Deadline: 16-Jan-23
The Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is excited to announce the Contributions Program for Non-Profit Consumer and Voluntary Organizations to produce sound, independent research to help strengthen the consumer’s role in the marketplace and to impartially fulfill their mandates to represent the interests of Canadian consumers.
Objective
- 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.
Funding and Project Streams
The Program funds projects through non-repayable contributions. There are two funding streams under the Program:
- Research Project Stream and
- Development Project Stream.
Research Project 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.
- 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 topics of interest:
- Digital Consumer Protection: examples include online consumer protection (dispute resolutions, peer to peer marketplace, dark patterns, unjustified surveillance, online ratings and reviews); consumer rights and digital marketing (targeted ads and social media); personalized pricing in Canada (e.g. trends and linkages to privacy and data security); disclosure practices and effectiveness (e.g. about privacy, price, policies, etc.), privacy (e.g. trade-offs involved in the personalization of services, generation-specific attitudes to privacy); digitalization of financial services (e.g. effect on banking fees, hardship programs, etc.);
- Systemic Barriers, Affordability and Other Risks to Vulnerable Consumers: examples include the accessibility of trusted sources of information and disinformation practices; impacts of market fluctuations on vulnerable consumers (inflation, housing prices/mortgage payments); health and food safety/security in Canada including supply chain transparency; consumer public education and engagement strategies; the role of accessible technologies in digital consumer protection, impacts of labour shortages on consumers (wait times, reduced services);
- Sustainable Consumption and the Circular Economy: examples include ownership vs. sharing or leasing of products, circular supply chains, right to repair (e.g. importance of repairability in decision-making); individual and organizational sustainable consumption behaviours (use of plastics) and perceptions (reuse systems, recovery, greenwashing and recycling attitudes); charging infrastructure for zero emission vehicles (rebate programs, incentives); sustainable transportation beyond electric vehicles; environmental impacts of teleworking practices;
- Consumers and the Financial Sector: examples include consumer awareness of, and access to, programs related to debt repayment; online and high cost lending products; financial advice (where consumers get advice, consumers’ impression of that advice), price gouging, open banking to enhance consumer well-being (data protection, liability, complaints handling); digitalization of money (disclosure, safeguarding, access); short‑term financing options (including Buy Now Pay Later plans); effectiveness of new consumer protection rules (e.g. re: electronic alerts, express consent requirements, etc.); digital literacy (e.g. how to increase skills required to manage finances online); approaches to better meet the financial services needs of diverse audiences.
- Applicants may submit proposals on relevant consumer issues of importance. Priority will be given to proposals that align with the following topics of interest:
- Development Project Stream
- Development Projects under this stream are aimed at capacity building for consumer organizations. They fall into two categories:
- 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 analyses, 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.
- Consumer Movement 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.
- Development Projects under this stream are aimed at capacity building for consumer organizations. They fall into two categories:
Funding Information
- The total annual Program budget is $1,690,000 and the maximum total amount that can be awarded to a single organization in any given fiscal year is $500,000.
- This year’s call for proposals will again cover two fiscal years (i.e. April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2025) offering the following flexible options to Applicants:
- One year timeline with up to $135,000 per project.
- Two year timeline with up to $200,000 per project
- Research “refresher” of up to $50,000 per project to update past studies examining issues through a “then and now” comparison.
Duration
- Projects can span a period of up to 24 months. The fiscal project cycle will begin April 1, 2023 and end March 31, 2025. Projects may start at any point over the 2023 – 2025 cycle, but must be completed by March 31, 2025. Applicants can select timelines outside the one or two year timeframe (e.g. 9 months or 18 months), however the contribution amount requested must be reflected accordingly.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations that are incorporated as non-profit corporations in Canada and can demonstrate that they:
- Have a governance structure which assures accountability to a membership representing the consumer interest;
- Have a structure, governance and funding arrangements which do not expose them to commercial influence on their research and policy positions;
- Are capable of reaching out to Canadian consumers beyond members of the organization itself;
- Are competent, credible, and accountable in carrying out the projects; and
- Are guided by objectives which are consistent with the objectives of the Program
Ineligible
- Individuals, profit-oriented organizations, industry, trade and professional groupings, representatives of business or commercial interests, government departments, agencies and organizations, academic institutions and their associated research agencies, political parties and organizations involved in partisan political activity do not qualify for Program support as well as all other applicants that do not meet the criteria.
For more information, visit Contributions Program.