Deadline: 28-Mar-2024
The Government of Ontario is offering grants to provide opportunities for greater social inclusion, volunteerism and community engagement for older adults, from the safety of their homes or other safe environments.
Priorities
- Building on the purpose and intent of the SCG program, the 2024-25 SCG Program will focus on the following three key priority areas:
- Provide opportunities for older adults to stay active and connected in their communities, such as weekly physical activities (e.g., pickleball), social engagements (e.g., coffee and cards).
- Project Example:
- A local Tamil Association delivers seniors wellness programs including Tai Chi, swimming, and computer literacy training, as well as knitting, cooking, sewing, Parai Drum Class, chess, Tamil Heritage Month recognition, field trips to Niagara Falls, Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, CN Tower, Casa Loma, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
- Project Example:
- Reduce older adults’ social isolation by increasing access to programs and services, including developing technology and digital solutions to support seniors’ social engagement (e.g., best practices and tools such as apps, workshops, etc.).
- Project Example:
- A library offers a series of seminars and workshops for older adults (aged 55+) featuring guest speakers, author visits, and movie screenings. The events, offered inperson and virtually, include relevant topics such as elder abuse, digital literacy, books, genealogy, finances, and social issues.
- Project Example:
- Increase access to information and supports for health prevention and promotion (e.g., falls prevention seminars, elder abuse and ageism prevention, intergenerational activities that help build relationships that improve mental and physical well-being).
- Project Example:
- A local Korean Seniors Association alleviates social isolation with programing such as digital technology coaching with youth, and health care classes focused on improving mental health and addressing elder abuse.
- Project Example:
- Provide opportunities for older adults to stay active and connected in their communities, such as weekly physical activities (e.g., pickleball), social engagements (e.g., coffee and cards).
Funding Information
- Grants are available between $1,000 and $25,000.
- Not-for-profit organizations that have been incorporated and in operation since at least April 1, 2023 can apply for up to $25,000.
- Individuals representing small, unincorporated seniors’ groups can apply for a maximum of $10,000.
Target Populations
- Priority will be placed on projects that are responsive to the needs of a diverse older adult population with emphasis on projects that target older adults in underserved and equityseeking populations, including, but not limited to, older adults who:
- Are First Nations, Inuit, and Métis
- Live with disabilities
- Identify as 2SLGBTQQIA+
- Live in rural and remote areas
- Are Francophone
- Are racialized, newcomers or immigrants
- Have low income
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants must:
- Represent seniors’ groups and/or offer programs or services that directly benefit older adults living in Ontario; and
- Be registered in Transfer Payment Ontario. Create a ONe-key account and register for Transfer Payment Ontario, and can be either:
- A not-for-profit organization incorporated pursuant to the laws of Ontario or Canada; or
- An individual that represents a community organization or group that contributes to the well-being of local older adults.
- Not-for-profit organizations that have been incorporated and in operation since at least April 1, 2023 are eligible to apply for up to $25,000. Examples of these types of organizations include:
- Municipalities or regional governments
- Local Services Boards
- District Social Services Administration Boards
- Indigenous groups, including band council, tribal council, self-governing entity, health access centre, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities or organizations
- Not-for-profit licensed retirement homes
- Individuals that represent local unincorporated community groups are eligible to apply for up to $10,000.
- The individual representing the group will be responsible to the province for the project’s implementation, financial management, and reporting (including documenting all expenditures for audit purposes).
- The group that the individual represents must have been in existence for at least one year prior to the date of application.
- Note: If approved for funding, individuals will be required to provide their Social Insurance Number and other documents as part of the validation process to receive funding.
Ineligible
- The following are not eligible to apply for funding:
- Agencies, boards or commissions of the federal or provincial governments
- Organizations that fundraise to provide funding to other organizations
- For-profit organizations
- Private schools
- Organizations whose purpose is related to political activity (lobbying), as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency
For more information, visit Government of Ontario.
