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Grants to Canada Nonprofits, For-Profits, Agencies, Indigenous Organizations, and Individuals to Help People with Disabilities Obtain Work

Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities


Grant Writers
Agency
Federal
GrantWatch ID#
157126
Funding Source
Government of Canada - Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Array ( )
Geographic Focus
Canada:Alberta;   British Columbia;   Manitoba;   New Brunswick;   Newfoundland and Labrador;   Northwest Territories;   Nova Scotia;   Nunavut;   Ontario;   Prince Edward Island;   Quebec;   Saskatchewan;   Yukon;
Important Dates
Deadline: 07/22/22 3:00 PM EDT for online applications; 11:59 PST for emailed and mailed applications Save
Grant Description
Grants to Canada nonprofit, for-profit, and Indigenous organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals to support the employment of individuals with disabilities. Required registrations may take up to 10 days to complete. Funding is intended to promote equity in employment and in Coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery. Applications are currently being accepted for national and regional activities.

This CFP will fund projects that support individuals, employers and others that work to support disability inclusion and accessibility in employment. The CFP is soliciting projects that:

  • Promote an inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • Address both new and long-standing labour market barriers for persons with disabilities; and
  • Embrace innovative programming in support of persons with disabilities who are most underserved and/or further from the labour market.

The CFP’s objective is to invite eligible organizations to submit proposals that:

  • Support persons with disabilities:
    • Prepare for, find, and keep good jobs;
    • Advance in their careers or become self-employed; and/or
    • Thereby increase their economic participation and independence.
  • Assist employers to create inclusive and accessible workplaces, through activities, such as:
    • Coaching, training, human resources support; and
    • Other activities, to help them diversify their workforces by hiring and retaining persons with disabilities.
  • Increase supply, skills and capacity of individuals that work to support disability inclusion and accessibility in employment, including by ensuring smooth transitions and long-term retention.

These objectives align with the Government of Canada’s broader goals under the Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities.

There are 2 funding components available through this call for proposal:

  1. National - Projects that deliver activities in 3 or more provinces or territories.
  2. Regional - Projects that deliver activities in 1 or 2 provinces or territories.

The objective of this CFP is to fund projects that fall under 1 or more of the following 3 streams:

  • Stream 1: Participant-focused
  • Stream Stream 2: Employer Stream
  • Stream 3: Career Advancement Stream

For additional information regarding these streams, including project eligibility criteria and eligible activities, see URL for Full Text (RFP), below. 

For additional information regarding eligible activities, see: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/disability-opportunity-national-regional.html#h3.1

For information on eligible expenditures, see URL for Full Text (RFP), below.
Full Grant Text RFP
Recipient
Eligibility
  • Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)
Additional Eligibility Criteria
Your organization must be 1 of the following types:
- Individuals acting as project sponsors or employers in relation to an eligible activity;
- Not-for-profit organizations;
- For-profit organizations (if nature and intent of the activity in its proposal is non commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program priorities and objectives);
- Municipal governments;
- Educational Institutions (including post-secondary institutions), school boards;
- Indigenous organizations (including band councils, tribal councils and self-government entities); or
- Provincial and territorial governments, institutions, agencies and Crown Corporations with approval from the Minister.

Quebec organizations may apply for funding through the National Stream. The Regional Stream is not open to Quebec organizations at this time.

Eligible participants:
- Self-identify as having a permanent physical or mental disability that restricts their ability to perform daily activities;
- Be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial and federal legislation and regulations;
- Be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons who have been granted refugee status in Canada;
- Require assistance to prepare for, obtain and keep employment or self-employment;
- Persons with or without disabilities participating in training to improve their skills and competencies to support workers with disabilities;
- Persons that self-identify as having a permanent or recurring physical, mental, or neurodevelopmental disability that restricts their ability to perform daily activities; or
- Persons with disabilities, who require assistance to prepare for, obtain and keep employment or self-employment; or advance in their careers.

Ineligible expenditures include, but are not limited to:
- Costs associated with fundraising activities;
- Canada Revenue Agency or payroll penalties;
- Parking tickets;
- Fines or penalties;
- Entertainment costs;
- Depreciation on fixed assets;
- Board membership fees;
- Capital costs for the construction of a building or the purchase of land or buildings;
- Purchase of motor vehicles;
- Legal fees and court awards for inappropriate dismissal or other inappropriate/illegal activity;
- Membership fees for private clubs (e.g. golf clubs, gyms) unless part of existing (non-monetary)
- Employment benefits package;
- Staff salary bonuses if not originally negotiated into agreement;
- Purchase of alcoholic beverages;
- Purchase of any illegal substances;
- Unreasonable gifts or unreasonable payments for recognition; and,
- Other costs ineligible as per program terms and conditions.
Pre-Proposal Conference
An overview of the program will be provided during the sessions. These sessions are intended to facilitate the participation of small and underrepresented disability organizations in the application process. ESDC will hold information sessions to provide:
- An overview of this application process
- Guidance on the application process
- Eligibility criteria
- Objectives of the funding
- Priorities

You can participate online or by teleconference. If you are interested, send an email to the ESDC office closest to your organization’s head office.

In your email, specify your preferred language (English or French). If you have an accommodation request in order to participate, please advise the ESDC office before June 13, 2022.
Pre-Application Information
The Call for Proposals (CFP) is open for 8 weeks. You can apply online between May 30, 2022 and July 22, 2022 at 3:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Emailed or mailed applications must have a date stamp no later than July 22, 2022, at 11:59 PST.

Decisions are expected to be given to applicants by early winter 2022.

Online and email applications will receive automatic confirmation of receipt by email. Mailed applications will receive a confirmation of receipt by email within 14 calendar days from the end of the CFP.

An organization can apply with 1 proposal under the National component and 1 proposal under the Regional component. Each proposal must be for different activities. A separate proposal must be submitted for each component.

Create your Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) account. It may take up to 10 business days to finalize your GCOS account. You are strongly encouraged to initiate the one-time GCOS account creation process as soon as possible.

If you need help or accommodations (such as documents in an alternate format, for example, large font, braille, etc.), please send an email before July 15, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. EDT.

For this Call for Proposals, expense reimbursement will be based on actual expenditures incurred. The flat rate option for Administrative Costs and Project Costs will not be available under this Call for Proposals.

Eligibility:
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/disability-opportunity-national-regional.html#h2.4

Applicant Guide: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/disability-opportunity-national-regional/applicant-guide.html
Estimated Size of Grant
Eligible organizations can apply for funding up to $15,000,000 for a project.
Term of Contract
Projects may be up to 3 years (36 consecutive months).
Contact Information
Register for GCOS:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/epb/gcos/index.shtml

Apply online through GCOS:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/epb/gcos/login.shtml

To apply by email or mail:
Send your complete application package by email or mail to the ESDC office closest to your organization’s head office: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/disability-opportunity-national-regional.html#h2.10

For any questions and inquiries, please contact: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/disability-opportunity-national-regional.html#h2.9
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