Government of Canada: Seeking Concepts to Increase Awareness and Take-up of the Canada Learning Bond

Deadline: 16 January 2018

The Government of Canada is currently accepting concepts from organizations interested in receiving funding through the Social Development Partnerships Program – Children and Families (SDPP), for projects to increase awareness and take-up of the Canada Learning Bond (CLB), which will ease access to post-secondary education; thereby, helping improve life outcomes for children.

The Government of Canada (GoC) encourages Canadians to use Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP) to save for a child’s post-secondary education (PSE), which includes full- or part-time studies at a trade school, CEGEP, college, or university, or in an apprenticeship program.

Priority Areas

Priority may be given to projects that:

focus on Indigenous populations (First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit); and/or
include activities that promote the benefits of filing annual taxes and applying for the Canada Child Benefit, both of which are required to assess eligibility for the Canada Learning Bond.

Funding Information

Requested funding from ESDC does not exceed $500,000 per year over three years (total of $1,500,000)

Target Populations

Newcomers: A newcomer is an individual who has been in Canada for a short time, usually less than 5 years.
Rural/remote/isolated communities: A community which is distant from any highly populated urban area and may have limited access to various services (e.g., public transportation, banking, etc).
Older Children: Canada Learning Bond eligible children 6 years of age and older.
Grandparents, Extended Family and Friends: Anyone can open an RESP and name a child as a beneficiary in the RESP account. This category seeks to encourage grandparents, other relatives or friends to help save for the post-secondary education of a child.

Innovative proposals that target the needs of other populations could still be considered. The concept must clearly describe the issues faced by the CLB target population.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible recipients are:
- Not-for-profit organizations;
- Provincial/territorial entities (including educational institutions, health/social services institutions, municipalities); and,
- Indigenous organizations (including band councils, tribal councils and self-government entities).
Ineligible recipients include:
- Provincial/territorial governments;
- For profit organizations; and,
- Individuals.