Support for Innovation

Support for Innovation aims to encourage innovative projects that promote linguistic duality and the provision of services in both official languages.

1. Cooperation framework
2. Eligible recipients
3. Funding decisions and evaluation criteria
4. Eligible expenditures
5. Schedule
6. Funding terms
7. Applicant's Guide

I. Cooperation framework

Investments are made primarily to encourage initiatives and innovative projects that provide:

• visibility for Canada ’s linguistic duality;
• opportunities to experiment with linguistic duality in its many forms; or
• the potential for initiation of new organizations or new categories of clients to Canada ’s linguistic duality.

II. Eligible recipients

Financial assistance under Support for Innovation is targeted primarily to duly constituted Canadian non-profit organizations.

Not eligible are:

• individuals;
• governmental organizations.

III. Funding decisions and evaluation criteria

Funding decisions are based on available funds and analysis of requests in accordance with the following criteria:

• Quality of the action plan, which must include:
• a status report in the areas of action concerned;
• a written description of planned programs, services, activities or projects;
• a clear statement of expected outcomes and performance indicators for the full period of the investment;
• links between the proposed activities and the objectives and priorities of the Promotion of Linguistic Duality component;
• a time frame for implementation;
• a budget with a breakdown of projected expenditures and the financial contributions of each party for the proposed programs, services or activities.

• Innovative character of the project or initiative.

• Visibility of the project or initiative (targeted public, diversification and quality of collaborators).

• Effectiveness of the action plan as an instrument for achieving the objectives of the Promotion of Linguistic Duality component and producing expected outcomes (diversification of funding resources, follow-up measures, etc.).

• Adequacy of the proposed budget in relation to the activities to be carried out.

When analysing the projects, a committee responsible for reviewing requests will consider such questions as:

• What is the scope of the project? How many people will be affected by the project? Will the project reach new audiences?

• Are other organizations conducting similar projects? Has the organization established links with others? Has the organization established partnerships? Is this an innovative organization?

• Is the project feasible? Are the proposed activities likely to achieve desired outcomes? Is the budget realistic?

• Has the organization planned to give its project some means of visibility? How?

• Does the organization have a plan for sharing the lessons learned and the success of its project or initiative? How?

• Does the organization have access to other funding? Will the financial assistance provided by the Program play a determining role in the project’s success?

• Has the organization previously received financial assistance from the Program? (The Program strives to fund a range of organizations.) If so, did the organization achieve concrete outcomes from its previously-funded activities? If not, is the organization able to carry out the project?

IV. Eligible expenditures

Eligible expenditures under Support for Innovation include (but are not limited to):

• Costs of design, start-up, management and delivery of programs or activities related to the promotion of linguistic duality.

Note:

• Because of available financial resources, projects that were funded in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 received an average contribution of $50 000.

V. Schedule

Organizations that intend to submit a funding application must consult the Applicant's Guide and complete the request form.

All applications for fiscal year 2007-2008 must be submitted by September 29^th, 2006.

Requests will be analyzed and funding recommendations will be made based on merit, available funds and due diligence principles. All funding decisions will rest with the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Note:

• An invitation to submit a funding request does not constitute a financial commitment on the part of the Department.
• An organization that has not received an invitation may, nonetheless, submit a proposal.
• Only those requests containing all required information as outlined in the "Applicant's Guide" will be considered.
• Application forms for projects beginning in fiscal year 2008-2009 must be submitted by September 28^th, 2007.

VI. Funding terms

Requests will be funded by the Department through grants or contributions. In the case of contributions, agreements will set down requirements for reporting and a payment schedule.

Funds for Support for Innovation are normally administered according to the Canadian government’s fiscal year, April 1 to March 31. A project extending over a different time period, however, may also be administered under a multi-year funding agreement.

Organizations must acknowledge the contribution of the Department of Canadian Heritage in all publicity or advertising programs related to funded activities.

VII. Applicant's Guide

Groups are invited to consult a program officer at (819) 994-2222 before completing a request form. 

Please send your completed request form to:

Applicant's Guide and request form.

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