Canada: Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Deadline: 22-Jul-22

The Government of Canada is currently seeking applications for its Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities – National or Regional Component to support individuals, employers and others that work to support disability inclusion and accessibility in employment.

Objective of the Opportunities Fund Program

The Opportunities Fund (OF) program helps persons with disabilities:
- prepare for, find, and keep good jobs;
- advance in their careers or become self-employed; and
- there by increasing their economic participation and independence.
The program also provides supports to employers to help them make their workplaces more inclusive and accessible.
The OF program funds a wide range of supports and services, including:
- Pre-employment and employability supports;
- Job search supports;
- Work experience;
- Self-employment assistance;
- Wage subsidies;
- Skills development;
- Career advancement supports; and
- Employer engagement and awareness initiatives to encourage employers to hire and retain persons with disabilities and make their workplaces more inclusive and accessible.

Streams

Participant-focused Stream
Employer Stream
Career Advancement Stream

Funding Information

Maximum duration of 3 years (or 36 consecutive months).
Maximum funding request of $15,000,000 total.

Eligible Projects

Regardless of the stream under which you are applying, your project must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- If applying under the National Component, the project activities must be delivered in 3 or more provinces or territories.
- If applying under the Regional Component, the project activities must be delivered in 1 or 2 provinces or territories.
- Must clearly indicate the stream(s) under which you propose to deliver each project activity. You may apply for 1 stream or combine 2 or 3 streams within the same proposal.
- Each stream has its own specific eligibility requirements. You must meet each eligibility requirement listed under the stream(s) you are applying.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants
- Your organization must be 1 of the following types:
  - Individuals acting as project sponsors or employers in relation to an eligible activity;
  - Not-for-profit organizations;
  - For-profit organizations (if nature and intent of the activity in its proposal is non commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program priorities and objectives);
  - Municipal governments;
  - Educational Institutions (including post-secondary institutions), school boards;
  - Indigenous organizations (including band councils, tribal councils and self-government entities); or
  - Provincial and territorial governments, institutions, agencies and Crown Corporations with approval from the Minister.