change in the community that is attributable to a project’s activities.

Mandatory employment related costs (MERCs)

Payments an employer is required by law to make in respect of its employees such as:

• Employment Insurance
• Canada Pension Plan/Québec Pension Plan premiums
• workers' compensation premiums
• vacation pay
• Employer Health Tax
• benefits which refer to payments an employer is required to make in respect of its employees by virtue of company policy or a collective agreement

Outcomes

Outcomes are the changes that are expected to occur through project activities and outputs. Outcomes answer the question, "how do the project activities make things better for participants?"

There may be more than 1 outcome directly related to a project's objective(s), however the application must provide clear details regarding each one and demonstrate the central role of seniors in their planning and/or delivery.

Outputs

Direct programs or activities to generate the desired outcomes. Outputs answer the question, “what will the funding produce?”

Several activities may be undertaken to produce 1 output, however the application must provide clear details regarding each one and demonstrate the central role of seniors in their planning and/or delivery.

Professional fees

Costs of services provided by someone who is not an employee. Professional fees often are associated with a service contract or external consultant, such as:

• external facilitators
• presenters
• trainers

Professional fees do not include:

• staff wages
• mandatory employment-related costs
• honoraria
• the costs to administer the project

Project objective

The description of what the project will achieve when completed. The objective must:

• be specific and measurable
• must meet time, budget, and quality constraints
• guides the project activities and timelines

Proof of Operations

A document that clearly shows your organization's type, legal status and governance structure.

If your organization is incorporated, attach in your application a copy of 1 of the following organizational documents:

• letters of patent
• articles of incorporation
• certificate of incorporation or memorandum of association
• rules
• by-laws

Rural and remote communities

A community of a population of less than 1,000. The population has no, or very little, access to the services of the closest municipality with a population of 1,000 or more.

Seniors

People that are 55 years of age or older.

Vulnerable seniors

Individuals or groups aged 55 or older who face barriers to social inclusion. These barriers may decrease access to supports and services. Examples of vulnerable seniors can include members of one or more of the following groups:

• have low income
• are Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis)
• are 2SLGBTQIA+
• are Black or racialized
• are members of Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs)
• are persons with disabilities
• are immigrants or newcomers
• are living in rural and remote settings
• are at increased risk of social isolation due to factors such as being an informal caregiver or living alone
• are veterans

2SLGBTQIA+

Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex and asexual. The symbol "+" represents the wide spectrum of gender identities, sexual orientations and romantic orientations not explicitly named.

The choice of letters or symbols and the order in which they are presented could differ depending on the context and the audience. Some examples of abbreviations include:

• LGBT
• LGBTI
• LGBTQ
• LGBTQ2
• LGBTQ2S
• LGBTQ2IA
• LGBTQ2IA+
• 2SLGBTQIA+
• 2SLGBTQQIA

When there are 2 "Q"s in the abbreviation, the second "Q" stands for "questioning."