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 volunteering 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.

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 senior 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 who:
  • have low income
  • are Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis)
  • are women
  • are 2SLGBTQIA+
  • are members of Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs)
  • are Black people
  • are racialized people
  • are newcomers
  • are persons with disabilities
  • are individuals experiencing homelessness
  • are veterans
  • are living in rural and remote settings

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 Call for Proposals (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. Seniors should be fully engaged and contributing meaningfully to the project, discussion, or event, rather than passively observing.

Administration Fees

Indirect expenses incurred by a recipient organization to manage and support the delivery of a funded project, but that are not directly tied to specific project activities. These costs support the overall operation of the organization and the general management of the project.

Examples of these administrative costs include, but are not limited to: office supplies and utilities, insurance, bookkeeping, and salaries of administrative staff not working exclusively on the project. The maximum allowable percentage of administrative costs for any single project funded under the community-based stream of the NHSP- is 25%.

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.

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)
  • 2 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. This means that your project will include capital expenditures.

It cannot be used for new construction (expanding the size of an existing space or a new building).

Note:If your proposed project is requesting capital assistance, it must meet at least 1 of the first 4 program objectives.

Capital expenditures (facilities)

Material and equipment that organizations are able to buy, build or repair, that offers new activities or builds on current activities that directly relate to seniors. For example costs related to building renovations, alternations or repair projects.

Individual items could include:

• shed or greenhouse
• lumber
• building materials
• supplies
• labour/contractors

Confirmed funding

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

Constitution / 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 proof of operations documents:

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

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 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.

CRA Business Number

The Business Number (BN) is a unique number the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) assigns to a business (or organization) as a tax ID. It is a nine-digit number that is unique to your organization and that is used when dealing with the federal government (for example, 123456789 RP 0001).

When you need a business number or Canada Revenue Agency program accounts

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.

Letter of Support

Letter that will outline community support for the requested project.

A letter of support must come from other groups of organizations, such as:

• a local seniors club
• your Member of Parliament (MP)
• other community leader or organization
• faith-based institutions
• your financial institution

Note:  Letters from members of your group or organization are not valid.

Requirements and a sample letter of support are provided in the Prepare to Apply section.

Mandatory employment related costs (MERCs)

Costs that employers are required to pay based on federal or provincial/territorial laws. They include:

• 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

Official Language Minority Communities (OLMC)

Official language minority communities (OLMC) are groups of people whose preferred official language is not the language of majority in their province or territory. This includes French speakers living outside of Quebec and English speakers living in Quebec. OLMCs vary based on their location and communities – rural or urban and tightly knit communities or spread out across the country.

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.

Partnership

A partnership is a relationship between the applying organization and another party. The role of partners are to:

• collaborate
• share knowledge
• help carry out the project
• contribute valuable resources, time and expertise to increase project success

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

Must describe the need for the project including its goals, expected results, the targeted group and what the project will achieve when completed. The objective must:

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

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.

Value for Money

Getting optimal results for the money spent on a project.

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 women
• are 2SLGBTQIA+
• are members of Official Language Minority Community (OLMCs)
• are Black people
• are racialized people
• are newcomers
• are persons with disabilities
• are individuals experiencing homelessness
• are veterans
• are living in rural and remote settings

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."