Deadline: 16-Nov-2026
The Partnership Development Grants Program provides $75,000 to $250,000 in funding to support new and emerging research partnerships in the social sciences and humanities. The program helps research teams, postsecondary institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and partner organizations develop formal collaborations, innovative research initiatives, and knowledge-sharing activities over one to three years.
Partnership Development Grants Program
The Partnership Development Grants Program supports the creation and growth of formal research partnerships that advance knowledge in the social sciences and humanities. The program encourages collaboration among researchers, postsecondary institutions, not-for-profit organizations, governments, Indigenous organizations, philanthropic foundations, and international partners.
By funding partnership development activities, the program helps establish sustainable collaborations, strengthen research capacity, promote innovation, and increase the impact of research across academic and non-academic sectors.
Program Overview
Program Name
Partnership Development Grants Program
Program Area
Research Partnerships
Research Fields
Social Sciences and Humanities
Funding Amount
$75,000 to $250,000
Project Duration
1 to 3 years
Eligible Applicants
Research teams led by eligible Canadian institutions or eligible not-for-profit organizations.
Program Objectives
The program aims to:
- Build new research partnerships.
- Strengthen existing collaborations.
- Support innovative partnership models.
- Advance social sciences and humanities research.
- Encourage interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration.
- Promote knowledge mobilization and knowledge sharing.
- Engage students and emerging scholars in research.
- Develop long-term research capacity.
- Foster collaboration across institutions, sectors, and countries.
Research Focus Areas
The program supports projects involving:
- Social sciences research.
- Humanities research.
- Partnership development.
- Collaborative research initiatives.
- Interdisciplinary research.
- Knowledge mobilization.
- Community-engaged research.
- International research collaboration.
- Institutional partnerships.
- Public, private, and non-profit sector collaboration.
- Student research training.
- Emerging scholar development.
Funding Available
Successful applicants may receive:
- Minimum funding: $75,000
- Maximum funding: $250,000
Funding supports partnership development activities conducted over a period of one to three years.
Eligible Activities
Grant funding may be used to support:
- Partnership development.
- Collaborative research planning.
- Research coordination.
- Knowledge-sharing activities.
- Networking events.
- Workshops and meetings.
- Student and emerging scholar involvement.
- Development of innovative collaboration models.
- Activities that strengthen formal institutional partnerships.
Projects should focus on building partnerships that support future or ongoing research in the social sciences and humanities.
Who is Eligible?
The program is open to research teams that include:
- A Project Director (Applicant).
- One or more Co-Directors.
- Co-Applicants.
- Collaborators.
Applicants must generally be affiliated with a Canadian institution that holds institutional eligibility.
Grant funds may only be administered by:
- An eligible Canadian postsecondary institution, or
- An eligible Canadian not-for-profit organization.
Eligible Co-Applicants and Partners
Eligible participants may include individuals affiliated with:
- Canadian postsecondary institutions.
- International postsecondary institutions.
- Not-for-profit organizations.
- Philanthropic foundations.
- Think tanks.
- Municipal governments.
- Provincial governments.
- Territorial governments.
- Indigenous governments.
- Indigenous governance bodies.
- Band councils.
Collaborators may include any individual making a significant contribution to the project.
Partner organizations may come from:
- Public sector organizations.
- Private sector organizations.
- Canadian organizations.
- International organizations.
- Not-for-profit organizations.
Special Eligibility Requirements
Not-for-profit organizations applying as the administering institution must:
- Include at least one Canadian postsecondary institution as a partner organization.
The proposed partnership must also demonstrate formal collaboration through supporting documentation such as:
- Partnership agreements.
- Governance frameworks.
- Strategic plans.
- Memoranda of understanding.
- Other evidence demonstrating commitment from participating organizations.
Why This Grant Matters
Complex social challenges often require expertise from multiple disciplines and sectors.
The Partnership Development Grants Program enables researchers and organizations to establish strong collaborative networks that improve research quality, strengthen knowledge exchange, support innovation, and create long-term partnerships capable of addressing important social, cultural, and policy issues.
The program also helps prepare partnerships for larger future research initiatives.
How to Apply
Follow these steps:
- Form an eligible research partnership.
- Identify the Project Director and research team.
- Confirm institutional eligibility.
- Develop a collaborative research and partnership plan.
- Obtain formal commitment from partner organizations.
- Prepare governance documents or partnership agreements.
- Complete the grant application.
- Submit all required documentation before the application deadline.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Clearly explain why the partnership is needed.
- Demonstrate meaningful collaboration among partners.
- Include partners with complementary expertise.
- Describe long-term benefits of the partnership.
- Show strong student and emerging scholar involvement.
- Include realistic governance and management plans.
- Provide clear evidence of partner commitment.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these common errors:
- Submitting applications without formal partner commitments.
- Weak collaboration between participating organizations.
- Missing required eligibility documentation.
- Unclear partnership governance.
- Poorly defined research objectives.
- Excluding required Canadian postsecondary partners for eligible not-for-profit applicants.
- Submitting incomplete applications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Partnership Development Grants Program?
It is a funding program that supports the creation and development of formal research partnerships in the social sciences and humanities.
How much funding is available?
Successful projects may receive between $75,000 and $250,000.
How long can projects last?
Projects may be funded for one to three years.
Who can apply?
Eligible research teams led by applicants affiliated with eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions or eligible not-for-profit organizations may apply.
Can international organizations participate?
Yes. International postsecondary institutions and international organizations may participate as partners or collaborators, subject to program eligibility requirements.
Can not-for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. However, eligible not-for-profit organizations must include at least one Canadian postsecondary institution as a partner organization.
What types of partnerships are supported?
The program supports formal partnerships involving academic institutions, governments, Indigenous organizations, not-for-profit organizations, philanthropic foundations, think tanks, private sector organizations, and international partners working together on social sciences and humanities research.
Conclusion
The Partnership Development Grants Program provides significant funding to help researchers and organizations establish innovative partnerships that advance social sciences and humanities research. By supporting collaboration across institutions, sectors, and countries, the program strengthens research capacity, promotes knowledge sharing, and creates sustainable partnerships capable of addressing complex societal challenges through interdisciplinary research and innovation.
For more information, visit Government of Canada.
