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Prepare to Apply (Applicant Guide)

Before you start your application, gather your supporting documents, and get familiar with the information you will be asked to provide.

On this page

Prepare your documents

You must include the following with your application for it to be considered complete:

New for this year: A letter of support is not required. If you still want to include one with your submission, you can attach it to your application. Please note that it will not impact the funding decision.

Note: Important tip to help you complete your application

ESDC recommends that you have a copy of this web page (Prepare to Apply-Applicant Guide), either in print or virtual format, while you are completing your application to ensure you include all the required information for each question.

Please note that each section of the application needs to be filled out and that ESDC will not click on or go to websites or other links that are included in the application form to find the required information.

What happens if a supporting document is missing from your application

If your application is incomplete, it will be screened out.

How to answer the application questions

The purpose of this section is to help you fill in the application form. It describes the specific information you need for each question.

Note: The questions in GCOS are not numbered, but they are in the same order as the sections below. If you are an existing GCOS user, some questions will be pre-filled for you. It is highly recommended you review this information is correct before submitting your application.

Application forms:

You must apply using the portal below. ESDC provides detailed instructions on how to use:

Contact us here for technical help related to the Grants and Contribution Online Services (GCOS) by e-mail: NA-GCOS-SELSC-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Please send all other questions to the New Horizons for Seniors Program office.

Time estimates:

ESDC provides time estimates in each part to assist you. This gives you an idea of the average time it could take to complete it. It could take less or more time depending on your situation. These estimated timelines are based on having all the information ready to go. The time for consultations with partners and planning would require more time.

In this section

Section A - Notice to Applicants

Important information appears in Section A of the application and is for your information and understanding. It provides guidance about the application and the attestation. Read the following carefully.

The following information on successful projects is posted on Open Government

Section B - Program Information

This section identifies that you are applying for the New Horizons for Seniors Program Community-based stream.

No action is required from you in this section.

Section C

Section C - Part 1 - Organization (Questions 1 to 19 of the application)

Estimated time of completion for Part 1: 30 minutes.

Legal name (Question 1)

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

Operating name (if different from legal name) (Question 2)

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

Please indicate the full name and not only an acronym (unless your organization name is in an acronym form).

Year established (Question 3)

State the year your organization was established.

Organization type (Question 4)

This question is mandatory. Private sector organizations are ineligible for funding. Choose one of the following:

Organization category (Question 5)

This question is mandatory. Enter the most appropriate category from the following based on what you chose in Question 4.

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Business number (Question 6)

A business number is a unique 9-digit number that the CRA assigned to your business or legal entity. For example, 123456789. You must include a document from the CRA dated within the last 2 years showing the legal name and valid business number. A screenshot of a recently created CRA business number will be accepted.

Find more information about the Canada Revenue Agency.

How to get a CRA Business Number

If you do not have a CRA business number, please consult the CRA Webpage for step-by-step instructions.

Organization primary address (Question 7)

State the primary address of your organization. The primary address is usually the head or main office. The full address is required including city, province and postal code. Residential addresses are not accepted unless otherwise specified. You cannot include a PO Box; this information, if applicable, can be included in the next question.

Mailing address -is it the same as the organization primary address? (Question 8)

State "yes" or "no" to the question of whether your mailing address is the same as the primary address. If you answer "no", state the mailing address of your organization.

Organization's experience and qualifications of working with seniors (Question 9)

Is your organization's current mandate/mission to primarily serve seniors? Does your organization have the experience and/or qualifications of working with seniors? (please describe in no more than 500 words). Give examples.

Experience and qualifications could include:

You must also identify which target groups your organization serves through its primary activities. You can select more than 1.

Available options:

Primary contact information (Questions 10 to 13)

Who is the main contact person for the proposed project? ESDC will require a primary contact with signing authority on behalf of the organization and who they can reach out to regarding your organization's application for funding.

This person must be available for questions from the time the application is submitted to the time decisions are communicated in January 2027. ESDC will reach out if they require additional clarification and/or documentation.

Please provide the primary contact information and ensure this information is up to date. If the contact details change after your application is submitted, please notify ESDC in writing as soon as possible.

Note that the email address provided will be used for all correspondence. ESDC recommends that the primary contact be a director of your organization and signs the attestation.

Secondary contact information (Questions 14 to 17)

If ESDC cannot reach the main contact, please provide a secondary contact. Provide the person's full name, telephone number where ESDC can reach them during business hours and their email address. The secondary contact's information must be different from the main contact person and must ensure that the information provided is up to date.

This person must be available for questions from the time of submission to the time decisions are communicated in January 2027. ESDC will reach out if they require additional clarification and/or documentation.

Note that the email address provided will be used for all correspondence.

Does your organization owe any amount to the Government of Canada? (Questions 18 and 19)

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

For example:

Amount owing Nature of amount owing Department or agency to which money is owed
$10,000 Overpayment Employment and Social Development Canada
$5,000 Taxes Canada Revenue Agency

If you have a payment plan in place to repay the debt, check "Yes" under Question 19, otherwise check 'No'. You may be asked to provide the current arrangements for repayment during the assessment of your application.

Section C - Part 2 - Project Proposal (Questions 20 to 29 of the application)

Estimated time of completion for Part 2: 6 hours.

Project Proposal Identification (Questions 20 to 23 of the application form)

Project title (Question 20)

Give a short title that describes your project. The title must be a maximum of 64 characters. Do not use "New Horizons for Seniors", or your organization's name.

Planned project start date and end date (Questions 21 and 22)

This question is mandatory. State the planned start and end dates of your project. The start date should be end of March 2027.

ESDC expects to finalize funding decisions by January 2027.

Once the agreement has been signed, you must complete your project activities within 12 months, but no later than March 31, 2028.

ESDC will notify you in writing of the outcome of the review of your application. You cannot begin any of the proposed activities or incur any expenses until your project is approved, and both you and ESDC have signed 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, the amount will not be reimbursed, and your project may no longer be eligible.

Amount requested from Employment and Social Development Canada (Question 23)

Indicate the amount you are requesting for your proposed project. It cannot exceed $50,000.

Project proposal description (Questions 24 to 29 of the application form)

Project summary (Question 24)

In 500 words or less, include a brief project summary that:

Project activities must meet at least 1 of the program objectives.

If applicable, describe how your project targets:

Notes:

  • projects that target vulnerable seniors' populations or rural or remote areas must clearly outline identified barriers and describe how these challenges will be addressed. For example, what specific issues are being faced, including but not limited to access to services, transportation barriers, or social inclusion? What barriers has your project identified and what strategies will be implemented to mitigate them?

Project example:

ABC Senior's Club is applying for funding for a new project. The project will renovate an old and unused room at the club. This room will be turned into a new activity space for workshops. The workshops will help seniors with disabilities learn about volunteering and how it can help them feel more connected to their community. ABC Senior's Club supports seniors with disabilities. They ensure the outreach focuses on members who are persons with disabilities. After the renovation, ABC Senior's Club will host a volunteer fair. Local community organizations will meet with seniors who attend the workshops and share volunteer opportunities. At the end of the project, the renovated space will be used to bring senior volunteers together. They will share their experiences and encourage more seniors to volunteer.

 In 500 words or less, describe how the proposed project meets the mandatory objective(s) and if applicable priority(ies) (Question 25)

In 500 words or less, describe how your project meets the mandatory program objectives and if applicable, how it meets national priority(ies).

You must describe how your project meets at least 1 program objective. If your proposed project is requesting capital assistance, it must meet at least meet 1 of the first 4 program objectives.

We recommend you explain how your project activities support and/or relate to the program objectives.

The national priorities are not mandatory. If you project is meeting one of the national priorities it may receive additional points based on the quality of information provided.

Notes:

  • the quality of the information you provide is more important than the number of objectives and priorities you address. For example, fully outlining how you meet 1 objective and/or national priority will be scored higher than attempting to cover multiple objectives and priorities with minimal details
  • projects submitted for this grant (up to $50,000) do not have to meet any of the National Priorities. However, if your project does meet 1 of the National Priorities, it will receive additional points during the assessment process

Project activities and timelines (Question 26)

This question is mandatory. Describe, in full detail, the proposed project activities. These must be broken into clear steps. Explain the timeframes involved in completing each step (for example, September to October 2027 - Purchase equipment)

Project activities are the steps that you will take to meet the project objective(s). Activities should be S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

The activities should show how you would achieve the project outcome(s) and outputs and these must be well explained and demonstrate the central roles of seniors in their planning and delivery.

Include details about all the planned activities. Refer to the eligible activities.

Note: In question 30 (Project Costs) of this application, you will have to identify the costs associated with each of the activities you identify.

Will any of the proposed project activities be delivered at your organization's primary address? Will any of the proposed project activities be delivered in a different location from your organization's primary address? (Question 27)

State where your project activities will be taking place. Will they be at the organization's main address and/or at a different location? If you answered "yes" to a different location, include the address for every other location.

If your project's activities take place in a rural or remote area, your application will receive extra points in the assessment.

Residential addresses are not accepted unless otherwise specified.

If the address of the proposed activities is residential, an explanation is required in question 26, to explain why they take place at a residential address.

Will the project or any of its activities involve or benefit people in English or French linguistic minority communities in Canada, in some way? (Question 28)

ESDC commits to enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minorities in Canada. ESDC supports and assists their development and fosters 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.

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.

If your project supports members of official language minority communities your application will receive extra points in the assessment.

Is your project targeting vulnerable groups? (Question 29)

Indicate the vulnerable groups your project is targeting, if applicable. You can select more than 1. Refer to your responses in questions 24 and 26 relating to vulnerable populations. It is not sufficient to check the boxes, you have to demonstrate how you are actually targeting these vulnerable groups.

For example:

Note: Having the participation from diverse seniors in your project activities means your project meaningfully targets a group of vulnerable seniors. Your project must be designed with clear efforts to reach 1 or several groups of vulnerable seniors or provide services specifically tailored to their needs.

Section C - Part 3 - Budget (Questions 30 to 32 of the application)

Estimated time of completion for Part 3: 2 hours.

Applicants must provide an estimate of the project's costs. ESDC uses the information to assess the overall cost of the proposed project. ESDC wants to understand the proposed expenditure(s) and all anticipated sources of funding (cash and/or donation (in-kind)). For example:

You will be required to provide your quote(s) dated no more than in the last year within the application if you are applying for funds for renovations/repairs (capital expenditures).

The list of eligible costs and ineligible costs are found on the Who Can Apply page.

Project costs (expenses) for the eligible activities or services of the proposed project (Question 30)

This question is mandatory.

List each activity that you described in question 26. Then, indicate the associated cost with each of those activities.

Costs should be identified across five cost categories:

These costs must be:

The total amount in this question may be higher than the total amount in question 23 (Amount Requested from ESDC) if you are including additional sources of funding or support.

Budget example

This example follows the example from Question 24 (Project Summary). The budget for the ABC Senior's Club proposal for a new activity space for workshops and various other activities would have the following proposed budget:

Image 1: Project costs chart
Budget item Cost ($ value)
Administrative Costs (accounting, phone services, etc.):
Telephone services $300
Internet services $300
Staff Wages (wages for delivering activities and the project):
Two program assistants $15,000 (($25/hour x 7.5 hours x 40 weeks) x 2)
Scheduler $1,000 ($20/hour x 50 hours)
Project Costs (supplies, professional fees, rental fees, etc.):
Refreshments $2,400
Transportation to workshops $2,500
Workshop facilitator fees $10,000 ($1,000 x 10 workshops)
Advertising for workshops and volunteer fair $3,000
Capital Assets (computer, instruments, tables, chairs etc):
Tables and chairs $3,000
Projector $1,000
Microphone and loudspeaker $1,500
Facilities (renovations and repairs):
Renovation to activity space $10,000
Total project cost $50,000

Image 1: text version:

This image is an example of a project costs chart. On the y axis is a column with a list of budget items including:

The next column is a list of values for these items for these items which is totaled at the bottom.

Funding sources (revenues) for the proposed project costs noted above (Question 31)

This question is mandatory.

Complete the question following the instructions in the application form. Note that the additional funding sources listed should be necessary for the project to succeed.

Cash contributions

If you are getting a cash contribution from another source, tell us how much.

List the name for each organization providing funding. Indicate the type of funding and value associated with it.

If you include any ticket costs or other "nominal fees" in your project, it should clearly be linked to project activities.

Donations (in-kind)

Donations (in-kind) are goods and/or services that people or organizations give to you for free for the proposed project. They can be provided by:

They can include:

Notes:

  • The amount requested from ESDC added here must match the amount in question 23 (Amount Requested from ESDC) and the amount requested from ESDC in question 30 (Project Cost)
  • The total funding for eligible activities or services in this section must correspond to the total cost of the activities and/or services eligible under question 30 (Project Cost)

Funding Sources Example:

This example follows the example from Question 24 (Project Summary). ABC Senior's Club will also work with XYZ Seniors Community who will provide:

ABC Senior's Club (self-funded) provide a contribution in cash of $2,000.

Image 2: Funding sources for the proposed project costs
Source Name Source Type: Cash Source Type: Donation (in-kind) Funding amount ($ value) Confirmed
Amount requested from ESDC x $50,000
XYZ Seniors Community - Elder abuse workshop x $8,000 Yes
XYZ Seniors Community - cash funding x $4,000 Yes
Self-funded x $2,000 Yes
Total funding for proposed project costs $64,000

Image 2: Text version

This table is an example of a completed table of proposed project costs. It consists of a list of organizations that are providing funding to your project on the y axis. It indicates cash and donation (in-kind), amount confirmed, and the funding amount on the x axis.

The first column lists examples of organizations that will provide funding towards the project. This list includes:

The second column is a set of check boxes to indicate if the funding will be provided with cash or donation (in-kind). There is also a check box to indicate if the source of funding is confirmed.

The fourth and last column is a value associated with each funding source.

The bottom row is the total funding for eligible activities or services.

Budget Details (Question 32)

Note:

This question is mandatory.

Please use this field to describe the details of all costs indicated under question 30 (Project Costs).

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

Use the example below to describe the planned project costs:

Section C - Part 4 - Program-specific questions and checklist (Questions 33 to 37 of the application)

Estimated time of completion for Part 4: 2 hours.

Note: For questions 33 (Program Objectives) and 34 (National Priorities), you will need to explain how you intend on reaching those objectives in the activities and summary questions (question 24 (Project Summary), question 25 (Program Objectives and Priorities) and question 26 (Project Activities and Timelines). Checking off the boxes in these next 2 questions is not sufficient.

Choose one or more program objectives that supports your proposed project.  (Question 33)

Choose at least 1 program objective that your proposed project must meet.

If your proposed project is requesting capital assistance, you must choose at least 2 program objectives, 1 of which is capital assistance.

Capital assistance projects may use up to $25,000 of the total approved funding, for eligible capital expenses.

Capital assistance projects must directly and primarily benefit seniors and support social inclusion. The objective must be to improve accessibility or usability for seniors and help remove barriers for social inclusion.

Will your project support one or more national priorities? (Question 34)

If applicable, choose a national priority that your proposed project will support. Projects that meet at least 1 of the national priorities will receive extra points in the assessment.

Examples of projects relating to the national priorities

Describe the need in your community and how your community supports your proposed project?  (Question 35)

Describe how your community supports your proposed project. Include the following in your response:

Indicate the number of seniors and non-seniors who will take part in the planning and design of the proposed project activities (Question 36)

Provide the following information:

Notes:

  • Seniors must actively be involved in the project's development or implementation. Refer to the definition of active participation
  • Be sure to identify the role of seniors and how it will increase their social inclusion
  • It is not enough that an organization proposes to carry out an activity and then recruits seniors to take part in it
  • Organizations with a mandate or mission to primarily serve seniors are strongly encouraged to apply.

After the project is complete, how many targeted individuals will benefit from the proposed project activities? (Question 37)

Specify the number of seniors and non-seniors that will benefit from the project. It is required that 50% or more of the people who benefit from the project are seniors. NHSP is a seniors-focused program, this ensures that seniors remain the primary client of projects.

Provide the following information:

Your community or other communities in the area should benefit from the outcomes and outputs of your organization's project. For example, seniors can gather community members to clean up a local park and arrange community activities. This will result in a more inviting park for social gatherings, and lead to increased cooperation. This then further improves the community through the partnerships that are developed.

If a specific group will benefit from this funding apart from seniors, please include this information. The NHSP focuses on seniors helping other seniors and their communities. However, your project can also include people who are not seniors. (for example: a musical hour with youth and seniors)

Program checklist

Review the checklist carefully. Make sure you have all the documents you need before you apply.

Incomplete applications will be screened out. ESDC will not reach out to you for missing information.

Section C - Part 5 - Attestation

Estimated time of completion for Part 5: 5 minutes

In order for your application to be eligible, you, as a person with signing authority, have the capacity and the authority to submit proposals on behalf of your organization. You must:

In order to do this, the person with signing authority must provide their name, title, and the date.

Note: The person with signing authority of the organization must complete this section. If completed by a third-party, the application will be ineligible.

As this is an attestation, no signature is required.

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2026-06-25