Apply for funding for Phase II of the Canada Learning Bond Grants and Contributions Pilot Project

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

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Application period

This call ran from February 3, 2021 to March 17, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Note that we will review your application and decide if you will receive funding.

We expect to make funding decisions in June 2021.

Description of the funding

Eligible organizations can apply for a project up to $1,000,000 and up to 24 months in duration.

Eligible organizations may submit only 1 application for funding in this process.

Objective

Under Phase I of the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) Grants and Contributions (Gs&Cs) Pilot Project, we funded 12 community-based projects. These projects delivered activities from March 2019 until March 2021.

Under Phase II, we will fund organizations to test supported enrolment models for CLB eligible children in the following populations:

  • children from families with low incomes
  • children of single parents
  • children in care
  • children and families living in rural or remote regions of Canada
  • youth transitioning to post-secondary education

Models must take into account the barriers that exist in a COVID-19 environment.

The populations listed above typically have lower CLB take-up rates. A large proportion of youth transitioning to post-secondary education risk lacking opportunities to claim or build education savings through the CLB.

Supported enrolment models feature a series of incremental and personalized services and supports. These are tailored to the specific needs of individuals and families to help them access the CLB. These models have emerged as a promising approach to increasing take-up of the CLB and access to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).

Eligibility

To apply for funding, your application must meet all of the following eligibility criteria.

Eligible applicants

Your organization must be one of the following:

  • not-for-profit organization or charity
  • educational institution (including post-secondary institutions), school board, health and social services agency or employment services
  • municipal government
  • Indigenous organizations (including band councils, tribal councils and self-government entities)

Note: RESP promoters (providers) are not eligible.

Eligible projects

Your application must:

  • not exceed 24 months in duration
  • request no more than $1,000,000
  • align with the objective of this funding process
  • target one of the following populations:
    • children from families with low incomes
    • children of single parents
    • children in care
    • children and families living in rural or remote regions of Canada
    • youth transitioning to post-secondary education

Note to organizations located and operating in Québec

If we accept your proposed project, you will need to get approval from the Quebec government before you can accept our funding. Consult the Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif

How we assess your application

If we decide that your application is eligible, we will assess it using the following criteria.

Project objectives

Your application must clearly describe how your project will:

  • test supported enrolment models for Canada Learning Bond (CLB) eligible children in at least one of the following populations:
    • children from families with low incomes
    • children of single parents
    • children in care
    • children and families living in rural or remote regions of Canada
    • youth transitioning to post-secondary education  
  • take into account the barriers that exist in a COVID-19 environment

Project activities, timelines and feasibility

Your application must include a clear and feasible plan to achieve your project's objectives and results. This must include:

  • clear description of your project activities that are relevant to the objective and results of your project
  • clear and feasible timelines and milestones

Project results

Your application must describe clear project outputs and outcomes.

Project budget

Your application must identify project costs that are reasonable and support the project activities.

Considerations

We may further consider projects that:

  • develop and test innovative approaches, such as:
    • new ways of delivering CLB and RESP access supports
    • replicating an existing approach to reach a larger or new target population to increase take-up of the CLB
  • test remote IT delivery models that can increase take-up of the CLB and access to an RESP. All in the context of a COVID-19 environment and, or, for populations living in rural or isolated areas
  • target at-risk populations, such as Indigenous families and children, new immigrants, and children and youth with disabilities
  • include partnerships in order to increase take-up of the CLB and access to RESPs. For example, collaboration between organizations that span across different sectors

Steps to apply

Gather your supporting documents and information

Please send these documents:

  • completed application form
  • completed budget detail template

Apply by email or mail: Closed

  1. Read the applicant guide to complete your application form. This guide includes details for each question on the form
  2. Complete the Application for Funding online or by hand
  3. Complete the Budget detail template
  4. Send your complete application package by email or by mail to:
    • NC-DGOP-POB-CLB-BEC-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
    • mailing address:
      Canada Learning Bond Program submissions
      Coordination Unit Mailstop 402
      National Grants & Contributions Delivery Centre (ESDC)
      140 Promenade du Portage Phase IV Floor 4
      Gatineau QC  K1A 0J9

Note: If you cannot email the documents, you can send them by mail to the address above. In your email, tell us if you are sending other documents by mail.

After you have applied

By email

You will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt.

By mail

You will receive a confirmation of receipt by email within 21 calendar days from the date that we received it.

Contact us

If you have questions about this application process, email us at NC-DGOP-POB-CLB-BEC-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca. We will answer any questions sent before March 17, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

If you need any accessibility related accommodation, please email us at NC-DGOP-POB-CLB-BEC-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca with the details. We strive to accommodate all of your needs in line with accessibility standards. We will accept accessibility requests until March 12, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Information sessions

We will hold an information session. You can participate online or by teleconference. If you are interested, send an email to NC-DGOP-POB-CLB-BEC-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.

In your email, specify your preferred language (English or French) and if you need accommodations. We will provide you with the instructions on how and when to attend.

Glossary

Canada Learning Bond (CLB)

Children are eligible for the CLB if they:

  • are from a low-income family
  • are born on or after January 1, 2004
  • are a resident of Canada
  • have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • are named in a RESP

The CLB provides an initial payment of $500, and $100 for each subsequent benefit year of eligibility. This occurs up to the benefit year in which the beneficiary turns 15, to a maximum of $2,000.

To receive the CLB, the applicant opens an RESP with an institution offering them. Contributions are not necessary. The beneficiary can request their own CLB entitlements. This can be done from the day they turn 18 years of age until the day before they turn 21 years of age.

Supported enrolment models

They feature a series of incremental and personalized supports. These are tailored to the needs of individuals and families to help them throughout the process to access the CLB. They can include interventions to:

  • increase awareness and understanding of RESPs
  • help individuals and families to meet all pre-requirements to receive the CLB. For example, getting a Social Insurance Number and filing of taxes
  • support them through the process to request the CLB and open an RESP

Existing programs and services reaching families with CLB-eligible children can embed these personalized supports

For populations facing greater access challenges, supported enrolment models assume that one-on-one assistance and combinations of supports can be effective. One-time sign-up events or information packages may be less effective.

Innovative approaches

They include:

  • new types of supports
  • new ways of delivering supports (for example, remotely)
  • new combinations of existing supports
  • testing existing models to increase take-up of the CLB and access to an RESP:
    • in a new target population; or
    • in a different context (for example a different geographic location, type of community)
RESP promoter (provider)

The person or organization that offers RESPs to the public. This could include, for example, a bank, a mutual fund company or a credit union.

Find the list of RESP promoters (providers).

Children from families with low incomes

These are families that don't have enough money to buy specific goods and services in their communities. For example food, clothing, housing, and transportation. It can include families with incomes significantly lower than the CLB income thresholds. Such as families receiving social assistance or with part-time or low-wage jobs.

Children of single parents

They are those who:

  • reside in Canada
  • are under the age of 18, and
  • live with a parent who is not living with a spouse or common-law partner
Children in care

They are eligible for the special allowance under the Children's Special Allowance Act. These children are also eligible for the CLB.

Children and families living in rural or remote regions of Canada

This includes areas with a population of less than 1,000 with no or very little access to the closest municipality.

Youth transitioning to post-secondary education

They are:

  • a secondary school student, or
  • a person under 21 years of age and enrolled in a post-secondary education program or planning to enrol in such a program

Note: persons can request their own CLB entitlements from the day they turn 18 years of age until the day before they turn 21 years of age.

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