Grants and Contributions Funding Recognition Guide

On this page

• Purpose
• Public communications
  • First public announcement
  • Coordination and review of public communications
  • Public communications during a federal election period
  • Acknowledgement period
  • Disclaimers
• How to acknowledge POLAR funding
  • Credit lines
    • Official languages requirements
  • Funding acknowledgement graphics
• Applying acknowledgement to communications products
  • Printed Materials and Promotional items
  • Social media
  • Websites, webpages and mobile applications
  • Verbal Acknowledgement
  • Special Events

Purpose

This guide explains when, how, and for how long recipients of Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) funding must acknowledge support from the Government of Canada in public communications related to funded projects.

Note that not all sections apply to every project. Use this guide to determine which acknowledgement requirements apply to your specific funding situation and the type of communication you are doing.

Public acknowledgement of Government of Canada and POLAR financial assistance is a condition of your funding. These guidelines apply even when funds are administered through third parties, such as universities. Proper acknowledgement of funding ensures transparency, consistent messaging, and clarifies the Government of Canada’s role in supporting programs and initiatives using public funds.

Public communications

Your funding agreement with POLAR contains the terms and conditions of your funding. In case of any difference between this guide and your signed agreement, the agreement takes precedence.

The term “public communications” refers to any communications activities aimed at the media or a broad public audience, including but not limited to public events, news releases, public-facing social media posts, speaking engagements, and presentations.

First public announcement

As a funder, POLAR reserves the right to publicly announce your project first.

Unless coordinated with POLAR in advance, funding recipients (and administering third parties, if applicable) must wait to engage in public communications about the funded project until POLAR has made its announcement or until 60 days have passed from the date the funding agreement is signed.

Prior to the first public announcement, recipients may discuss their project only to the extent required to carry out approved project activities (e.g., communicating with external stakeholders, recruiting participants, etc.).

Any media inquiries during this time should be referred to the POLAR Communications team: communications@polar-polaire.gc.ca.

Coordination and review of public communications

Recipients may be required to share draft public communications materials with POLAR in advance. This review supports accuracy, consistency, and compliance with federal communications requirements, and helps determine whether Government of Canada participation is appropriate. If this applies to your project, it will be indicated so in your funding agreement.

Public communications during a federal election period

During a federal election period, public announcements of Government of Canada funding may be limited or delayed, and exceptions may be made to the 60-day period for first public announcement. Recipients may be asked to adjust or postpone communications, or to remove references to federal funding, depending on circumstances. POLAR will provide guidance as required.

Acknowledgement period

POLAR funding must be acknowledged in public communications products related to the funded project for the period covered by the funding agreement and up to 12 months following the project’s end date, including ongoing or evergreen communications such as websites.

Academic publications resulting from the funded project must acknowledge POLAR’s financial contribution to the project, irrespective of the acknowledgement period.

Disclaimers

Where public communications include opinions or interpretations, a disclaimer may be required to make it clear that the views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.

How to acknowledge POLAR funding

Acknowledgement of POLAR support should be made by way of a credit line accompanied by a funding acknowledgement graphic.

Credit lines

To acknowledge support from POLAR, recipients should use the credit line that best corresponds to their situation. Some suggested credit lines include:

• This project was funded [or: supported] by Polar Knowledge Canada / Ce projet a été financé [ou : soutenu] par Savoir polaire Canada.
• This project was funded [or: supported] in part by Polar Knowledge Canada / Ce projet a été financé [ou : soutenu] en partie par Savoir polaire Canada
• We acknowledge the [financial] support of Polar Knowledge Canada / Nous reconnaissons le soutien [financier] de Savoir polaire Canada.
• This project was made possible [in part] by [financial] support from Polar Knowledge Canada / Ce projet a été rendu possible [en partie] grâce au soutien [financier] de Savoir polaire Canada.

Official languages requirements

Government of Canada funding is normally acknowledged in both official languages (English and French). Recipients are encouraged to acknowledge POLAR funding in both official languages.

For bilingual communications where English appears first, or for unilingual communications where English is the sole language of the content, use the English-first version of the credit line and applicable funding acknowledgement graphic. The reverse applies when French appears first or is the sole language of content.

In certain circumstances, it may be appropriate to acknowledge POLAR’s support in a language other than English or French. Please consult with POLAR on a case-by-case basis.

Funding acknowledgement graphics

The funding acknowledgement graphic to be used depends on whether POLAR is the project’s sole federal funder or one of multiple Government of Canada funding partners.

If POLAR is the sole Government of Canada department or agency providing funding for the project, POLAR’s departmental signature should be used:

If more than one federal department or agency is providing support, the Government of Canada should be represented by one identifying symbol. The Canada wordmark is the preferred graphic for broad acknowledgement of the Government of Canada:

For international acknowledgement, the Government of Canada signature is the preferred graphic because it carries more name recognition than an individual department or agency:

Examples of funding acknowledgement graphics accompanied by credit line:

When more than one organization has provided support, a funding acknowledgement graphic can be used without a credit line, but the funding relationship should be clear to the public. For example:

Government of Canada funding acknowledgement graphics must receive the same prominence and size as identifiers of other funding parties who made similar contributions.

Applying acknowledgement to communications products

The acknowledgement requirements set out above apply across all public communications products. The following sections highlight some format-specific considerations.

Refer to the Design Standard for the Federal Identity Program to determine correct specifications for Government of Canada graphics. Please contact POLAR’s Communications team for specific questions: communications@polar-polaire.gc.ca.

Printed Materials and Promotional items

• Feature POLAR’s bilingual departmental corporate signature in an appropriate section of the print publication.
• Feature the Canada wordmark when acknowledging multiple federal funding providers, multi-level funding providers (as determined) or when legibility or accessibility issues exist.

Refer to Federal Identity Program requirements when designing printed materials or promotional items to determine the correct specifications and graphic elements.

Social media

Social media is a quick and public way to widely share information online. Social media communications are subject to the acknowledgement requirements outlined above, but with flexibility to account for differences across platforms. Recipients are asked to provide POLAR with all social media handles (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.) related to the funded project to allow for sharing or amplifying by POLAR.

Recipients are asked to tag and follow POLAR’s social media accounts when posting about POLAR-supported projects or activities:

• Instagram: @polar.knowledge (EN) / @savoir.polaire (FR)
• Facebook: @PolarKnowledge (EN) / @SavoirPolaire (FR)
• LinkedIn: Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) / Savoir polaire Canada (POLAIRE)

Unless otherwise specified in your funding agreement, recipients are not required to share project-related posts with POLAR in advance. Where possible, the relevant funding acknowledgement graphic should be included on images, and the credit line should be included in captions for project-related posts.

When limited by character count, recipients may post an abbreviated acknowledgement (e.g., “Thank you to @polar.knowledge for funding this project”). In the case of multiple Government of Canada funders, a broad acknowledgement can be used and individual departments or agencies can be tagged (e.g., “Thank you to the Government of Canada for funding this project. @PolarKnowledge @FisheriesOceansCanada”).

Websites, webpages and mobile applications

Funding should be acknowledged on webpages about the funded project. A credit line and appropriate funding acknowledgement graphic should be clearly shown on project webpages. For full websites or mobile applications pertaining to a funded project, the funding acknowledgement graphic can be placed in the header or footer. A credit line should still appear on pages describing the funded project.

For digital platforms, funding acknowledgement graphics must be linked to the appropriate web destination:

• If POLAR is the sole federal funder, graphics should link to either canada.ca/polar (English) or canada.ca/polaire (French)
• For projects funded by multiple Government of Canada departments and agencies, graphics should link to canada.ca.

Acknowledgements must remain in place for the full acknowledgement period.

Verbal Acknowledgement

Include verbal acknowledgement of POLAR’s support during any speaking opportunities at public events related to the funded project, such as speeches, panel discussions and media interviews (podcast, radio, television, etc.). Wherever possible, inform POLAR ahead of time about such planned events.

Questions from the media about POLAR and its program are to be redirected to POLAR’s Communications team for response: communications@polar-polaire.gc.ca.

Special Events

Support from POLAR must be acknowledged during public events related to the funded project. The Minister responsible for POLAR or an appointed delegate must be given the opportunity to participate in these types of events. A minimum of 15 days' notice must be given to POLAR to inform the Minister's office prior to the event.

When planning an event, recipients should contact POLAR’s Grants and Contributions team with details: grants-contributions@polar-polaire.gc.ca.

When a Minister or appointed delegate participates in a virtual event, POLAR may provide appropriate acknowledgement options. When a Minister or appointed delegate participates in an in-person event, POLAR may provide appropriate backdrop signage.

For any questions related to POLAR’s funding recognition requirements, contact grants-contributions@polar-polaire.gc.ca.