2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund 2024 Call for Proposals: Eligibility

2. Eligibility 

Applicants

All applicants under this call for proposals must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Canadian not-for-profit organization, incorporated under the Canada Not for Profit Corporations Act or corresponding provincial/territorial legislation.
• Have proof of incorporation.
• Work primarily or entirely with 2SLGBTQI+ communities. To show this you must provide your mandate and describe your organization’s experience.
  • An exception to working primarily or entirely with 2SLGBTQI+ communities may be granted where no such organization exists in a given region, community or population. You must request an exception before you apply. Send your request by email before March 27 to Call for proposals Enquiry (FEGC.rsap-cfpe.WAGE@fegc-wage.gc.ca). 

If your organization is approved an exception, it must still meet all other applicant eligibility criteria. 

Here are some examples of mandates of eligible organizations: 

• To offer programs and services primarily for 2SLGBTQI+ people
• To create networks of 2SLGBTQI+ organizations that share knowledge
• To improve access to services for trans and non-binary people
• To provide resources and safe spaces for 2SLGBTQI+ people who are Indigenous, Black, or racialized
• To organize and promote events for 2SLGBTQI+ communities
• To promote the inclusion and well-being of gay and lesbian communities
• To support 2SLGBTQI+ refugees
• To link 2SLGBTQI+ people with other communities to remove barriers to their inclusion.
• To provide HIV/AIDS prevention and education primarily for 2SLGBTQI+ people

Here are some examples of mandates of ineligible organizations:

• To provide shelter for at risk youth, including 2SLGBTQI+ youth
• To work to end gender-based violence for women including lesbian, bisexual and trans women
• To offer community programs and support including 2SLGBTQI+ people 

Applicants that are not eligible include:

• organizations that do not work primarily or entirely with 2SLGBTQI+ communities unless an exception is granted in advance of the submission of an application
• for-profit Canadian organizations, including social enterprises
• Indigenous governments, including band councils, tribal councils and self government entities and their agencies
• provinces, territories, municipalities, and their agencies
• research organizations and institutes
• centres of expertise
• Academic or educational institutions
• individuals
• organizations outside of Canada
• political parties and organizations involved in political activities that are partisan
• Any organization other than a not-for-profit organization incorporated under the Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act or under corresponding provincial or territorial legislation.

Funding

• Up to $400,000 in total for projects with a local reach. Project activities cover one community, such as a town, city, or regional municipality.
• Up to $1,200,000 in total for projects with a regional, provincial or territorial, or pan Canadian reach.
  • Regional, provincial/territorial reach: Project activities cover more than one community. They can also cover part of a province or territory; an entire province or territory; or a few adjacent provinces and territories. Projects that cover one of Canada’s three largest municipalities would also qualify as regional: Greater Toronto, Greater Montreal and Greater Vancouver area.
  • Pan-Canadian reach: Project activities must have impact in at least four WAGE regions and be carried out in both official languages (both official languages are not required for Indigenous organizations). 

There are often extra costs of living and travelling in northern or remote areas. You may apply for an extra 35%, for activities that happen in these areas. See Activity location type for more information.

Organizations can only apply once for this call for proposals.

Duration

Projects should start no earlier than September 2024 and must end by March 31, 2027.

Activities

Before starting an application, we encourage you to take the free online course: Introduction to Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus).

Eligible activities

All activities must align with this call for proposals’ objective.

Here are some examples of eligible activities to advance equality for 2SLGBTQI+ people:

• Change laws, policies, or practices
• Work with service providers to:
  • make changes so it is easier to access services
  • find ways to work better with their clients to meet their needs
  • address prejudices
• Work to address hate toward 2SLGBTQI+ people:
  • to identify and address root causes of hate
  • to identify who spreads hate and how they do it
  • to work with the public or private sector to address hate in their respective fields
  • work with cultural leaders to reduce hate
  • work with faith leaders to end harmful practices
• Engage the community to address
  • racism in 2SLGBTQI+ communities
  • discrimination in a different culture or geographic area
  • the specific needs of diverse 2SLGBTQI+ people
• Work to increase the representation of 2SLGBTQI+ in all sectors
• Develop and test tools and workshops to help 2SLGBTQI+ people to:
  • learn about and access services
  • help navigate systems, such as health care and employment
• Develop ways to help non-2SLGBTQI+ people remove barriers to the community
• Work with Two-Spirit and Indigenous members of the community to advance reconciliation efforts
• Collaborate with other existing groups to extend the reach or impact of a project

The following activities will only be eligible as part of a broader project if they are necessary to advance this call for proposals’ objective:

• Events
• Conferences
• Forums/dialogues
• Podcasts
• Activities related to commemorative days
• Awareness-raising campaigns
• Research

Priorities

We will prioritize proposals that:

• Address barriers to equality for 2SLGBTQI+ people who are:
  • Intersex
  • Trans
  • Two Spirit
  • Non-binary
  • Indigenous
  • Black
  • Racialized
  • Refugee, immigrant or newcomer
  • living with disabilities
  • seniors
  • youth
  • low-income
  • member of an official language minority communities
  • living in rural, remote and/or northern communities
• Address any other gaps, such as geography, as deemed by the Department

Ineligible activities

The call for proposals will not support activities that:

• charge a fee to project participants (such as individuals or stakeholders).
• create unfair advantage or profit
• involve construction and renovation
• involve the purchase, lease, or long-term rental of real property
• are considered “negative advocacy” such as:
  • Violent, harmful or adversarial activities.
  • Violent or adversarial rallies, demonstrations, and social protests.
  • Boycotts.
  • Litigation or legal advocacy.
  • Partisan political candidate engagement.
• lobbying
• take place outside of Canada
• deal with issues in other countries
• deliver services or programs, such as career help, support services, and fundraising. To be clear, you cannot create new or expand existing services or programs.
• build your organization’s capacity. For example:
  • how your organization makes decisions
    • assess and improve board effectiveness
    • develop a mission and mandate
    • establish bylaws and policies
  • how your organization manages money
    • learn how to write funding proposals
    • secure funding from many sources
    • develop a sustainability plan, social enterprise or a funding partnership with the private sector
  • how your organization collaborates
    • build regional and national partnerships to improve 2SLGBTQI+ networks, especially where gaps exist
    • link organizations, networks, governments, and services to advance 2SLGBTQI+ equality in Canada
    • include different 2SLGBTQI+ communities to make your organization more diverse
    • create new formal networks of 2SLGBTQI+ organizations e.g., “The national 2SLGBTQI+ Career Counsellor Network” 
  • how your organization manages people
    • develop and put in place strategies to attract and keep the right people
    • adapt human resources products and tools using GBA Plus
  • how your organization drives change
    • develop an advocacy strategy to drive change. 
  • how your organization makes plans
    • develop and implement a strategic plan
    • develop and implement a results evaluation plan
    • review your resources or share resources with other 2SLGBTQI+ organizations
    • plan how to increase the impact and effectiveness of your programs or services. 
  • how your organization learns
    • improve your organization’s ability to advance 2SLGBTQI+ equality by learning how to lead an organization, use technology to be more efficient, manage projects or manage finances
    • create, put in place and share tools for employee or volunteer development
    • mentor and coach to improve other organizations’ ability to advance 2SLGBTQI+ equality
  • how your organization learns about 2SLGBTQI+ challenges and barriers
    • engage with 2SLGBTQI+ communities to better determine their needs and align services
    • research the needs of the community and address barriers to 2SLGBTQI+ equality
  • how your organization is built
    • incorporate or register your organization.
    • create a board or governing body

Costs

The department will only fund eligible costs. Eligible costs are those that are necessary to support the purpose of the project. We will only reimburse eligible costs incurred after the signature of the agreement. Read the examples of eligible costs for more information.

Total government funding for the project must not exceed 100% of eligible costs. This includes federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal assistance for the same goal.  We will adjust the level of funding and seek reimbursement if necessary.

There are two categories of eligible costs:

• Direct costs: expenses related to the delivery of the project that are linked to specific activities.
• Administrative costs: expenses incurred to manage and support the project.

The department will determine the final value of funding. 

Eligible costs

The department will fund as many projects as possible to have a greater impact, but funding is limited. Please only request eligible costs that are necessary to deliver the project. This allows other projects to be funded. Eligible costs include:

Direct costs (necessary to deliver activities):

• travel costs must not exceed the rates in the National Joint Council Travel directive. This includes the Travel Directive’s Kilometric rate, Meals Allowances, Accommodation - Canadian city rate limits and Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Event Expenditures
• salaries and benefits for staff related to project delivery
• honoraria and professional fees, including those paid to Indigenous Elders 
• materials and supplies
• spaces used for project activities
• translation
• training related to the project
• publicity and promotion
• other costs such as snacks or meals served during key project activities

Administrative costs (a portion of costs necessary to manage and support the project):

• project oversight
• office space for project staff
• phones
• computer equipment
• IT maintenance
• accounting

Include audit costs for projects of $300,000 and above in your administrative costs. The department requires the following on an annual basis:

• externally reviewed Statement of Revenues and Expenditures for projects between $300,000 and $999,999
• audited Financial Statements for projects of $1,000,000 and above

New! WAGE now offers two options for administrative costs:

• Current option: up to 20% of the total funding requested from WAGE. If you choose this option, you will need to provide details on these costs. 
• New option: up to 15% fixed rate of the total funding requested from WAGE. In this case, you do not have to provide details on these costs. 

You can only choose one option. See budget section for more information.

Ineligible costs

Ineligible costs include:

• core or operational funding for existing or ongoing activities, projects, engagement, or advocacy
• general core or operating costs for the organization that are not related to this project such as:
  • rent
  • utilities 
  • phones
  • property taxes 
  • equipment for staff 
  • insurance not required for this project 
  • audit costs not required for this project
• capital expenditures, such as land, buildings, vehicles, and other major capital costs, except for computer equipment such as desktops, portables, and small peripherals required to carry out the project
• salaries, allowances, and benefits for directors of a board or other governance body
• budget deficits, debt reduction, organizational reserves, or endowment funds
• costs added to a project over the estimated project value to cover unexpected costs
• costs incurred before a funding decision is made
• further distribution of funds
• payment of debts or coverage of losses