Apply for funding for projects to improve Black-led organizations’ workplaces and community spaces
Official title: Social Development Partnerships Program - Supporting Black Canadian Communities Call for Proposals
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Application period
Current status: Closed
This call for proposals ran from June 26 to July 31, 2020 at 6:00 pm Eastern Time.
Applicants should not start their proposed projects until:
- they receive approval of their project from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
- an agreement has been signed between the organization and a representative of ESDC
Please note that not all applications submitted under this process will be approved. Funding is limited. It is subject to budget considerations of ESDC and allocation of funds by Parliament.
Decisions are final and there is no appeal process.
You can apply between June 26, 2020 and July 31, 2020 at 6:00 pm Eastern daylight time (EDT).
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will decide who to fund in late September 2020.
Description of the funding
The Supporting Black Canadian Communities Call for Proposals (CFP) provides capital assistance to Black organizations in Canada to build capacity to:
- better fulfill their missions
- better serve Black communities in Canada
Not-for-Profit organizations that are Black-led, can apply for up to $100,000 for:
- equipment purchases for work or community spaces, and/or
- renovations or retrofits of existing workspaces or community spaces to improve their functionality
You can apply only once for this CFP, for a maximum of $100,000.
Note:
If your renovation or retrofit also has a focus on enhancing the accessibility for persons with disabilities, you can also apply for Enabling Accessibility Fund's small projects component. This process will close on July 13, 2020.
Objectives
This CFP will provide funding for:
- equipment purchases for work or community spaces, including:
- purchase of computers or tablets, desks, work furniture, software, telephone systems, boardroom tables, sound systems, smart boards, kitchen appliances, etc
- equipment to facilitate working virtually, and/or
- renovations or retrofits of existing workspaces or community spaces to improve their functionality, such as:
- painting an office or community meeting room
- increasing office space or improving lay-out
- renovating or commercializing community kitchens to meet local fire and building codes, by-Laws
- modernizing community program spaces, such as gyms
- updating outdoor play spaces to meet current safety standards, etc.
Eligibility
Eligible organizations are:
- are Black-led organizations
- have a mandate that is Black-focused
- are a legal entity in Canada
- are not-for-profit organizations
You must demonstrate:
- that your organization is Black-led, meaning:
- the leadership positions (Directors, Founders, etc.) are primarily occupied by people who self-identify as Black (minimum two-thirds)
- the governance structure (volunteer committee, advisory board, eldership circle, etc.) is primarily composed of people who self-identify as Black (minimum two-thirds)
- the ways your mandate supports members of the Black community
Eligible projects:
Must be for equipment purchases for work or community spaces, and/or renovations or retrofits of existing workspaces or community spaces that you own or lease to improve their functionality.
Equipment purchases include:
- computers or tablets
- desks or work furniture
- software
- telephone systems
- boardroom tables
- sound systems
- smart boards
- kitchen appliances
- equipment to facilitate working virtually
Renovation or retrofit projects can include activities such as:
- painting an office or community meeting room
- increasing office space or improving lay-out
- renovating or commercializing community kitchens to meet local fire and building codes, by-Laws,
- modernizing community program spaces such as gyms
- updating outdoor play spaces to meet current safety standards, etc.
Project funding requests cannot exceed $100,000.
You must complete your project in approximately 12 months.
Activities that are not eligible
- Retrofit of motor vehicles used for community-based transportation, for example:
- automobiles
- vans
- buses
- Construction, renovation and retrofit of private homes or dwellings
- Construction, renovation and retrofit activities related to the embellishment/or esthetics of a building or its surroundings
For your application to be considered complete, you must:
- submit a complete application package before 6:00 pm (EDT) on July 31, 2020
- if your project is to renovate or retrofit an existing space:
- submit a digital picture of the workspace or community space you want to improve (GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, TXT, PDF, DOC, DOCX)
- provide one external cost estimate, or a rationale of why you cannot provide an estimate and how you calculated your project costs
- attest the application form to confirm that:
- you own the building
- if you lease the space, your property owner has authorized the renovation or retrofit
- your activities are not taking place on a Government of Canada property, private home, or dwelling
Note for organizations in Québec
The Quebec National Assembly adopted the Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif, (RLRQ, chapter M-30). This Act says that the Quebec government must authorize the Quebec public bodies to sign an agreement with a Government of Canada department. Anybody that is subject to the Act have to get the authorization before signing an agreement. If your proposed project is successful, we will give you sufficient time to get authorization from the Government of Quebec. If you can’t get the authorization you need, we may cancel your application.
How we assess your application
We will review your application in 3 steps by:
- screening for eligibility against the mandatory eligibility requirements (in questions 4, 5, 9, and 26 in the applicant guide)
- assessing in relation to the program objectives (in questions 9, 24, 25, 26 and 30 in the applicant guide)
- considering other criteria to select a diverse range of projects to fund (in questions 7, 9, and 33 in the applicant guide)
It is important to submit a complete application. We will assess your project only if all of the Eligibility requirements are met.
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
Project assessment
We will assess your application based on the following criteria:
1. Organization’s mandate
Your application:
- demonstrates the ways your mandate is Black-focused and supports members of the Black community
- describes the programs and services you offer to Black beneficiaries
2. Project description
Your application:
- provides clear and relevant description of the project activities
- provides clear and feasible timelines to complete the project activities
3. Project impact
Your application:
- identifies and describes the current challenge you want to address with this funding
- explains how this funding will enhance your ability to serve members of the Black community
4. Project costs
Your project costs are reasonable, detailed and support the project activities.
5. Other criteria we will consider
We will consider the following to select a diverse range of projects to fund:
- whether your organization’s mandate addresses social barriers as a result of race
- whether in the delivery of your mandate or in the provision of programs and services, you support individuals who are also part of other vulnerable populations, for example:
- seniors
- newcomers
- youth
- women
- LGBTQ2
- low income
- people with disabilities
- individuals experiencing homelessness
- remote/rural
- official language minority communities
- Indigenous
- whether in the delivery of your mandate or in the provision of programs and services, you serve specific origins of Black communities in Canada, such as:
- Caribbean origins
- African including:
- Eastern
- Central
- Western
- Southern
- African Nova Scotians
- geographical coverage (we fund projects across Canada)
Steps to apply
Read the whole Applicant Guide before filling out your application.
Application period
You have to apply by July 31, 2020 at 6:00 pm EDT.
Gather your supporting documents
Documents to send:
- completed Application form
If your project is to renovate or retrofit an existing space, you will need to provide:
- a digital picture of the workspace or community space you want to improve (GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, TXT, PDF, DOC, DOCX)
- one external cost estimate
Apply by email
- Read the applicant guide to complete your application form. This guide includes details for each question of the form
- Complete your application form online or by hand
- Email the following documents to EDSC.ACNC-SBCC.ESDC@canada.gc.ca:
- application form
- external cost estimate (if applicable)
- digital picture (if applicable)
If you cannot scan the documents, you can send them by mail to the address below. In your email, tell us if you are sending other documents by mail.
Apply by mail
- Read the applicant guide to complete your application form. This guide includes details for each question of the form
- Complete the application form online or by hand
- Print the application form
- Mail the following documents to the address below:
- application form
- external cost estimate (if applicable)
- Submit your digital picture (if applicable) by email to EDSC.ACNC-SBCC.ESDC@canada.gc.ca. In your email, provide your project title
Mailing address
Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative
Coordination unit mailstop 402
National Grants and Contributions Delivery Centre (NGCDC)
140 Promenade du Portage Phase IV Floor 4
Gatineau QC K1A 0J9
Note:
We will only consider complete application packages.
After you have applied
We will let you know when we have received your application:
By email
You will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt by email.
By mail
You will receive a confirmation of receipt by email within 14 days after we receive the application.
We will let you know if you will receive funding by late September 2020.
If your project is successful, before signing your agreement, we will ask you to provide:
- a proof of ownership if your organization owns the building, or
- a copy of the lease and a letter of consent from the property owner, if you currently lease the space
Contact us
If you have questions, email us at EDSC.ACNC-SBCC.ESDC@canada.gc.ca. We will answer all questions within 2 business days. We will answer questions sent before July 30, 2020 at 12:00 pm, EDT.
Information sessions
We will hold information sessions in early July.
If you are interested in participating online or by teleconference, send us an email at EDSC.ACNC-SBCC.ESDC@canada.gc.ca and we will provide you the instructions on how to participate.
In your email, specify the language you prefer (English or French).
Frequently asked questions
Here are responses to some of the most frequently asked questions received to date for this call for proposals (CFP). This additional information could be useful as you prepare your application.
Funding options
Only not-for-profit organizations that are Black-led and have a mandate that is Black-focused can apply for up to $100,000 for projects that can be completed in 12 months (time would start on the date you sign a funding agreement with the Department).
Definition of Black-led and Black-focused
A Black-led organization is an organization with:
- leadership positions (Director, Founders, etc.) primarily occupied by people who self-identify as Black (minimum two-thirds)
- a governance structure (advisory board, eldership circle, volunteer committee, etc.) primarily composed on people who identify as Black (minimum two-thirds)
A mandate that is Black-focused is a mandate that supports members of the Black community.
In order to be eligible for funding, your organization must demonstrate that:
- it is Black-led
- its mandate supports members of the Black community
- It is a legal entity in Canada
- It is a not-for-profit organization
Eligible expenses
Projects must be for:
- the purchase of equipment for work or community spaces, and/or
- renovations or retrofits of existing workspaces or community spaces that you own or lease to improve their functionality
Application for organization that has multiple locations
If your organization has more than one location, you may submit a project for your multiple spaces. However, in such case, you should only submit one application for funding for all the locations. You should also explain why you need to improve each space and how the project will benefit each location. The total cost must not exceed $100,000.
Applying with partners or trustee organization
It is not possible for an administrative partner to act as a trustee on behalf of your organization. Your organization must independently apply for funding. In order to be eligible, an official representative who has the capacity and the authority to submit proposals on behalf of your organization must attest that:
- they have the capacity and authority to submit the proposal
- certify that the information provided is true
- they have read and understood the program’s requirements
My project costs less than the amount provided
If the costs of your project are less than the amount you received, you will have to contact your project officer and discuss repayment options.
Where and how to download application forms
The application uses PDF form technology. To fill out the form electronically, or to print the form, you must have a PDF reader installed on your computer. If you do not already have such a reader, there are several available on the Internet such as the latest version of Adobe Reader and Foxit Reader, which you can download for free.
Application for Funding (EMP5672)
If you are still experiencing issues, please submit your request by email to EDSC.ACNC-SBCC.ESDC@canada.gc.ca.
Glossary
- Black-led organizations
-
- Have a mandate to serve Black communities in Canada
- Have Black representative leadership at all levels of the organization’s management (leadership, governance)
- Renovation
- Renew, revamp, restore or refresh something to make it look new again.
- Retrofit
- Add or substitute new parts or components to some device, structure etc., that were not previously available.
- Vulnerable populations
- For the purpose of this CFP, we consider vulnerable populations as individuals/groups that face the greatest socio-economic barriers.
- Indigenous Peoples
-
- First Nations
- Métis
- Inuit
- Urban/Non-Affiliated people
- Individuals experiencing homelessness
-
- Individuals or families who do not have a permanent address or residence
- The living situation of individuals or families is not have stable or permanent
- They do not have an appropriate housing, or do not have the means and ability of acquiring it
- LGBTQ2
- Acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and 2-Spirit.
- Low income
- For the purpose of this CFP, we consider an individual or family low income if it does not have enough money to buy specific goods and services in its community, including:
- food
- housing
- clothing
- transportation
- Newcomers
- People who have been living in Canada for less than 5 years.
- Official language minority communities
-
- A French-speaking population living outside of Quebec, where English is predominant, or
- An English-speaker or English-speaking population living in Quebec, where French is predominant
- People with disabilities
-
- A person with a disability is one who self-identifies as having a permanent physical, or
- Mental disability that restricts his or her ability to perform daily activities
- Remote/rural
- For this CFP, we define this as:
- a population of less than 1,000
- no, or very little, access to the services of the closest municipality with a population of 1,000 or more exists
- Seniors
- For the purposes of this CFP, seniors are defined as people that are 55 years of age or older.
- Visible minorities
-
Persons, other than Indigenous peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in color. This includes:
- Chinese
- South Asian
- Black
- Filipino
- Latin American
- Southeast Asian
- Arab
- West Asian
- Japanese
- Korean
- many other visible minorities
- Women
- Adult, female person.
- Youth
- Person between 15 and 30 years of age.
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