Frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives

1. I would like to know if my proposed project is eligible before completing the letter of intent template. What should I do?

Completing the letter of intent template is the only way for the Public Health Agency of Canada to assess your proposed project and determine its eligibility and fit with the funding opportunity’s principles and objectives.

2. Are international organizations eligible to apply for this funding?

No, only Canadian organizations may apply for funding under this solicitation process.

3. Are organizations currently receiving funding from the Government of Canada, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, eligible to apply to this funding opportunity?

Yes, organizations currently receiving funding from the Government of Canada, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, for other projects can apply for funding under this solicitation. However, organizations cannot request additional funding for a project that is currently being funded by the Government of Canada, including the Public Health Agency of Canada.

4. Are projects to evaluate the effectiveness of dementia awareness raising initiatives considered eligible for funding?

Only projects focussed on raising awareness of how to prevent dementia, reduce stigma, and/or how to encourage and support communities to become more dementia-inclusive will be considered for funding. A performance measurement/evaluation plan will be required of all funded projects.

5. Can an applicant submit more than 1 letter of intent?

Yes, applicants may submit more than 1 letter of intent if the proposed projects are significantly different in terms of the scope of the work. A complete letter of intent is required for each project being proposed.

6. What is the total amount of funding available to a recipient for a project?

The total amount of funding available to a recipient for a project is up to $716,000 over 2 years: up to $375,000 in fiscal year 2020/21 (beginning in late summer/early fall 2020) and up to $341,000 in fiscal year 2021/22.

7. Are organizations required to apply for the full amount of funding that is available or can they apply for a smaller amount?

Organizations can apply for smaller amounts of funding. The project cannot exceed the total amount of $716,000 over 2 years, unless the extra cost is covered by other funding sources.

8. How broadly will approved projects be required to share knowledge, including lessons learned?

Applicants will be required to have a knowledge mobilization/translation plan in place, including the most appropriate ways to share lessons learned with key audiences and stakeholders.

9. What is the difference between the Dementia Community Investment and the Dementia Strategic Fund?

The Dementia Community Investment funds community-based organizations that aim to optimize the wellbeing of people living with dementia and caregivers through intervention research (i.e., by developing, testing, disseminating and scaling up initiatives, knowledge and tools to support these groups).

The current funding opportunity under the Dementia Strategic Fund’s awareness raising initiatives is limited to conducting an awareness raising initiative on how to prevent dementia, reduce stigma, and/or how to encourage and support communities to become more dementia-inclusive.

10. Are there any geographic priorities for this funding opportunity or a plan to ensure that there is a spread of projects across Canada?

There are no specific geographic priorities. The intention of this funding opportunity is to support awareness raising projects that best align with the objectives and principles of the Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives. Projects that involve multi-sectoral partnerships which span jurisdictions are encouraged.

The geographic distribution of projects is a factor that will be taken into consideration when proposals are reviewed.

11. How will I know if my letter of intent is successful?

The Public Health Agency of Canada will notify all applicants via email.

12. What is the anticipated start date for proposed projects?

It is anticipated that successful letter of intent applications will be identified in spring 2020, at which time they will be sent an invitation to submit a funding request. It is anticipated that successful projects will be initiated by summer/fall 2020.

These timelines may be subject to change.

13. Can you provide an example of past projects that were funded?

The Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives is a new fund; there are no past projects.

14. What is the accepted maximum length of the letter of intent?

Letters of intent (LOIs) must be completed using the Public Health Agency of Canada’s template. A cover letter is also required with the submission. The maximum length of the completed LOI, including the cover letter, is 12 pages, single-spaced, in size 12 font.

Submissions exceeding 12 pages will be rejected. In addition, please note that Section 2, Question 1 (The What and the Why) has a limit of 500 words. No other supporting documents will be accepted at this time.

15. Are letters of support required at the letter of intent stage of the process?

No, letters of support are not required at the letter of intent stage.

16. In addition to the letter of intent, can applicants submit supporting documents, such as literature reviews or needs assessments?

No, supporting documents will not be accepted at this time.

17. Is collaboration with other organizations a mandatory requirement for this funding?

Collaboration with other organizations and sectors with complementary areas of expertise is not a mandatory requirement but is strongly encouraged, as are projects involving partnerships that span more than 1 province/territory.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have the organizational capacities and expertise required to undertake the proposed project. Collaborating organizations may contribute some of these capacities and areas of expertise to the proposed project, as described in the applicant capacity section of the call for letters of intent.

18. I will apply as a business with a non-profit partner. Would the non-profit partner need to write their own cover letter?

Only the lead organization that is completing the letter of intent is required to write a cover letter. The collaborating organization must be included in Section 5 of the letter of intent template.

19. Is involvement of people living with dementia and/or caregivers a mandatory requirement for this funding?

All projects focused on stigma reduction and dementia-inclusive communities must include people living with dementia and/or caregivers at each stage of the project as the project must be informed by lived experience. Examples of meaningful engagement may include representation on project advisory committees or the engagement of people living with dementia and/or caregivers in awareness raising activities. Consideration may also be given to the inclusion of people living with dementia and/or caregivers in the development and implementation of awareness raising initiatives focused on prevention, though the level of engagement will be dependent on the scope of the project.

20. Is there a limit to the number of organizations that can collaborate for one proposed project?

No, there is no limit to the number of collaborating organizations for a proposed project. However, only 1 organization (the recipient) can sign the contribution agreement with the Public Health Agency of Canada and will be accountable for the obligations and conditions of the contribution agreement. Once the contribution agreement is in place, the recipient is free to set up their own sub-agreements with collaborating organizations.

21. Can an organization partner with a provincial or territorial government organization to undertake a project together?

Yes, an organization can partner with a provincial, territorial, regional and/or municipal government or agency.

22. Can we forward this funding opportunity to another organization?

Yes, information about this funding opportunity can be shared with other organizations. However, all interested applicants must contact phac.cgc.solicitations-csc.aspc@canada.ca directly to receive the letter of intent template, ensuring “Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives” is indicated in the email subject line.

23. Given that this is an initiative funded by the federal Health Portfolio and the basis of every project should be a public health and/or health promotion activity, can collaborating organizations for the proposed project be from other sectors, for example law enforcement, the legal system, housing, etc.?

Yes, we encourage multi-sectoral and multi-agency collaboration. However, please be reminded that the proposed project and its key activities must still be focused on raising awareness of how to prevent dementia, reduce stigma, and/or how to encourage and support communities to become more dementia-inclusive. This could include raising awareness among those who may interact with people living with dementia and caregivers through their work, for example, health professionals, first responders, and those working in transport, retail or financial sectors.

24. What are examples of awareness raising activities in the context of dementia?

The objectives of the Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives are to prevent dementia, reduce stigma (including stigmatizing behaviours) and encourage and enable communities to become more dementia-inclusive. Depending on the chosen objective(s), awareness activities could be targeted to youth, women, people living with dementia, caregivers, first responders, or others who could interact with people living with dementia and caregivers in, for example, retail, transport or financial sectors.

Awareness activities could also target populations at higher risk of developing dementia and/or facing barriers to equitable care, such as Indigenous populations, those with intellectual disabilities, those with young onset dementia, LGBTQ2+, ethnic and cultural minority communities, as well as official language minority communities.

Examples of awareness activities include the development of tools, resources and messages to communicate about dementia through, for example, social media, workshops, community events, or training sessions for service providers on how to organize their space and interact with people living with dementia in a way that better meets their needs and is free of stigma.

25. Will I be able to charge a fee for service?

No, activities or expenses that require a payment from the target population to use, register or participate (for example, educational events, workshops, or applications offered by the recipient) are not eligible for funding.

26. Is there a preference for a particular type of organization to lead the project? For example, is there a preference that a university lead the project over a non-governmental organization?

No, there is no preference for who leads the proposed project. It is up to the collaborating organizations to determine which organization is best suited to lead the proposed project in terms of their capacity to undertake required governance and financial administration/management.

27. Does the letter of intent need to demonstrate alignment with all the principles set out in the Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives call for letters of intent?

Proposed projects must align with 1 or more of the objectives of the Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiative: to prevent dementia, reduce stigma, and encourage and enable communities to become more dementia-inclusive. The assessment will also consider the proposal’s alignment with the relevant principles of the funding program.

28. What are the official languages requirements?

As per the requirements of the Official Languages Act, the recipient must ensure that services and documentation intended for public use be available in both of Canada's official languages. The recipient is also expected to report on their actions with regards to official languages minority communities.

For additional information, consult the Official Languages Act.

29. When will we hear the results of the letter of intent process, and, if successful, what would be the timelines for submitting the full application? When would results be announced?

It is anticipated that successful letter of intent proposals will be identified in spring 2020, at which time, these applicants will receive an invitation to submit a funding request. Successful projects could be initiated as early as summer/fall 2020.

These timelines may be subject to change.

30. Am I eligible to apply with my university affiliation?

An individual is not eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include:

• not-for-profit voluntary organizations and corporations
• for-profit organizations, provided they partner with a not for profit organization
• unincorporated groups, societies and coalitions
• provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal governments and agencies
• organizations and institutions supported by provincial and territorial governments
  (regional health authorities, post-secondary institutions etc.)
• Indigenous organizations working with First Nations, Inuit or Métis

31. Is it anticipated that national groups/organizations will be applying for the funding and will be leading some of this work?

Eligible applicants are not limited to national groups/organizations. Please refer to the list of eligible applicants noted above.

32. Can First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities apply directly for funding?

Yes, First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities can apply directly for funding. Indigenous governmental organizations can also apply directly for funding.

33. I have a question about eligible expenses. When would be the appropriate time to ask these questions?

The letter of intent template does not ask for information about eligible expenses. Successful letter of intent applicants that will receive and invitation to submit a funding request will be required to provide more detail about the project proposal, including eligible expenses. Questions related to eligible expenses will be addressed at that time.

34. I would like to have a one-on-one meeting to discuss my letter of intent. Who do I talk to?

In order to ensure a fair and transparent competitive process, the Public Health Agency of Canada is unable to meet with individual organizations. Instead, this FAQ document will be updated as new questions are received and shared with all interested organizations.

35. I have a question that is not covered in this document. What should I do?

For any questions not answered in this document, please contact the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Centre for Grants and Contributions by email at phac.cgc.solicitations-csc.aspc@canada.ca.