2020 Capacity Building Program (Canada): Apply Now

Deadline: 21-Sep-20

In response to the pressures faced by Ottawa’s culture community due to the pandemic, the 2020 Capacity Building Program will focus on COVID-19 recovery efforts to address immediate and emergent needs for local cultural organizations.

The COVID-19 Recovery Fund has been developed by the Cultural Funding Support Unit (CFSU) in collaboration with the Cultural Development and Initiatives Unit (CDI), and the local culture community.

Program Objectives

To assist Ottawa’s local arts, heritage, festival, and fair organizations maintain organizational stability and capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic
To fund successful applications to a maximum of $15,000
To respond to immediate and emergent needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Funding Priorities

Funding priorities will be determined by financial need, impact, and viability. Research on the financial losses and economic impact of the pandemic on the local arts, heritage, and culture sector will inform the priorities of this program.

CFSU will also look at prioritizing applications from the following equity-seeking communities:

Algonquin Anishinabe Host Nation
First Nations
Inuit
Métis
Francophones
2SLGBTQIA
Immigrants / Newcomers
People living in poverty
People of color
People with visible and invisible disabilities
Deaf People
Rural residents
Seniors / Older adults
Women+
Youth

Eligibility Criteria

Local not-for-profit organizations, including professional collectives, with art, heritage, festival, or fair mandate, including organizations representing and/or celebrating First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and equity-seeking communities that:
Serve their local community
Have a Board of Directors consisting of a minimum of 3 members, at least 50% of members must reside in the Ottawa Region
Have their office/mailing address and the majority of their programming and event(s) within the limits of the city of Ottawa, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation or Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation
Have the ability to receive payment in the organization’s name

Ineligibility Criteria

Organizations unable to demonstrate financial need
For-profit organizations
Government agencies
Organizations whose activities come under the jurisdiction of other levels or departments of government, including school boards, hospitals, universities, social services, military programs, business improvement associations.
Political parties

Assessment Criteria

Peer assessors will use the following assessment criteria to evaluate requests for funding:

Demonstrated need
- Clear alignment of the project with the program objectives
- Potential for the project to meet the applicant’s current needs
- Financial need
Impact
- Project’s impact on the applicant’s operations
- Impact on the broader local cultural community the applicant represents
Viability
- Strength of leadership, including staff, consultants, and specialists engaged in the project
- Applicant’s ability to implement the project
- Effective work plan
- Appropriate fiscal management and realistic budgeting.