Canada Post community grants

Canada Post community grants

The Canada Post Community Foundation funds community projects with a focus on children and youth.  The deadline for applications is April 17, 2014.

AREA OF CONCENTRATION:

The Foundation will fund projects that support three primary focus areas—community, education and health.

Funding will be allocated to projects that will generate maximum impact in the following areas:

• create lasting change for children and youth (up to the age of 21)
• education programming to help children reach their full potential
• programming supporting healthy children
• building safe, kid-friendly communities
• services for children and youth with special needs and their families
• programs that promote children’s interests
• mental health programs for children and youth

Organizations applying for project funding should either be based in the community or rely significantly on community resources to undertake the activities proposed or to achieve the objectives stated. Projects should involve capacity-building (i.e., the creation or expansion of services, rather than the maintenance of existing services; expansion may include augmentation of a service, addition of a service or inclusion of a new geographic territory). Capacity-building activities could include hiring and/or training staff or covering costs directly related to the delivery of a program such as mileage, facilities rental, or communications activities.

The type of support that projects might provide covers a wide range of services and activities. Some examples (which are not meant to be exhaustive or to limit the generality of the concept) are:

The Foundation will support:

• charitable organizations with a valid CRA registration number
• registered non-profit organizations with a valid B/N business registration number
• elementary and high school groups and licensed, non-profit daycares
• local community or Aboriginal groups
• community libraries
• projects aimed at building front-line capacity to provide community-based support for children
  • can include capital projects (i.e. build libraries, playground structures, sport parks)
• projects that:
  • address needs of children living with disabilities, illness, who are vulnerable
  • enhance the ability of families and communities to nurture their children
  • extend a caring hand to the children of our community, build better futures for our children and, ultimately, a stronger community
  • support educational, preventative, therapeutic and rehabilitative programs for children, youth and their families
• projects that focus on: education, development, culture/civic programs, health and physical activity, social services and arts and culture for youth and families

Foundation grants would NOT support:

• professional or amateur sports teams
• activities outside Canada
• debt reduction campaigns
• lobby, advocacy or partisan groups that promote a particular social, political or economic point of view
• fundraising events (i.e. golf tournaments, runs or races)
• ongoing operating costs
• brand or general advertising (i.e., as distinguished from information directly related to front-line activities)
• financial assistance for individuals
• festivals, fairs and trade shows
• professional or technical organizations
• faith-based organizations, political parties or other organizations that require, as a condition for receiving support or services, an adherence to, or promotion of a particular religious faith, political affiliation or cultural group
• organizations for which the primary focus is raising funds for their own or for other organizations
• conventions, conferences or events
• ongoing operating costs (e.g., administrative costs not directly linked to delivery of front-line programs)
• pure academic or basic research
• emergency, crisis or bridge funding
• requests from municipalities

School projects that would qualify include:

• playground structures
• library supplies
• electronics
• music instruments
• sports equipment
• participation in school-organized humanitarian efforts
• after-school programs

Foundation grants to schools would NOT support:

• salaries and administration costs for school employees
• school trips (excluding humanitarian programs)
• standard classroom supplies
• professional development

Eligibility Criteria 

To be eligible for funding, applications must meet the following criteria. Eligibility criteria are mandatory criteria used to screen applications, resulting in a pass or fail judgment. The criteria relate to both the applicant (i.e., organization-related criteria) and the proposed initiative (i.e., project-related criteria).

Organization-related Criteria

Organizations applying for a grant must:

• be a registered charity with a Canadian Charitable Registration Number OR a registered non-profit organizations with a valid B/N business registration number OR a school (as defined by the education act in each province) OR a licensed, non-profit daycare organization OR an unregistered community organization OR a community library
• have a volunteer Board of Directors/organizing committee
  • while paid employees can be used to deliver programming, the Board of Directors must be unpaid positions (payment for expenses incurred by the Directors is acceptable)
• have a detailed plan for the project being submitted
• have a budget for the project being submitted
• have:
  • Audited Financial Statements (for grants valued at $30,001 or more)
    • Only Schools (not School/Parent Associations) may supply financial statements from the school board
  • Review Engagement Report (for grants valued at $15,001 to $30,000)
  • Notice to Reader – Compilation Engagement (for grants valued at $5,001 to $15,000)
  • For grants up to $5,000, the Foundation would require the organizations financial statements for the current year.

Project-related Criteria

• Funding from the Foundation will not exceed $50,000 per application. The funds must be spent within 12 months of receipt. The Foundation will not fund more than one project per applicant in any given year.
• The project should involve capacity-building (i.e., the creation or expansion of services or programs, rather than the maintenance of existing services/programs; expansion may include augmentation of a service, addition of a service or inclusion of a new geographic territory). Capacity-building activities could include hiring and/or training staff or covering costs directly related to the delivery of a program such as mileage, facilities rental, or communications activities.
• The project must be community-based, community-driven or rely on community resources.
• Applications for funding must be signed by the organizations top executive.
• While funding will only be provided for a one-year period, the project itself can be intended to continue beyond the period for which the Foundation approves funding.

Appropriateness Criteria

Alignment – Alignment with the Foundations focus on community-based, front-line activities, including demonstration that the need will be met and that there is no duplication or competition with existing services (i.e., the project must either be unique or complementary). The involvement of Canada Post employees in the project is an asset.

Feasibility – Project application must have a realistic plan, with resources (including any other funding sources) commensurate with objectives. Appropriate skills and experience of project team and, if applicable, partner organizations should be identified.

Impact – Projects expected outcome mitigates identified community needs and can be measured. Projects must involve capacity-building (i.e., the creation or expansion of services, rather than the maintenance of existing services; expansion may include augmentation of a service, addition of a service or inclusion of a new geographic territory).

http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/aboutus/cpfoundation/criteria.jsf