2024-2025 Applicant's guide - Contributions program for non-profit consumer and voluntary organizations

Section 1 – General Information

To obtain a copy of this publication, or to receive it in an alternate format (Braille, large print, etc.), please contact ocacontributions-contributionsbc@ised-isde.gc.ca

The submission of the application form requires a PDF entry. The Government of Canada recognizes that PDF files have limited accessibility and are incompatible with some screen readers. If your organization requires another submission format, please email ocacontributions-contributionsbc@ised-isde.gc.ca

Please ensure you are able to access the application form early in the process. Exceptions or extensions to the deadline will not be granted, and assistance cannot be provided, within the last 24 hours.

1.1 Program objective

Overview

The Contributions Program for Non-profit Consumer and Voluntary Organizations (the Program) at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's (ISED) Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) supports organizations in the production of high quality, independent and timely research on consumer issues.

Objective

The objective of the Program is to strengthen the consumer's role in the marketplace through the promotion of sound research and analysis, and by encouraging the financial self-sufficiency of consumer and voluntary organizations.

Confidentiality, Proactive Disclosure and Transparency Requirements

Any information in the application that, in the applicant's opinion, is of a proprietary or confidential nature must be clearly marked by the applicant as "Proprietary" or "Confidential" on each relevant item or page or in a statement covering the entire application. No commercially confidential information which is submitted will be disclosed unless otherwise authorized by the applicant or required to be released by law.

Information provided by applicants may be accessible under the Access to Information Act.

ISED may share information in an application with provincial and territorial governments or other federal funding partners to improve national coordination and bilateral decision-making related to the Program.

Once projects are approved, as part of the Government of Canada's policies to ensure transparency and accountability, ISED is required to proactively disclose project information when it is in the public interest to do so. This may include, but is not limited to disclosure regarding the funds provided to the organization, status of projects, and other activities, as appropriate.

Additional disclosure, milestone reporting and transparency requirements can be found in recipient contribution agreements, the Program templates, and on the Treasury Board of Canada website.

Although information remains confidential under the above-mentioned conditions, any document or content submitted as part of the Program application process shall be deemed and remain the property of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

1.2 How to use the Applicant's Guide

The Applicant's Guide provides an overview of the Program and assists in the completion of proposals for the 2024-2025 Call for Proposals. Please read all sections of this guide before preparing your proposal.

1.3 Contacting ISED

Should you have any questions, please contact us at:

Office of Consumer Affairs
Email: ocacontributions-contributionsbc@ised-isde.gc.ca

Please refer to Annex 4 of the Applicant's Guide for frequently asked questions.

Section 2 – Program overview

2.1 Eligibility

Who is eligible?

Applicants may apply independently or as a partnership with other organizations. Eligible applicants must be not-for-profit organizations or associations incorporated in Canada (federally or provincially) and/or may be:

• Not-for-profit social enterprises or co-operatives
• A consortia of non-profit organizations
• Post-secondary academic institutions or research institutes
• Indigenous organizations

Note: The Province of Quebec's M-30 legislation may apply to Quebec-based applicants. Quebec-based organizations must demonstrate how they comply with M-30 prior to entering into a contribution agreement.

For further information, consult the following website prior to submitting your Application for Funding: An Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30).

2.2 Project streams

Priority will be given to Research and Consumer Movement Development streams.

Research Stream

Research Projects under this stream are aimed at improving the capacity of consumer organizations to represent the interests of consumers in the marketplace decision-making process through sound research and analysis of consumer protection issues that are national in scope.

Consumer Movement Development Stream

Development projects aim to strengthen organizations' capacity to work collaboratively in the interest of Canadian consumers by developing joint plans and initiatives in the areas of policy research, analysis and development; by creating and implementing action plans to address issues of national concern; by making concerted international representations; and by establishing joint representation and communication initiatives with the public, with government, and with industry.

Organizational Development Stream

Organizational Development Projects aim to strengthen an organization's capacity to diversify revenue sources and increase its level of self-sufficiency. Projects may include the preparation of multi-year business plans, feasibility studies (including online services) and market analysis, or pilot projects for developing and producing products or services with the potential to generate long-term revenues for the organization, or increase its visibility and/or the membership base.

2.3 Priority Topics of Interest

Applicants may submit proposals on relevant consumer issues of importance. Priority will be given to proposals that align with the following topic of interest:

Communications Methods and Technology tools: 

Projects funded under this priority area will aim to support consumer stakeholder groups in developing and implementing various communications methods to optimally inform consumers in real-time on grocery savings in various locations in Canada (e.g., publishing crowd sourcing information). Projects will also support the development of new grocery focused technology tools that will help better inform consumers of price savings in Canada (e.g., web and app development, podcasts, etc.).

A secondary topic may be considered based on funding availability:

Barriers to Grocery Competition:

Projects (e.g. research) funded under this priority will address barriers that prevent international, independent and online retailers from either establishing or expanding in Canadian grocery markets. Barriers for international and independent grocers may include real estate property controls, labelling laws (e.g., bilingual labels which require additional costs at the expense of the grocer), lack of distribution networks with Canadian suppliers and limited grocer brand recognition. Barriers for online grocers may include capital requirements (e.g., require investors in order to build warehouses and distribution centers to both enter the market and expand into a larger number of neighbourhoods), regulatory requirements (e.g., federal and provincial legislation is developing in tandem with the growth of online grocers) and geographic landscape (e.g., few densely populated city centers in Canada limit the expansion of online grocers into rural communities).

2.4 Program budget allocations

The Program funds projects through non-repayable contributions. The maximum total amount that can be awarded per project to a single organization is $500,000.

Contribution limits have been established so as to support ambitious projects that are national in scope, geographically representative and considerate of Canada's diverse and underrepresented populations. Applicants should consider innovative approaches to their methodology, work plans and, communication efforts. During the assessment process, consideration will be given to proposals that demonstrate how they are addressing factors outlines above.

Note: There is a limit of one proposal per organization.

2.5 Project duration

Projects can span a period of up to 18 months. The fiscal project cycle will begin April 1, 2024 and end September 30, 2025. Projects may start at any point over the 2024 – 2025 cycle but must be completed by September 30, 2025.

Section 3 – Preparing a proposal

Proposals are to be submitted electronically to ISED via the "Submit" button found on the Portable Document Format (PDF) application form.

Applications must meet a number of program requirements to be considered for funding.

Applications that do not meet all of the program requirements and parameters will be screened out prior to a formal assessment.

Applications that pass the initial screening, but are not aligned with the priority topic (Communications Methods and Technology tools) will be assessed based on funding availability.

Important information on using the application form:

• To view and download the application form, you must have a PDF reader installed.
• Saving your proposal: The application form allows you to save the draft proposal as you go so you can return to it at a later time. Once your proposal is complete, you should print a copy for your records and then submit to ISED.
  • Reminder: There is a limit of one proposal per organization.
• Proposals have a maximum character length: Each question in the application form will display a maximum number of characters allowed. Please note that spaces and hard returns are counted as characters and add to the total number of characters.
• Active Internet connection: You need to be connected to the Internet in order to submit an application form to ISED.

Note: Although you must be connected to the Internet to submit your proposal to ISED, you can edit and complete the application form offline using your PDF reader software.

Submit early: It is strongly recommended that you submit your proposal early. When approaching the deadline, please allow at least 1 hour for submission prior to the closing deadline to account for any unforeseen transmission delays. The intake system closes automatically and late proposals will not be accepted.

3.1 Application form submission requirements

This section is an overview of Steps 1 to 3 only of the application form. The questions for the three project streams have been provided as Annexes (1-3) of this Applicant's Guide.

Step 1 – Eligibility criteria

This section is designed to help determine an applicant's eligibility for funding under the Program. Once this step is completed and validated, you will then be able to proceed to Step 2 – Organization Information.

Please refer to Section 2.1 of the Applicant's Guide for the eligibility criteria.

Step 2 – Organization information

This section requires the applicant's contact information, and if applicable, membership and donor information, and publications details (e.g. magazine, newsletter or blog).

The applicant must provide supporting documentation. If you do not currently have electronic versions of the required supporting documentation (budget forecast, lobbyist declaration, etc.) you may scan the hard copies and attach them. The following image formats are accepted: BMP, JPEG, PDF and GIF.

Use the "add" and "remove" buttons to add or remove an information line. If you have multiple items and want to change the order in which they appear, you can use the arrows (updown) to move them.

The applicant must answer the following declarations. If the answer is "Yes" to one or more of the following declarations, supporting document(s) will be required:

• Lobbying Act: In your organization, do you presently employ persons to lobby on your behalf? If yes, please provide assurance that, where lobbyists are used, they are registered in accordance with the Lobbying Act and that no actual or potential conflict of interest nor any contingency fee arrangement exist.
• Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service: In your organization or on your Board of Directors, do you presently employ a former public servant who left the federal government in the last twelve months? If yes, please provide assurance that the public servant is in compliance with the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service.
• Conflict of Interest Act: In your organization or on your Board of Directors, do you presently employ a former public office holder who left the federal government in the last twelve months? If yes, please provide assurance that the public office holder is in compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act.

In Question #20 of the application form, applicants are required to attach the following six documents in order to proceed:

• statement of incorporation (i.e., proof of provincial or federal non-profit incorporation, or both, if applicable);
• the latest audited financial statements (2 years) prepared by a Chartered Accountant which comprise the organization's statement of financial position as at March 31, 2023 or at the Organization's end of its most recent financial fiscal year (i.e. independent auditor's report);
• the organization's current fiscal year budget forecast;
• a background statement on the organization's aims, objectives and structure;
• the list of the current Board of Directors members; and,
• the organization's current by-laws.

The audit provides reasonable assurance that the entity's financial statements fairly present its financial position, financial performance and its cash flows in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework (Chartered Accountants of Canada. Understanding Reports On Financial Statements. Available online)

The maximum file size accommodated on the network is 10 MB. To ensure that the uploading process runs smoothly, please click "Save" after attaching each file.

Ensure that all required documents have been attached to the application form. To display a list of your attachments, click the paperclip icon on the left side of the application form.

Step 3 – Projects streams

Select proposal streams

One project stream must be selected: Research, Consumer Movement Development, or Organizational Development. The questions in the application form are based on the type of proposal selected.

Applicants should clearly indicate in the Project Summary box (Section B of the application form) which option they are applying for (i.e. New Research or Research refresher).

3.2 Application deadline

Applicants have until 3 pm EST, March 28, 2024, to submit their applications. Please submit proposals via the online Applicant Form. If this method of transmission poses any issues, please notify ISED as soon as possible (contact information in Section 1.3). The online submission system closes automatically and will decline any late proposals. Incomplete proposals will not be assessed.

3.3 Confirmation of receipt

Once the proposal has been successfully submitted using the "Submit" button, a confirmation is displayed on the screen. It is recommended applicants keep a copy of the confirmation document for their own records. If a confirmation page is not displayed, there may have been a problem successfully submitting the proposal.

If a problem occurs during submission, verify that all the required documentation is attached (and do not exceed the combined maximum file size of 10 MB) and that all fields have been completed. Any concerns should be flagged to ISED before the closing deadline to ensure the proposal has been submitted successfully. ISED is under no obligation to accept any applications from organizations that encounter technical difficulties in the 24 hours prior to the closing date. See Section 1.3 for details on contacting ISED.

Section 4 – Eligible activities for projects

Eligible activities can be regional or national in scope, and, in the opinion of the Minister, contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Program. Eligible activities are those that address one or more of the following:

• promotion and outreach activities to increase awareness of issues and findings with a goal of supporting and protecting consumer interests (i.e. roundtables, townhalls, workshops, etc.);
• conduct qualitative or quantitative research and/or analysis to strengthen the consumer's role in the marketplace;
• facilitate capacity building to strengthen an organization's capacity to work collaboratively in the interest of Canadian consumers (i.e. joint research projects, action plans to address issues, communication endeavors to inform and educate the public, government, etc. on key issues or findings, etc.);
• policy support activities (i.e. participating in government consultation processes);
• facilitate capacity building to strengthen an organization's capacity to diversify revenue sources and increase its level of self-sufficiency (i.e. business plans, feasibility studies, pilot projects, etc.); and,
• other activities that support the objectives of the Program.

Section 5 – Eligible costs for projects

Eligible costs for contributions are costs that are incurred by the recipient and which, in the opinion of the Minister, are reasonable to carry out the eligible activities.

There are two categories of eligible costs: Part A and Part B. Eligible costs listed under Part A are considered to be direct costs chargeable to the project. Eligible costs listed under Part B are comprised of indirect costs.

The administrative costs for an Eligible Recipient will be limited to a maximum of 15% of the total contribution amount.

5.1 Part A – Direct project costs

These include:

• cost of labour (e.g., salaries and benefits) and of material used;
• capital costs directly related the Eligible Activities such as capital disbursements and associated expenses, purchase of machinery, equipment and infrastructure and/or associated repairs or retrofits;
• operating costs that are incremental and directly related to the project: management fees or working capital;
• costs related to marketing, promotion, and communication;
• professional fees (e.g. consultants, research, IT, technical expertise, legal, translation, data collection, surveys, special assistance, digital and social media production);
• costs that support the use of tools and products for capacity building and awareness building (e.g. educational licensing, third-party software, web apps);
• costs related to intellectual property;
• costs related to awareness building and advocacy activities (e.g. hosting events, workshop or conference fees); and,
• costs related to policy support activities (e.g. participating in government consultation processes).

5.2 Part B – Indirect costs

These include:

• costs associated with procuring space or equipment necessary to carry out the project, including those for workshops, events and meetings; and,
• other costs necessary that align with the Program objectives, as approved by the Minister or the Deputy Head if authority has been delegated.

Section 6 – Assessment

As part of a competitive process, all proposals are reviewed and assessed in accordance with the general Program objective, eligibility requirements, funding priorities, funding sought for the project stream and, quality of the overall proposal. The following section provides an overview of how proposals are assessed, the assessment questions, and weighted scoring for each question.

6.1 Assessment criteria

Initial screening: All application packages will be screened to ensure they are complete and meet the eligibility criteria.

At the screening stage, the assessment will determine whether:

• the applicant is incorporated as non-profit corporation in Canada; and/or is a post-secondary academic institution or research institute, Indigenous organization;
• the applicant has a governance structure which assures accountability to a membership representing the consumer interest;
• the applicant has a structure, governance and funding arrangements which do not expose them to commercial influence on their research and policy positions;
• the applicant is capable of reaching out to Canadian consumers beyond members of the organization itself;
• the applicant is competent, credible, and accountable in carrying out the projects;
• the applicant is guided by objectives which are consistent with the objectives of the Program;
• the applicant has provided all the required project information, including templates and supporting documents as specified above;
• the applicant has described eligible activities; and,
• the applicant has completed the declarations section of the Application Form.

If an application package is incomplete or fails to meet the eligibility criteria, applicants will be notified in writing that their application will not be considered further. Priority will be given to Research and Consumer Movement Development streams.

Research Stream proposals are assessed for:

• the timeliness and relevance of the consumer issue;
• feasibility of the work plan;
• capability of the research team; and,
• communications efforts on distribution of project results and final report in both official languages.

Consumer Movement Development Stream proposals are assessed on:

• the organization's capacity to work collaboratively on policies to represent the best interest of Canadian consumers;
• feasibility of the work plan;
• capability of the project team to carry out the project and objectives; and,
• communications efforts on distribution of project results and final report.

Organizational Development Stream proposals are assessed on:

• the ability of the organization to reach greater financial self-sufficiency;
• feasibility of the work plan;
• capability of the project team to carry out the project and objectives; and
• how it will assist the organization to fulfil its mandate.

For information on past projects funded under the Program, please consult ISED's Consumer Policy Research Database.

6.2 How Proposals are assessed

Each proposal is scored on a total of 100 points and ranked accordingly (see Annexes 1-3 of the Applicant's Guide for details on the amount of points allocated to each question). Proposals are assessed on a competitive basis and are reviewed in accordance with the Program's objective as well as the appropriate eligibility criteria. Please consult the annexes below to learn more about assessment criteria and scoring.

In making final recommendations for funding, the Government of Canada reserves the right to give higher consideration to those proposals that include factors such as broader geographical representation and Gender-Based Analysis+ to ensure research reflects impacts to Canada's diverse populations and demographics; the 2024-2025 topics of interest; and the communication efforts of project results.

For more information on Gender-Based Analysis+, please visit the Status of Women website.

The assessment process comprises the following steps and factors:

• Applicants are subject to an eligibility assessment to ensure they are eligible under the Program. If an applicant fails to meet the eligibility criteria the applicant will be notified and their proposal will not be considered.
• Proposals are assessed according to the overall assessment criteria laid out in Section 6.1.
• Applicants will be notified of the status of their proposal once the competitive assessment process is complete and a final decision has been made.

Annex 1 – Application Form – Research Project section

All questions are mandatory

Other requested source(s) of funding:

Applicants must identify all sources of funding related to the proposal (or similar topic) being submitted for consideration under the Program. This includes project funding with any other federal, provincial or territorial government department or agency. Applicants must provide the name of the source, current status, date requested, full amount as well as the project title for the proposal submitted.

A – The applicant

• Completed by (name of the individual):
• Telephone:
• Email:

B – Project summary

Provide a concise description of the project. This summary will be used to formulate the contribution agreement, if the proposal is funded. The description should include:

• research to be undertaken (including consumer issues to be addressed);
• summary of key project tasks and milestones;
• expected outcomes of this project;
• brief description of the methodology and techniques to be used; and,
• summary of communication strategy to promote the research results/recommendations to the selected target audiences.

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page).

Ensure the research to be undertaken (including the consumer issues to be addressed) and the expected outcomes of the project are clear. An opportunity to elaborate on the other components is provided in other sections of the application form.

C – The proposal

Proposals will be assessed based on the completeness, quality, and content of your responses to each question below. Insufficient or poorly drafted responses will result in low overall assessment scores. Referring to an external link/page will not be considered a complete answer.

1. Importance of the Consumer Issue: Describe the importance of the consumer issue, with evidence (e.g. consumer complaints, media coverage, statistical or anecdotal data, other policy or regulatory/legislative developments, etc.).

Maximum of 2000 characters (approximately half of page). 10 points

Ensure the description provided on consumer issue's scope and/or current or potential impact on consumers is clear, as this is a key element of the assessment. The Government of Canada reserves the right to give higher consideration to proposals that include factors such as geographical representation and Gender-Based Analysis+ to ensure research reflects impacts to Canada's diverse populations and demographics; and, that tie into the Government of Canada's priorities and/or the topics of interest for 2024-2025 laid out in section 2.3.

2. Timeliness of the Consumer Issue: Indicate why it is important to study the described consumer issue at this time, in terms of its scope or impact, current or potential (e.g., the issue affects a large number of consumers, involves substantial harm to consumers or addresses an important marketplace failure, etc.).

Maximum of 2000 characters (approximately half a page). 5 points

Include how the consumer issue could be used to support policy-making. For example, will the project results be available in time to input into decision making processes (legislative, regulatory, task force, consultation, etc.)?

This answer will be assessed based on the importance and timeliness of the consumer issue and how it will support consumer education, protection, or awareness on current/ongoing/or potential consumer issues.

3. Summary of Supporting Research: Provide a list or summary of relevant existing research on the issue. Projects proposing a literature survey as a component should include a description of the sources that would be used (be as specific as possible) and evidence of an initial scan to confirm the existence of relevant sources.

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 5 points

Ensure the summary provided is clear and concise with existing research on the consumer issue identified, as this is a key element of the assessment. Alternatively, if it is an emerging issue, it will be assessed on how the applicant demonstrates that no previous relevant research exists by academics, consumer organizations, government, or industry on the consumer issue from the consumer perspective. Higher scores will be allotted to academic supported research.

4. Value of Proposed Research: Explain how your proposal will add to said body of knowledge (demonstrate the value that your proposed research would provide over existing research).

Maximum of 2000 characters (approximately half a page). 5 points

This answer will be assessed on how well it explains and demonstrates how the project results will enhance relevant previous research work of academics, consumer organizations, and, or government and industry on this issue. If this is a new emerging consumer issue, the answer provided should demonstrate that no relevant previous research done on the consumer issue exists, and that the proposed research opens a new field of research and area of expertise.

5. Identification of Stakeholders: Identify the relevant stakeholders and key informants who will participate and/or be consulted to provide expertise/views on the issue proposed in this proposal. Also, please identify the stakeholders who were contacted and the stakeholders to be consulted during this project. If contact with a stakeholder has not been made yet, indicate when it will be done and indicate what impact non-participation by a stakeholder will have on the project.

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 10 points

This answer will be assessed based on completeness and relevancy of the identification of stakeholders in relation to the consumer issue.

6. Research Questions: Please formulate concisely the research question and sub-questions to be answered by your methodology and that your research project seeks to answer.

Maximum of 2000 characters (approximately half a page). 10 points

This answer will be assessed on the relevancy of the research questions to be addressed and answered by the research project in depth in relation to the consumer issue.

7. Methodology: What is the proposed methodological approach for this project? Demonstrate that it is feasible and that it will address the research question/sub questions articulated in Question #6. Provide details on each of the methods to be employed and note whether you will require external resources such as consultants or survey firms to assist or lead this task.

Each category selected has a maximum of 1000 characters, 20 points

There are separate categories for each methodological approach. Applicants may select as many as required and, at least one method must be selected. For each category, clearly describe the objective, and if applicable, the type/number of participants to be involved, demographics, and geographic regions. Be sure to indicate if the methodological approach will require external resources as indicated in the question. As a reminder, research projects and analysis is directed at consumer protection issues which are national in scope. As such, the methodological approaches should be geographically representative and consider Canada's diverse population. If you are doing surveys or focus groups, ensure that they are representative of Canada's official languages communities.

This answer assesses the feasibility of how the methodological approaches will address the research question and consumer issue in order to produce a quality report.

In making final recommendations for funding, the Government of Canada reserves the right to give higher consideration to those proposals that include factors such as geographical representation and Gender-Based Analysis+ to ensure research reflects impacts to Canada's diverse populations and demographics.

8. Work plan: Provide a detailed work plan, which lists the key milestones and the sequence of tasks necessary to implement the methodology and produce relevant project outcomes. This information must be presented by quarter.

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 5 points

The work plan will be assessed on how clearly it presents, in detail, the required actions and the chronological sequence to be undertaken to thoroughly implement the methodology and produce relevant project outcomes.

9. Research Team and Expertise: Please identify the individual names of those who will be working on this project and how their expertise relates to this project. Demonstrate that the project research team is qualified and capable of producing quality work. Also indicate when external contractors will be used to perform certain tasks and provide details (e.g. name, firm name, etc.), when available.

Example: "Mr. A. Person will lead the research team; he is a consumer advocate of long standing, and led research on (related topic) resulting in representations before the XX Committee. He led and wrote research papers on XXX and participated in initiative X on X topics. A contractor with specific public opinion research expertise will be hired to design, conduct, and analyze a survey/focus groups."

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 10 points

The research team and expertise will be assessed on their qualifications and extensive research experience in the research area, as well as their experience writing research papers and policy-oriented documents.

10. Communication Strategy: Provide a preliminary communications plan for this project that clearly outlines how you will use the project results and provide details on how you will communicate the research findings for this project. Please include stakeholders and target audiences, tactics to be used in a communications approach and how you will evaluate and report metrics to be used as success indicators.

Please use the following headlines to respond to the question:

• Target audience of your project results: Please identify all the relevant stakeholders who you will approach to communicate your research results;
• Communication tactics and channels used to diffuse project results: Outline all tactics to be used such as posting the final report on your website, alerts on social media, direct distribution of final reports to stakeholders, speaking engagements to share results, presentations at various events (conferences, seminars, presentations, etc.), results presented or references at parliamentary committees, announcing the results at a press conference, news release on your website and in mainstream media, etc.;
• Timelines of communication tactics: Identify when the communication/dissemination activities will take place; and,
• Evaluation and tracking of results: How will you track and evaluate the results of your project? For example, media monitoring, website statistics, tracking of reports shared with decision-makers, invitations to conferences / meetings, etc.

Note: When creating a communication strategy, recipients are required to provide at least twenty (20) business days' notice to the Minister in advance of any formal public announcement relating to the project.

Additionally, recipients are required to ensure that services and documentation intended for public use be available in both of Canada's official languages per the Official Languages Act, and should budget translation services accordingly.

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 10 points

Ensure the answer provided is developed using the proposed headlines. Failure to use the headlines could result in lower scores. This answer will assess how well the communication strategy is detailed, the types of communication activities to be carried-out, how and when they will be disseminated to inform relevant stakeholders and target audiences of projects results and final report. It is expected that recipients will track and be able to report on results.

11. Project Costs: Provide the projected costs required to undertake the project in the budget template. No other document will be accepted. Also, provide details of project costs/resources committed to the project by your organization or by other individuals or organizations in addition to the amount requested under the Program. The administrative costs for an Eligible Recipient will be limited to a maximum of 15% of the total contribution amount.

The budget template is included in the application form. 10 points

For a list of eligible costs see Section 5 of the Applicant's Guide.

Provide details for expenses when possible. For example, if any contracts for services will be required for your projects, please clearly identify them (contractor's name, if available, and per diem, if relevant).

Note: For projects with a projected time frame of longer than 12 months, two separate budget grids will be required – one for each fiscal year. Year 1 is from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, and Year 2 is from April 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025.

If your project is less than 12 months but spans over two fiscal years, two separate budget grids will also be required.

Please ensure the total amount requested does not exceed $500,000 with both budget grids combined. Please avoid the use of cents in your cost estimates. Either round up or down to the nearest dollar.

Use the "add" and "remove" buttons to add or remove a text field associated to each of the cost categories. If you have multiple items and want to change the order in which they appear, you can use the arrows (updown) to arrange them.

The project costs will be assessed on how the budget breakdown supports the work plan and clearly outlines all the funds required to undertake project activities.

Annex 2 – Application Form – Consumer Movement Development section

All questions are mandatory.

Other requested source(s) of funding:

Applicants must identify all sources of funding related to the proposal (or similar topic) being submitted for consideration under the Program. This includes project funding with any other federal, provincial or territorial government department or agency. Applicants must provide the name of the source, current status, date requested, full amount as well as the project title for the proposal submitted.

A – The Applicant

• Sponsoring consumer organizations
• Lead organization that will administer the contribution agreement:
• Completed by:
• Telephone:
• Email:

B – Project Summary

Provide a concise description of the project. This summary will be used to formulate the contribution agreement, if the proposal is funded. The description should include:

• Activities to be undertaken (including roles of key organizations)
• Expected outcomes
• Summary of key project tasks and milestones
• Summary of communication efforts

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page).

Ensure the activities to be undertaken (including roles of key organizations), and the expected outcomes of the project, are clear. A chance to elaborate on other relevant components is provided in other sections of the Application Form.

The Government of Canada reserves the right to give higher consideration to the proposals that tie into the Government of Canada's priorities and/or the topics of interest for 2024-2025 laid out in section 2.3.

C – The Proposal

1. How will undertaking this project strengthen the Canadian consumer movement? Why? Explain why it is important for the Canadian consumer movement that the participating organizations work collaboratively on this issue, collaborative structure, etc.

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 20 points

The answer will be assessed on the evidence provided on how and why the project will strengthen the Canadian consumer movement. Ensure the answer clearly describes why collaborative work is important to achieve the expected outcome. For example, do the collaborating organizations have two different sets of expertise that are both essential to achieve the desired outcome of the project?

2. Why is it important for the Canadian consumer movement that participating organizations work collaboratively on this issue at this time? What event, regulatory review, etc. justifies investing time and money to address the issue collectively, undertake a common communication strategy, etc.?

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 20 points

The answer will be assessed on the evidence provided on the importance and timeliness of undertaking the consumer movement development project collaboratively, and how it will support a specific event (regulatory review, consultation etc.).

3. Which organization or organizations will have the lead, provide financial management and accountability? What will be the contributions of each of the organizations participating in this project? How were they chosen? Why is their participation essential? Who will do the project work (among the sponsoring organizations, and/or outside participants or consultants)? Demonstrate that there is a structure to provide project direction, financial management and accountability. Demonstrate that participating organizations have the expertise required to address the issue and the capacity to work together to reach project objectives. Were the right organizations selected? Please provide the name(s) of the person(s); and, a brief description of their qualifications to undertake such work. Be prepared to provide upon request recent previous examples of their work.

Maximum of 8000 characters (approximately two pages). 20 points

The answer will be assessed on the evidence provided indicating that there is a structure to provide project direction, financial management and accountability, that participating organizations have the expertise required to address the issue and the capacity to work together to reach project objectives, and that the appropriate organizations were selected. The project team will be assessed on their qualifications, experience and ability to undertake such work to reach the project objectives.

4. Provide a detailed work plan which clearly presents the required actions to be undertaken, key milestones, and the project's time frame. Are they reasonable for the scope of the project?

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 20 points

The work plan will be assessed on how clearly it presents, in detail, the required actions, key milestones and the project time frame relative to the scope of the project.

5. Provide a communications plan for this project with clear, measurable objectives and demonstrate how this plan will strengthen the consumer movement in Canada.

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 10 points

The communications plan will be assessed on the clear, measurable objectives provided and how it will strengthen the consumer movement in Canada.

Note: When creating a communication strategy, recipients are required to provide at least twenty (20) business days' notice to the Minister in advance of any formal public announcement relating to the project.

Additionally, recipients are required to ensure that services and documentation intended for public use be available in both of Canada's official languages per the Official Languages Act, and should budget translation services accordingly.

6. Provide the projected costs required to undertake the project in the budget template*. No other document will be accepted. Also provide details of project costs/resources committed to the project by your organization or by other individuals or organizations in addition to the amount requested under the Program. The administrative costs for an Eligible Recipient will be limited to a maximum of 15% of the total contribution amount.

*The budget template is included in the Application Form. 10 points

For a list of eligible costs see Section 5 of the Applicant's Guide.

The project costs will be assessed on how the budget breakdown supports the work plan and clearly outlines all the funds required to undertake project activities.

Note: For projects with a projected time frame of longer than 12 months, two separate budget grids will be required – one for each fiscal year. Year 1 is from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, and Year 2 is from April 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025.

If your project is less than 12 months but spans over two fiscal years, two separate budget grids will also be required.

Please ensure the total amount requested does not exceed $500,000 with both budget grids combined. Avoid the use of cents in your cost estimates. Either round up or down to the nearest dollar.

Annex 3 – Application Form – Organizational Development section

All questions are mandatory.

Priority will be given to Research and Consumer Movement Development projects.

Other requested source(s) of funding:

Applicants must identify all sources of funding related to the proposal (or similar topic) being submitted for consideration under the Program. This includes project funding with any other federal, provincial or territorial government department or agency. Applicants must provide the name of the source, current status, date requested, full amount as well as the project title for the proposal submitted.

A – The applicant

• Completed by (name of the individual):
• Telephone:
• Email:

B – Project summary

Provide a concise description of the project. This summary will be used to formulate the contribution agreement, if the proposal is funded. The description should include:

• Activity to be undertaken
• Expected outcomes
• Summary of key project tasks and milestones
• Summary of communication efforts

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page).

Ensure the activity to be undertaken and the expected outcomes of the project are clear. A chance to elaborate on the other components is provided in other sections of the application form.

The Government of Canada reserves the right to give higher consideration to the proposals that tie into the Government of Canada's priorities and/or the topics of interest for 2024-2025 laid out in section 2.3.

C – The Proposal

Please select a type of Organizational Development Project:

• Pilot Project
• Feasibility Study
• Market analysis
• Multi-Year Business Plans

1. How and why will undertaking this project increase the organization's ability to:

• Better fulfill its mandate? and/or
• Increase its visibility and membership? and/or
• Reach greater self-sufficiency?

Explain why undertaking this activity will help your organization reach its long term self-sufficiency strategy. If funds are requested to undertake a feasibility study, please justify why the product or service was selected for the feasibility study (Was it identified in your business plan as a potential source of revenue? What makes you think it has revenue potential? etc.). If funds are requested for a pilot project, please demonstrate the viability of the product or service under consideration (e.g. feasibility study, analysis of demand, projection of costs and revenues).

Maximum of 8000 characters (approximately two pages). 20 points

The answer will be assessed on the evidence provided to support that the development activity to be undertaken (pilot project, feasibility study or multi-year business plans) will help the organization reach its long-term self-sufficiency strategy. 

2. Provide a detailed work plan which clearly presents the required actions to be undertaken, key milestones, and the project's time frame. Are they reasonable for the scope of the project? Provide a quarterly breakdown of project work, and demonstrate how project work will make it possible for the organization to increase its membership capacity and/or reach greater self-sufficiency.

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 20 points

The work plan will be assessed on how clearly it presents the required actions and the chronological sequence to be undertaken to thoroughly implement the project and produce expected project outcomes.

3. Why is it important to undertake this development activity? Why at this time? Is it part of your business plan / long-term self-sufficiency strategy? Clearly demonstrate why undertaking this activity at this time is part of your organization's overall self-sufficiency strategy and business plan.

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 20 points

The answer will be assessed on the evidence provided on the importance and timeliness of undertaking the development activity and how it supports the organization's self-sufficiency strategy.

4. Who will actually be doing the work? What are the qualifications of the project team to undertake this work and reach project objectives? Who in your staff or which consultant will do the project work and write the report? Why were they selected? Please provide the name(s) of the person(s) and, a brief description of their qualifications to undertake such work. Be prepared to provide recent previous examples of their work upon request.

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 20 points

The project team will be assessed on their qualifications and experience in the development activity to be undertaken as well as their proven ability to reach the project objectives.

5. Provide the projected costs required to undertake the project

Provide the projected costs required to undertake the project in the budget template*. Also provide details of project costs/resources committed to the project by your organization or by other individuals or organizations in addition to the amount requested under the Program. The administrative costs for an Eligible Recipient will be limited to a maximum of 15% of the total contribution amount.

*The budget template is included in the application form. 10 points

For a list of eligible costs see Section 5 of the Applicant's Guide.

The project costs will be assessed on how the budget breakdown supports the work plan and clearly outlines all the funds required to undertake project activities.

Note: For projects with a projected time frame of longer than 12 months, two separate budget grids will be required – one for each fiscal year. Year 1 is from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, and Year 2 is from April 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025.

If your project is less than 12 months but spans over two fiscal years, two separate budget grids will also be required.

Please ensure the total amount requested does not exceed $500,000 with both budget grids combined. Avoid the use of cents in your cost estimates. Either round up or down to the nearest dollar.

6. Provide an external and/or internal communications plan for this project with clear, measurable objectives.

Maximum of 4000 characters (approximately one page). 10 points

The communication plan will be assessed on the clear, measurable objectives provided and how it will make it possible for the organization to increase its membership capacity and/or reach greater self-sufficiency.

Note: When creating a communication strategy, recipients are required to provide at least twenty (20) business days' notice to the Minister in advance of any formal public announcement relating to the project.

Additionally, recipients are required to ensure that services and documentation intended for public use be available in both of Canada's official languages per the Official Languages Act, and should budget translation services accordingly.

Annex 4 – Frequently asked questions