Applicant guide: Funding for the Scaling Up for Seniors stream of the Age Well at Home Initiative

Question 1 - Legal name

Provide the legal name of your organization. This is usually:

• the name associated with your registration with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
• name that would appear on funding cheques.

Note: The organization must have an active bank account under its legal name upon submission of its funding application. If approved, the payment will be made in the legal name of your organization.

Question 2 - Operating (common) name (if different from legal name)

Provide the operating (or common) name of your organization if it is different from the legal name.

Question 3 - Business or registration number

Provide your 15-digit CRA business number. For registered charities and not-for-profit organizations provide your registration number. For example: 123456789 RR 0001.

Your CRA business number is on tax-related documents or CRA correspondence.

You need to provide a proof of organization type and status: A formal document coming from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that includes your organization’s current address and business number.

Note: If you are unable to provide that document with your application, please provide a rationale as to why you cannot provide it. You should also provide us with a document that includes:

• registration number, or
• proof of provincial incorporation or registration

Please note that you will still be required to send us a formal document coming from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that includes your organization’s current address and business number, but at a later date. We encourage you to get the process of obtaining that document started as early as possible.

For more information, please visit Canada Revenue Agency’s website.

Reminder: ESDC encourages you to apply through Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS). GCOS allows you to apply and track your application status, sign agreements, manage active projects, submit supporting documents, and review past projects submitted through GCOS. However, you can also apply by e-mail or mail.

Question 4 - Organization type

Your answer to this question must be one of the following:

• not-for-profit
• public

Please refer to the list of eligible recipients under the Eligibility section.

Question 5 - Organization category

Select the most appropriate category from the following:

Not-for-profit:

• Indigenous not-for-profit groups
• Associations of workers and/or employers
• Local community, charitable, voluntary organizations
• National non-governmental organizations
• Not-for-profit band councils
• Provincial non-governmental organizations
• Sector councils
• Unions

Public

• Public degree-granting colleges
• Public degree-granting universities
• Public community colleges and vocational school
• Provincial/Territorial Health and Public Health
• School board/Other educational institution not classified elsewhere

For more information, Please refer to the Eligibility section.

Note: Provincially/territorially funded public institutions are eligible to receive funding, with the agreement of the provincial/territorial government. You do not need to submit this agreement with your application. ESDC will help you request this agreement, if required.

Note: Indigenous governments located anywhere in Canada and organizations located in Quebec (headquartered) can choose to propose to scale up within a single province or territory, or deliver services in more than 1 province or territory.

Question 6 - Year established

Provide the year you established your organization.

Questions 7 to 11 - Organization address

Provide the address of your organization. You must provide a complete address in a format recognized by Canada Post. Information is available on the Canada Post website.

Questions 12 to 14 - Telephone, fax and email

Provide the telephone number, fax number (if applicable) and email address of your organization.

Questions 15 to 19 - Mailing address (if different from organization address)

Provide your mailing address if different from your organization's address. This is a mandatory field.

Questions 20 and 21 - Telephone and fax numbers (mandatory field if different from organization number)

Provide the telephone and fax numbers if different from your organization's address.

Question 22 - Organization's mandate

Describe the main activities of your organization, including your mission and objectives.

Select all the target group(s) that best aligns with your organization’s main activities. More than one activity may be selected. 

Primary Contact

Secondary Contact Information

Question 47 - How many employees does your organization currently have?

Provide the total number of people employed in your organization.

Provide the total number of active volunteers in your organization.

The number of employees and number of volunteers must be whole numbers.

Question 48 - Has your organization undergone any important transformations in the past two years?

Important transformations refer to events such as:

• a change in leadership in the board of directors or at the executive level
• an important reduction, increase or turnover in staff
• a merger with or split from another organization
• a change in mandate or main activities, etc.

If you answer "yes" to this question, describe the changes.

Question 49 - Describe how your organization has the experience and expertise to carry out the proposed project activities

Please be advised that this a pre-assessment question and failure to properly answer will prevent your application from being considered for the next steps. Please make sure to be clear and precise.

Describe how your organization has the experience and expertise to scale up and deliver your proposed project. Include the following information:

• you must clearly demonstrate how your organization has recent, significant, and relevant experience in delivering programs or services that target seniors, including primarily low-income and/or vulnerable seniors.
  • we define recent experience as experience within the last 5 years
  • we define significant experience as experience totaling at least 3 years within the last 5 years
  • we define relevant experience as experience delivering programs and services that target similar target group(s) as the proposed project, and similar objectives and target groups as identified in this Call for Proposals
• summarize any past or current activities or projects, delivered by your organization, that is comparable to your proposed project to be scaled up
• if applicable, identify the partner(s) that will help you scale up the proposed service(s) and include information about their past or current activities

Note: if you have a partner, and if you want to provide full detail about the partner’s proposed role in the project for which you are requesting funding, you may provide this under Question 63.

Question 50 - Does your organization owe any amounts to the Government of Canada?

If yes, indicate the amounts owing in the spaces provided. See the following example:

Question 51 - If an amount is owing, is a payment plan in place?

Indicate if a payment plan is in place.

Answering "yes" to this question will not invalidate your application. You must provide details about the type of debt owed and the repayment plan.

Question 52 - Project title

Provide a brief, descriptive project title. Do not use “Age Well At Home”, “Scaling Up” or your organization’s name.

Questions 53 and 54 - Planned project start (yyyy/mm/dd) and end dates (yyyy/mm/dd)

Indicate the planned start and end dates of your proposed project in the given format.

We expect projects to be multi-year and they must end by March 31, 2025.

Projects start dates will vary. We anticipate that projects will start spring 2023.

Proposed activities cannot begin before ESDC approves your project and both you and ESDC have signed a Funding Agreement. ESDC will not reimburse any expense for any activities that take place before we sign the Funding Agreement.

You should not assume any commitment from ESDC until we approve your funding and a representative of ESDC signs the Funding Agreement. We will notify you in writing of the funding decision of your application.

Question 55 - Project objectives (must be clearly linked to the objectives of the program to which you are applying)

Objectives are statements of achievable goals in the delivery of your projects. They provide a context in which the progress of your proposed project can be measured. Your application should show how you would work towards achieving your objectives. Please ensure that there is a logical connection between all elements.

Project objectives should:

• be S.M.A.R.T: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely
• be consistent with the funding program’s objectives and linked to the program objectives
• identify the specific outcome(s) that the project should achieve
• ensure that these outcome(s) are measurable
• identify who will benefit from the project, and
• show how meeting the project objectives will help to achieve the identified outcomes

In this question, provide an overview of clear and achievable objectives (what you plan to accomplish). Please outline the objectives of your proposed project. Describe them in terms that are quantifiable and measurable and can be achieved through your project. They must clearly link to all of the objectives of this Call for Proposals, which are:

• scale up services, previously delivered in Canada, that have already shown positive results in helping seniors age in place, and
• deliver services directly to beneficiaries (seniors or seniors-serving organizations) to help seniors age in place

In your application you must describe the following:

• the service or program you propose to scale up (the service that was evaluated)
• the target group of seniors who will benefit from your proposed project, including the approximate number of individuals
• the geographic areas, including provinces or territories, in which you will deliver the services - proposed services must be delivered in more than *1 province or territory in Canada
• why programs that are currently available do not meet the needs of the target groups of seniors in the province/territory in which the scaling up will occur
• how your project meets the need of the target group of seniors (for example, providing culturally relevant approaches, developing partnerships with organizations from specific faith communities or settlement organizations, etc.)
• how you plan to scale up the services
• the barriers to aging at home and how your project will address them
• if your project primarily targets low-income and otherwise vulnerable seniors, and
• if your project will mobilize volunteers to deliver the services

(*Indigenous governments located anywhere in Canada and organizations located (headquartered) in Quebec can choose to propose to scale up within a single province or territory, or to deliver services in more than one province or territory.)

Question 56 - Project activities (must be broken down into clear steps)

Describe the proposed project activities.

Project activities are the steps that you take to meet the objectives of the project. You must break them down into clear steps. There should be a clear link between the activities and the objective(s) (see Question 55 above). They should be specific, measurable, realistic and relevant to the project objectives and should demonstrate how you will achieve the project outcome(s).

Please refer to the section on Eligible activities, mandatory activities and eligible activities are listed below.

Include the following details:

• briefly describe each activity including a logical sequence
• describe how project activities clearly link to your project objectives; and
• include clear and realistic project timelines and/or duration of each activity:

In your application, you must include the following mandatory activities:

• scaling up (expanding) services that have already demonstrated results in Canada in helping seniors age in place
• developing a sustainability plan
• developing an evaluation plan, and
• participating in a Community of Practice convened by ESDC

Note: If you are funded, you will need to develop an evaluation plan. An evaluation plan includes detailed plans for tracking, measuring and analyzing project results. Evaluation plans focus on assessing the achievement of desired results, the impact of federal funding and overall project success. Applicants may plan for project evaluations to be conducted by a third-party independent evaluator.

Note: Your participation in the Community of Practice convened by ESDC will provide you with additional training and knowledge-sharing opportunities for recipients.

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to the following:

• developing and implementing services
• adapting services or programs to enable the scaling up of those services or programs
• training and supporting volunteers
• reaching out to low-income and otherwise vulnerable seniors
• establishing partnerships and engaging in collaboration with partners (such as developing shared objectives, creating a Community of Practice, etc.)
• developing and sharing information and tools for seniors or seniors-serving organizations
• developing and implementing services to support caregivers of vulnerable seniors (such as respite care services)
• activities related to sustainability planning (staff training, improving fundraising skills, etc.)
• activities related to evaluation (designing data collection methods, collecting and analyzing data, writing evaluation report, etc.)

Each activity should be clearly linked to the project costs outlined in the Budget Detail Template (EMP5570).

Some examples of eligible activities:

• expanding a telephone check-in service for vulnerable seniors in an additional geographic service area to reduce social isolation and help seniors age at home
• providing in-person technical help for seniors to help them use online tools to increase and improve connections with family and friends
• scaling up to new provinces or territories an online tool that connects volunteers with seniors who need transportation to medical appointments
• making a tool and training available to seniors-serving organizations, to help them to better serve seniors in their community and help them age in place

Ineligible activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• projects to address homelessness or housing affordability
• delivering support to health care and home care professionals
• core operations of an organization (administration, human resources, etc.)
• lobbying or politically partisan activities
• delivery of health care and homecare services (such as therapy, physical therapy, dental care, medical devices, etc.)
• projects that duplicate provincially- or territorially-funded health care, home and community care services already available in the jurisdiction(s) in which the applicant proposes to deliver their project activities

Projects can have the following activities as long as the total does not exceed 20% of the budget:

• capital improvements (such as renovating office spaces, community spaces or outdoor spaces; or purchasing capital assets)
• recreation (such as sports, games, the arts)
• financial literacy (such as tax clinics or navigating financial services)
• research, knowledge-translation, awareness-building or conferences

Note: Capital projects and projects that focus on recreation for seniors are examples of projects that may be eligible under the New Horizons for Seniors Program Community-Based program.

Question 57 - Expected results of the project (must be clearly linked to the project objectives and be specific, concrete and measurable)

Expected results are the proposed outcomes and outputs of your proposed project.

Outcomes are the short-term changes that you expect the project to deliver. You can link more than one outcome to an objective. Outcomes answer the questions “How will we know the project is a success?” and “How will the project benefit participants?”

Outputs are direct products or services that you will expect to produce to get the desired outcomes . Several activities could contribute to one output. See examples below.

Describe the expected outcomes and outputs of your proposed project.

Describe how they link to the project objectives in question 55.

It is important to set results that are specific, concrete, and measurable that demonstrate the impact. The results can be qualitative (descriptive) and/or quantitative (numerical). This way you can track the success of your project.

Your project outcomes must relate to one (1) or more of the following Age Well at Home outcomes:

• increase the ability of vulnerable seniors to age at home
• increase capacity of seniors-serving organizations to support aging at home
• increase the services available to seniors
• improve access to services for seniors
• increase seniors’ sense of belonging and connection to their communities

Examples of outcomes include:

• beneficiaries (seniors) report increased confidence in their ability to age at home, as a result of the project
• beneficiaries (seniors) report an increased sense of belonging and inclusion in their communities, as a result of the project
• beneficiaries (seniors) have increased supports and connections in their communities, a result of the project

Examples of outputs include:

• number of beneficiaries (seniors) expected to achieve an outcome as a percentage of those enrolled in a project
• number of individuals (seniors) who will be reached by and benefit from the project
• number of materials (such as toolkits or brochures) produced
• number of communities/provinces/territories to which services were expanded
• an evaluation plan, and
• a sustainability plan

Question 58 - Does the project include Results Measurement Indicators?

Your answer to this question must be “Yes” in order for your project to be considered eligible.

In your application, you must:

• outline the Results Measurement Indicators (RMIs) that will be used. Include at least one RMI for each of the project’s expected results (Outcomes)
• describe how you plan to gather, measure, monitor and report on results achieved by your project
• provide the data collection mechanism(s) to be used for each indicator and briefly describe the mechanism(s). Common data collection mechanisms include: surveys, key informant interviews, focus groups, attendance tracking and verbal feedback)

Note: Advice on selecting RMIs:

• indicators chosen should allow you to demonstrate impact on the target population(s)
• indicators must be measurable
• data must be available and collectible for each indicator

Results Measurement Indicators (RMIs) are quantitative or qualitative measurements used to assess the performance or success of the project towards the project objectives and outcomes. An RMI provides evidence that results have or have not been achieved. They ensure a proper assessment of the progress achieved towards the intended objectives, outputs and outcomes of the project.

Examples of Results Measurement Indicators may include, but are not limited to:

• number of individuals (seniors) participating in the funded project
• number of individuals (seniors) participating in the funded project that are part of a key target population
• percentage of individuals (seniors) participating in funded projects who report:
  • an increase in wellbeing
  • ability to continue to live comfortably at home
  • ability to live safely at home after participating in the project

Question 59 - Does this proposed project fit with your organization's other activities?

If you answer “yes”, you must describe how your proposed project relates to the ongoing work of your organization. You may wish to highlight how achievements and current activities and/or projects relate to your proposed project.

This information helps ESDC to determine the extent to which your organization can undertake the proposed project and to achieve the expected results.

Please include any previous work done by your organization, your partners, and your potential partners. Include details as to how your project builds on, and does not duplicate, this previous work.

Question 60 - Will any of the project activities be delivered in a different location than where your organization is located?

Please indicate “Yes” or “No”.

Your response must be “Yes” in order for your project to be considered eligible.

Please list the main address first, followed by each additional location. If there are more than 5 locations, please include in Appendix A.

Note: Projects must deliver services in Canada and must deliver them in more than one province or territory.

Question 61 - Is your project designed to benefit or involve people in English or French-language minority communities?

If yes, explain if consultations will take place with these communities and provide details, including whether an official language minority community is the focus of your project.

Answering "No" to this question will not result in the refusal of your application.

We are committed to increasing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minorities in Canada by:

• supporting and assisting their development
• promoting the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society

Official language minority communities are English-speaking communities living within the province of Québec and French-speaking communities living outside the province of Québec.

If your proposed project will involve official language minority communities, you should answer "Yes" to this question. Ensure to list and describe this in your answer to Question 56 - Project activities.

In addition, identify:

• the linguistic profile of the beneficiaries targeted by your project
• any special needs of the official language minority communities and if they were consulted, and
• the related budgetary items in Part 3 of the Application for Funding Form (EMP5692)

Read information about the official language minority communities.

Question 62 - Is your project targeting vulnerable groups?

Select the main target group(s) of your project, as outlined in Question 55 – Objectives. More than one may be selected. 

Question 63 - Will any other organizations, networks or partners be involved in carrying out the project?

If you involve other partners with this proposed project, you must provide the following information regarding the partner organization(s):

• name of the organization
• type of organization (for example not for profit, publicly funded, etc.)
• briefly describe the role(s) they will have in the project

Question 64 - Does the project address the program's national, regional or local priorities?

Not applicable for this Call for Proposals. There are no national, regional or local priorities for this application process.

Answer "No" to this question. Answering "No" will not invalidate your application for funding.

Question 65 - Does your project include activities that are listed in the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) Physical Activities Regulations established under the Impact Assessment Act?

Note: Applicants need to verify if your proposed activities are listed under the above Act. Please visit the Justice Laws Website to access the Physical Activities Regulations.

Please indicate “Yes” or “No”.

Your answer should be “No.” If your answer is "No", an Impact Assessment is not required.

If you answer "Yes", you must submit the project description electronically to the IACC for further review. The IACC will determine if an Impact Assessment (IA) is required based on your project description.

ESDC funding will be conditional upon receipt of IACC confirmation that an IA:

• is not required
• a copy of the completed IA
• confirmation that your organization is equipped to appropriately address the IA findings

Question 66 - Source name

If applicable, include the name of the organization that will contribute cash and/or in-kind contributions to your proposed project.

List ESDC as the first source name and any other sources listed below.

Question 67 - Source type

If applicable, name the types of organizations that are contributing funds to this project from the following options:

• crown corporation
• federal department or agency
• foreign governments
• not-for-profit organization
• organization / recipient
• others
• private sector
• provincial government
• regional or municipal government
• union

Question 68 - Cash

A cash contribution is when money is exchanged to cover eligible project costs.

If applicable, include the amount of funding that will be provided.

Question 69 - In-kind ($ value)

In-kind contributions is when there is no money exchanged for the service or resource.

They are non-monetary goods or services donated to the project and for which the donor does not ask for reimbursement.

In-kind support may include:

• donated equipment
• administrative or managerial services, or
• labour necessary for your project that you would have to purchase

To be eligible as an in-kind contribution the contribution must be:

• essential to the project's success
• supported by a contributor’s commitment

In-kind contributions will only be recognized when fair value can be reasonably estimated.

Question 70 - Confirmed cash and in-kind ($)

If applicable, write down if the contributions from other sources have been confirmed. Write the amount for in-cash and amount for in-kind contributions. If so, include letters from each contributing partner(s) confirming cash and in-kind contributions.

Question 71 - Cost category

Summarize your project budget by using the Budget Detail Template (EMP5570).

Here are some examples of eligible costs considered necessary to support the purpose of the funding:

• wages and employment-related costs for staff to undertake eligible activities
• materials, supplies and equipment (including computer equipment and equipment rental)
• administrative costs such as utilities, insurance, or rental of premises
• costs of project evaluations, assessments and reporting
• costs related to planning for the sustainability of the project
• travel and hospitality costs
• costs related to reimbursing volunteer material costs (including mileage, supplies)
• traditional medicines and financial gestures of gratitude/honorarium for Elders
• capital costs and capital assets (must not exceed 20% of the project budget)
• accessibility supports for staff of the recipient
• fees for professional services

Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to:

• costs incurred before the signing of the agreement
• costs related to delivery of health care and homecare services, including:
  • therapy
  • physical therapy
  • dental services
  • assessment or support related to use of medical or mobility devices
• cash payments or reimbursements to project beneficiaries (individual seniors)
• costs related to capital improvements to private residences (including modifications for accessibility)
• purchase of real property (such as buildings or land)

Projects with a main focus on capital improvements (such as renovating office spaces, community spaces or outdoor spaces; or purchasing capital assets) are not eligible. However, these activities may be included as part of a larger service delivery project (must not exceed 20% of your budget).

Questions 72 to 74 - Planned expenditures ($) - ESDC//other/cash- other/in-kind

Provide the total amount of planned expenditures from all sources including ESDC.

"Other" includes funding from another source (not ESDC), whether cash or in-kind.

Question 75 - Associated businesses or individuals

Check all statements that apply to your planned expenditures of ESDC funding.

In carrying out the project, you may have to buy various goods or services needed to perform the project from contractors. You may also contract-out to third parties (outside providers) to perform part of the project activities to achieve the objectives of the project.

"Associated businesses or individuals" means:

• an officer, director, or employee of your organization
• a member of the immediate family of an officer, director or employee of your organization
• a business in which an officer, director or employee of your organization, or a member of their immediate family, has a financial interest
• a business related to, or associated or affiliated with, your organization

Question 76 - Capital assets: Will capital assets be among your planned expenditures with ESDC funding?

Indicate “Yes” or “No”.

If "Yes", explain how your project will benefit from the purchase of capital assets.

A capital asset is any single or composite asset with a purchase value of more than $1,000 (before taxes) that is not physically incorporated into another product and that is still functional at the end of the project.

A composite asset is a collection of unique assets that form one identifiable functional unit, where all components are needed for the asset to be functional. The collection of assets is treated as a single capital asset if the total cost of all individual items together is greater than $1,000 (before taxes).

For example, a personal computer composed of a hard drive, a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and cabling is a composite capital asset. 4 $300 chairs are not capital assets because each chair is functional on its own. As single units, they fall below the established threshold of $1,000 (before taxes).

Question 77 – Further budget details.

Budget details intend to capture a further breakdown of your total eligible project costs over the life of the project. This can be done by project activity and cost category.

Your Application for Funding must include:

• a brief and clear justification of how you intend to use the funds. Costs must be reasonable and support the proposed project activities and scope of work
• a complete Budget Detail Template (EMP5570)