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Home   Programs Crime prevention Funding programs CPAF Overview
Crime Prevention Action Fund
The Crime Prevention Action Fund (CPAF) provides time-limited grant and contribution funding that supports crime prevention initiatives in communities large and small. It aims to build partnerships between sectors (such as policing, community health and voluntary and private sectors) to enhance community capacity to prevent crime through social development. It is a federal program that is delivered regionally in partnerships with the provincial and territorial governments, and nationally for those projects involving more than one jurisdiction. The CPAF is a part of the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS). The NCPS aims to increase sustainable crime prevention activities, develop and share knowledge, and coordinate multi-level support for crime prevention. By extension, community-based organizations play a key role in the NCPS. People working in these organizations know their communities best; they are closer to the problems and the solutions. The CPAF helps these community-based organizations prevent crime through projects that address interrelated social issues in a unified, effective manner. 
The objectives of the CPAF are to: - Enhance the capacity of diverse communities to decrease risk factors and increase protective factors related to crime and victimization
- Promote cross-sector collaboration in crime prevention, with particular emphasis on engaging the voluntary and private sectors and participating in multi-partner initiatives
- Develop, disseminate and transfer information, tools and resources, including best practices and evidence of what works in crime prevention
- Support the development of comprehensive community initiatives to address crime and victimization issues
Some types of crime can be prevented by reducing opportunities for offending by installing locks, better lighting in public spaces, self-defence courses, etc. This approach alone, however, does not prevent someone from becoming a criminal or a victim. A more sustainable approach to crime prevention is to address the underlying social conditions that contribute to people engaging in criminal acts and/or being more vulnerable to victimization. This latter approach is called crime prevention through social development (CPSD). It fosters long-term, sustained change in the health and safety of communities. Only projects that take this approach are funded through the CPAF. This social development approach entails early intervention in the lives of those at risk of becoming offenders or victims. It addresses factors such as family violence, ineffective parenting, substance abuse, low literacy skills and poverty -- factors that place people at high risk of coming into contact with the law as offenders, as victims or both. The CPSD approach first involves identifying the problem and engaging community members who can help to answer the following questions: - What crimes are being committed?
- Who is committing the crimes?
- When and where are crimes being committed?
The next step is to identify root causes that best explain the emergence of the crime problem to develop a clear understanding of why the crimes are being committed. To do this, begin by examining the risk and protective factors at the individual, family, community and societal levels to develop responses to the following: - What is already being done?
- What needs to be done?
- Who needs to be involved?
- What strategy is needed to impact on the crime problem and create sustained change at the community level?
This process can assist communities to develop a responsive approach that can reduce crime and victimization.
Important planning considerations International best practices and previous CPSD experiences in Canada have revealed valuable lessons for anyone planning crime prevention initiatives. When planning your project, consider the following: - Build on strengths
Build on what has been achieved to date, on community strengths and successful initiatives
- Work with partners
Working in partnership increases the likelihood of positive and sustainable outcomes
- Work with good information
Strategies need to be targeted and based on reliable sources of information about the volume, impact, extent and location of crime and victimization in the community; recognizing that formal information about victimization of some groups is under reported
- Be inclusive
Strategies to address crime and victimization are most effective when they respect differences including gender, value all perspectives, remove barriers that make it difficult for minority or marginalized groups to participate, and involve the priority population in all aspects of the project
- Consider the big picture
Take a comprehensive approach that mobilizes people, communities and systems to address the many underlying social conditions and risk factors related to crime and victimization
- Focus on results
Demonstrate the link between the crime and victimization issue, the activities of the project to the desired change in the community.
The maximum grant per recipient for an individual project is $100,000 per year for up to 3 consecutive years. The maximum contribution per recipient for an individual project is $200,000 per year per year for up to 5 consecutive years.
Organizations eligible to apply for funding under the CPAF include: - Not-for-profit volunteer organizations and groups
- Community-based coalitions and networks
- Not-for-profit professional organizations and associations
- Aboriginal communities, including Band and Tribal Councils
- Provincial, municipal and Aboriginal police services
- Provincial, municipal and regional governments
It is not necessary that an organization be incorporated. Crown corporations, for-profit groups and individuals are not eligible for funding under the CPAF.
Only expenses directly related to approved project activities are eligible and can include: - Personnel
- Transportation
- Equipment
- Materials
- Rent/utilities
- Evaluation
- Other
For more detailed information on all eligible project costs, please refer to the guidance document entitled Budget. Please note: The CPAF does not fund 100% of project costs. Organizations and community partners are expected to contribute to the cost of the project, financially or through donations of materials, supplies or services. If applicable, organizations must work to find other sources of funding for activities that will continue beyond funding under the CPAF. - Core or ongoing operating expenses
- Major capital costs such as land, buildings, vehicles, etc.
The CPAF is delivered regionally, in partnership with the provincial and territorial governments, and nationally for those projects involving more than one jurisdiction. To apply for funding from the CPAF, please reference the individual application process as defined by your province or territory. For more information, contact the NCPC office nearest you or call 1-877-302-6272.
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