The federal government is making $350 million available to community organizations serving vulnerable Canadians. Applications for the Emergency Community Support Fund opened May 19. Access to funding is through three national intermediaries:

• United Way Centraide Canada
  • Applications through local offices
  • Application guide here
• Community Foundations of Canada
  • Application results
  • Application guide here
  • List of local offices participating in the review process available here)
• Canadian Red Cross (application page here; for non-profits only)

Applications must be completed by July 27 (for Community Foundations of Canada) or July 31 (for United Way) for activities occurring between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021. Applicants may only submit one request per unique emergency project across the funding agencies, but applicants can apply for more than one project. The maximum request per project is $75,000 (no minimum).

What  the selection criteria? Funding is only approved if the project:

1. Addresses a pressing social inclusion or well-being need caused by COVID-19, by supplying necessities of life and supporting activities of daily living, such as:
   • Education materials for children in low-income homes
   • Mental health supports for people in crisis
   • Accessibility services to persons with disabilities
2. Serves one or more vulnerable populations
3. Can be carried out in a short timeframe with a reasonable budget and
4. Can attest to not having secured funds to cover the costs of the program from another intermediary, federal COVID-19 response program or other source

Vulnerable populations includes people such as seniors, persons with disabilities, veterans, newcomers, refugees, women, children and youth, LGBTQ2 people, Indigenous people, racialized people, those experiencing homelessness, those living in remote or rural areas, and people from an official language minority community. For an expanded listing, see the Application Guides.

If you’ve never written a funding proposal before, check out A Guide for First-Time Proposal Writers (Part 1) in CCCC April 2020 Bulletin for helpful advice and practical tips.

Ministry workers are invited to share how they are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic within their organization in our online community forum The Green: COVID-19 Response Room. 

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