Strategic Funds

The aim of Strategic Funds is to assist official-language minority communities to encourage their citizens to participate in local community life in their own language, developing the vitality of the culture, and integrating into their local community life through large-scale projects aimed at:

  • improving the community setting (establishing community meeting places, cultural programs and events, community radio, and others);
  • having an impact on several communities (preferably in more than one province or territory);
  • developing new areas of intervention;
  • encouraging the concerted effort and cooperation of several partners towards better structuring the development of official-language minority communities.
  1. Cooperation Framework
  2. Eligible recipients
  3. Funding decisions and evaluation criteria
  4. Eligible expenditures
  5. Schedule
  6. Funding terms
  7. Applicant's Guide
  8. Acknowledgment of the Government of Canada's contribution

I. Cooperation Framework

Contributions may be made directly to organizations or for special projects related to agreements on intergovernmental cooperation on minority-language services.

II. Eligible recipients

Canadian not-for-profit organizations, associations, professional institutions and provincial and territorial governments.

III. Funding decisions and evaluation criteria

Funding decisions are made based on available funds in accordance with the following criteria:

  • Linkages with the objectives of the Strategic Funds sub-component.
  • Relevance of stated needs.
  • Relevance of the proposed activities to the situation described in the application.
  • Linkages with issues related to development of the community or the area being supported, if any.
  • Contribution to increased inclusiveness of official-language minority communities, if applicable.
  • Diversification of partnerships and quality of cooperation with other partners.
  • Projected outcomes and impact on the community.
  • Relevance of proposed performance measurements.
  • Diversification of funding sources.
  • Balance between budget and projected activities.

All funding decisions are made by the Minister of Canadian Heritage

IV. Eligible expenditures

Eligible expenditures include, but are not limited to:

  • costs to set up, deliver and monitor projects that help ensure the long-term development of official-language minority communities in priority sectors.

The following expenditures are not eligible:

  • expenditures related to activities with an international dimension.

V. Schedule

Applications for funding may be submitted at any time during the fiscal year. Applications are considered, on average and as needed, every two months.

VI. Funding terms

The Department provides funding to successful applicants in the form of grants or contributions and establishes the reporting requirements and terms and conditions of payment. Multi-year funding may be provided in some cases.

The funding mechanism (grant or contribution) will be chosen based on the proposal's level of risk and on the criteria established by the Department.

The Department will assume no responsibility for any contractual commitments entered into by the Applicant prior to confirmation of financial support from the Department.

VII. Applicant's Guide and application form

The content of the application must include:

  • Assessment of the situation in the area being applied for (with a description of the facts that led to application being developed and the rationale for selecting the proposed approach).
  • Description of the proposed programs, activities or projects.
  • Clear statement of expected outcomes, with performance indicators for the entire project.
  • Linkages with the objectives of the Strategic Funds sub-component.
  • Linkages with issues related to development of the community or the area being supported, if any.
  • If applicable, measures taken in communication and outreach activities to the other official-language group.
  • Implementation schedule.
  • Budget with a breakdown of the projected expenditures and financial contribution of each party for the proposed programs or activities.

Applicants for funding under the Strategic Funds sub-component must use the Application Guide and Application Form, which can be obtained on the Department's website at: http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/lo-ol/frm/index-eng.cfm.

VIII: Acknowledgment of the Government of Canada's contribution

Recipients are required to acknowledge the contribution from the Department of Canadian Heritage in any promotion or advertising related to the activities from which funding is provided.