Contributions Program for Non-Profit Consumer and Voluntary Organizations (Canada)

Deadline: 28-Mar-24

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Office of Consumer Affairs is inviting applications for the Contributions Program for Non-Profit Consumer and Voluntary Organizations to support Canadian non-profit consumer organizations in the production of high quality, independent and timely research on consumer issues.

It also aims to strengthen capacity building for consumer organizations to help fulfil their mandates, increase their visibility, membership and self-sufficiency in the interest of Canadian consumers. This program funds projects of up to 2 years through non-repayable contributions under two funding streams (a research stream and a development stream).

Objectives

• The objective of the Program is to strengthen the consumer’s role in the marketplace through the promotion of sound research and analysis, and by encouraging the financial self-sufficiency of consumer and voluntary organizations.

Project Streams

• Priority will be given to Research and Consumer Movement Development streams.
  • Research Stream
    • Research Projects under this stream are aimed at improving the capacity of consumer organizations to represent the interests of consumers in the marketplace decision-making process through sound research and analysis of consumer protection issues that are national in scope.
  • Consumer Movement Development Stream
    • Development projects aim to strengthen organizations’ capacity to work collaboratively in the interest of Canadian consumers by developing joint plans and initiatives in the areas of policy research, analysis and development; by creating and implementing action plans to address issues of national concern; by making concerted international representations; and by establishing joint representation and communication initiatives with the public, with government, and with industry.
  • Organizational Development Stream
    • Organizational Development Projects aim to strengthen an organization’s capacity to diversify revenue sources and increase its level of self-sufficiency. Projects may include the preparation of multi-year business plans, feasibility studies (including online services) and market analysis, or pilot projects for developing and producing products or services with the potential to generate long-term revenues for the organization, or increase its visibility and/or the membership base.

Funding Information

• The Program funds projects through non-repayable contributions.
• The maximum total amount that can be awarded per project to a single organization is $500,000.

Priority Topics of Interest

• Applicants may submit proposals on relevant consumer issues of importance. Priority will be given to proposals that align with the following topic of interest:
  • Communications Methods and Technology tools:
    • Projects funded under this priority area will aim to support consumer stakeholder groups in developing and implementing various communications methods to optimally inform consumers in real-time on grocery savings in various locations in Canada (e.g., publishing crowd sourcing information). Projects will also support the development of new grocery focused technology tools that will help better inform consumers of price savings in Canada (e.g., web and app development, podcasts, etc.).
  • A secondary topic may be considered based on funding availability:
    • Barriers to Grocery Competition:
      • Projects (e.g. research) funded under this priority will address barriers that prevent international, independent and online retailers from either establishing or expanding in Canadian grocery markets. Barriers for international and independent grocers may include real estate property controls, labelling laws (e.g., bilingual labels which require additional costs at the expense of the grocer), lack of distribution networks with Canadian suppliers and limited grocer brand recognition. Barriers for online grocers may include capital requirements (e.g., require investors in order to build warehouses and distribution centers to both enter the market and expand into a larger number of neighbourhoods), regulatory requirements (e.g., federal and provincial legislation is developing in tandem with the growth of online grocers) and geographic landscape (e.g., few densely populated city centers in Canada limit the expansion of online grocers into rural communities).

Project Duration

• Projects can span a period of up to 18 months. The fiscal project cycle will begin April 1, 2024 and end September 30, 2025.
• Projects may start at any point over the 2024 – 2025 cycle but must be completed by September 30, 2025.

Eligible Activities

• Eligible activities can be regional or national in scope, and, in the opinion of the Minister, contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Program. Eligible activities are those that address one or more of the following:
  • promotion and outreach activities to increase awareness of issues and findings with a goal of supporting and protecting consumer interests (i.e. roundtables, townhalls, workshops, etc.);
  • conduct qualitative or quantitative research and/or analysis to strengthen the consumer’s role in the marketplace;
  • facilitate capacity building to strengthen an organization’s capacity to work collaboratively in the interest of Canadian consumers (i.e. joint research projects, action plans to address issues, communication endeavors to inform and educate the public, government, etc. on key issues or findings, etc.);
  • policy support activities (i.e. participating in government consultation processes);
  • facilitate capacity building to strengthen an organization’s capacity to diversify revenue sources and increase its level of self-sufficiency (i.e. business plans, feasibility studies, pilot projects, etc.); and,
  • other activities that support the objectives of the Program.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants may apply independently, or as a partnership with other organizations. Eligible applicants must be incorporated (federally or provincially) as a not-for-profit organization or association in Canada and/or may be:
  • Not-for-profit social enterprises or co-operatives
  • A consortia of non-profit organizations
  • Post-secondary academic institutions or research institutes
  • Indigenous organizations

For more information, visit Government of Canada.