In collaboration with Canadian Red Cross and United Way Centraide Canada, Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) has announced the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) which is a $350 million funding program via the Government of Canada.
The program is administered by the CFC, but will be supported by local community foundations across Canada.
What are eligible projects?
The ESCF will provide immediate financial support for projects that are serving vulnerable populations as they manage the impacts of COVID-19. Qualified donees may apply for more than one grant, as long as each application describes a distinct project.
Specifically, eligible projects will:
- Clearly address a pressing social inclusion or well-being need caused by COVID-19;
- Serve one or more vulnerable groups (defined below); and
- Be carried out in a short timeframe with a reasonable budget, before March 31, 2021
What are examples of eligible projects?
- Creation of a digital health platform to continue mental health and addictions recovery programming
- Development and delivery of a virtual mental health program for caregivers
- Purchase of food kits for marginalized families experiencing interrupted support services
- Addition of meal service staff at a women’s shelter to meet public health guidelines
- Food purchase assistance for members living on-reserve, where supplies and delivery are interrupted
- Purchase of a freezer by a food bank to accommodate rise in food orders
- Technology purchase and service enabling seniors in-residence to connect with their families virtually
- Increased staffing and supplies at a shelter for women and children fleeing violence
- Preparing and delivering food for persons with disabilities
- Remote arts programming for vulnerable youth
- Procurement and delivery of educational materials to Aboriginal Friendship Centre families
- Development of online social skills curriculum for individuals with special needs,replacing in-person programming
- Deployment of a social worker to provide Deaf community with information on COVID-19 and support to navigate impact relief services
How are vulnerable populations defined?
Children, Youth or Elderly
- Children and youth (ages 0-29)
- Youth ageing out of care
- Seniors and Elders (in and not in care)Vulnerable Workers
- Caregivers
- Workers who are vulnerable (essential, temporary foreign, those in the informal labour market)
Populations Requiring Specific Care or Supports
- People experiencing homelessness
- People struggling with addiction
- People living with mental illness
- People with low-income or living in poverty
- Persons with disabilities
- People experiencing domestic or gender-based violence
- People living in group homes or supportive living (under the age of 55)
- Prison populations (detained and incarcerated)
- Veterans
- Students (postsecondary)
Marginalized Communities in Canada
- Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs)
- Women and girls
- Members of LGBTQ2s+ communities
- Newcomers (Permanent and temporary residents including immigrants and refugees)
- Racialized people (Arab, Black, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Latin American,South Asian, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Other racialized groups)
- Indigenous people (First Nations, Métis, Inuit
Who is eligible to apply?
Examples of qualified donees include:
- registered charities;
- registered Canadian amateur athletic associations;
- registered Canadian municipalities;
- registered municipal or public bodies performing a function of government in Canada.
Who is ineligible to apply?
- Individuals
- the Government of Canada (federal government);
- provincial and territorial governments;
- the Crown; and
- the United Nations.
Qualified donees must be registered on the CRA’s list of qualified donees.
How do I apply?
For more information, the CFC has produced an Applicant Guide for the ECSF, and organizations are encouraged to apply via the Application Portal.
Other information
- Prime Minister announces further support to help Canadians in need (Government of Canada, April 21, 2020)
- Community Foundations Canada ECSF program page