Applicant guide: Funding for the Women’s Employment Readiness pilot program

Question 1: Legal name

What is your organization’s legal name? The legal name is usually:

• the name on your registration with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and/or provincial/territorial equivalent
• the name used on funding cheques, bank accounts, etc.

Question 2: Operating name (if different from legal name)

What is the operating (or common) name of your organization (if it differs from the legal name)?

Question 3: Business or registration number

What is your 15-digit CRA business number? (For example, 123456789 RR 0001).

For registered charities and not-for-profit organizations, what is your registration number?

You can find your CRA business number on tax-related documents or written communications from the CRA.

For more information, please visit the CRA website.

If you do not have a CRA business number or a charity or not-for-profit registration number, provide one of the following documents:

• if incorporated:
  • a copy of letters of patents
  • articles of incorporation
  • certificate of incorporation
  • memorandum of association
  • your rules, by-laws, or constitution
• if not incorporated:
  • a copy of your rules
  • bylaws
  • council resolutions, or
  • constitution

Question 4: Organization type

Choose one of the following:

• not-for-profit organization
• for-profit organization (provided that the nature and intent of the activity is non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program priorities and objectives)
• municipal government
• Indigenous organization including:
  • band council
  • tribal council
  • self-government entity
• provincial and territorial government, institution, agency or Crown Corporation

Question 5: Organization category

Your answer must be one of the following:

Question 6: Year established

What year was your organization established?

Questions 7 to 11: Organization address

What is your organization’s address? Give a complete address in a format recognized by Canada Post. For more information, please visit Canada Post website.

Questions 12 to 14: Telephone, fax and email

What is your organization’s telephone number, fax number (if it has one) and email address?

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

What is the mailing address of your organization (if it differs from your organization’s address)?

Questions 20 and 21: Telephone and fax (if different from organization address)

What are your organization’s telephone and fax numbers (if the mailing address differs from your organization’s address)?

Question 22: Organization’s mandate

What are your organization’s main activities, including your mission and objectives?

Primary contact

Secondary contact

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

Indicate the total number of employees in your organization.

Question 48: Has your organization undergone any changes in the past 2 years?

Important changes or major changes can include, but not limited to:

• a change in leadership in the board of directors or at the executive level
• a large 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 any of the above, tell us about the changes.

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

Projects without employers:

• You must describe how you meet experience requirements 1 and 2 below or how organizations supporting the project meet the requirements
• You must describe how your organization has, on its own, experience in at least one area from experience requirements 1 and 2 below, to be eligible

Projects with employers:

• You must describe how your organization meets experience requirement 3 in addition to 1 and 2, if your project involves an employer, or how an organization collaborating on the project does meet this requirement
• You must describe how your organization has, on its own, experience in at least 1 of the 3 areas to be eligible

Question 50: Does your organization owe any amount to the Government of Canada?

If yes, how much? Use the spaces provided. Here is an example:

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

Have you set up a plan to pay back the money?

If you answer “yes”, your application can continue. Tell us what you owe and how you are paying back the money.

Question 52: Project title

Give a short title that describes your project.

Questions 53 and 54: Planned project start and end dates

When do you plan to start and end your project?

You must complete your project by March 31, 2023.

Approved projects may start as early as Fall 2021.

You must start your project activities after we approve your project and a signed funding agreement is in place. We can only pay for activities that have started after we sign the agreement. Any activities that occur prior to the signing of the Funding Agreement by our department cannot be refunded.

Question 55: Project Objectives (must clearly link to the program objectives)

Describe how your proposed project will achieve the following objectives:

• provide and test pre-employment and skills development supports. This means provide foundational and transferable skills training (including literacy and essential skills or the Skills for Success Model) and wrap-around supports. These activities must be for 1 or more of the 4 target groups:
  • racialized women and/or Indigenous women
  • women with disabilities
  • women from the LGBTQ2 community, and
  • women with prolonged detachment from the labour force
• where an employer is included in the project, test models to improve workplace inclusivity for at least 1 of the target groups of women. The activity must improve:
  • access to employment, or
  • retention in the workplace

Question 56: Project activities (give clear steps for each one)

You must:

• describe how your project’s activities will provide and test pre-employment and skills development supports for target groups. This means providing and testing foundational and transferable skills training (including literacy and essential skills or the Skills for Success Model) as well as wrap-around supports. Please specify which skill(s) the project will focus on
• describe how your project’s activities, where an employer is included, will test methods to improve workplace inclusivity. This must be for at least 1 of the target groups to improve their access to employment or retention in the workplace
• submit an evaluation plan. Your plan must describe how you will evaluate the project, and collect data over the course of the funding agreement
• describe how you intend to deliver your project so that it addresses the needs of participants in both official languages, if applicable. If not applicable, please explain
• describe the steps that your organization will take to meet the objectives of the project, by providing:
  • clear and relevant description of the project activities
  • clear and feasible project timelines

Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:

• providing and testing pre-employment and skills development supports. This means providing and testing foundational and transferable skills training (including literacy and essential skills or the Skills for Success Model) and wrap-around supports. Examples of wrap-around supports include:
  • childcare
  • living expenses
  • transportation
  • counselling
  • any other supports, or combination of supports, that respond to the unique, and often multiple needs of the participant
• working with employers (where the project includes employers) to improve workplace inclusivity. Activities should improve access to employment or retention in the workplace for women in 1 or more of the target groups
• testing the expansion of proven training models, such as models that have been successfully applied within or outside Canada, to a different region, different groups, or more groups
• developing and testing a trauma-informed approach to providing pre-employment and skills development supports to women in any of the 4 target groups

• 25% of the budget to projects without an employer, but that focus on pre-employment and skills development for participants
• 75% of the budget to projects of the same type, but with employers included. In these cases, activities to improve employer inclusivity are required

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

Outcomes are the short-term and medium-term changes that you expect the project to deliver. You can link more than one outcome to an objective. Outcomes answer the questions, “How do we know the project is a success?” and “How do the activities improve conditions for the target group?”

Outputs are direct products or services that you will produce to get the outcomes you want. They answer the question, “What will the project produce?”

Organizations will be required to report on results. Organizations should collect data through an intersectional lens. Using an intersectional lens will help inform the evaluation of the Women’s Employment Readiness Pilot Program and report on performance indicators. Additional funding is available to improve data collection (See Question 70, administrative costs).

You must clearly describe:

• what your project will achieve and how it aligns with the objective of the call for proposals
• the expected results of your project (outcomes and outputs). They must be specific, concrete and measurable

Participant Outcomes:

• project participants gain access to pre-employment training and wrap-around supports
• project participants improve specified foundational and transferable skills (which can include literacy and essential skills or the Skills for Success Model)
• project participants improve their labour market outcomes (for example, seek further training/education or found a job and job retention)

Employer Outcomes:

• employers increase their awareness of inclusivity barriers in their workplace
• employers adopt measures to improve the inclusivity of their workplace (for example, manager training, staff training, changes to human resources policies and practices, etc.).
• employers and their workplaces become more inclusive

Training Providers Outcomes (as a result of participant and employer outcomes):

• training providers (which may be the Recipients or organizations the Recipient partners with) gain a better understanding of effective training and supports for the target groups

Question 58: Does the project include indicators to measure results?

Your answer to this question must be “yes”.

You must outline how you plan to collect, gather, measure and report on your project’s results.

Indicate the targets for the following required indicators.

Participants:

Number of participants in each of the 4 sub groups of women that require wrap-around supports to access training.

Percent of participants with reported improved foundational and transferable skills / literacy and essential skills or the Skills for Success Model (in any of the 9 defined skills).

Percent of participants who:

• sought further training/education (either to obtain a job or a better job)
• found a job
• maintained employment

Employer(s) (where applicable):

Percent of employers that report they have more awareness of inclusivity barriers in their workplace after completing assessment.

Percent of employers that take measures to improve the inclusivity of their workplaces.

Percent of employers:

• who continue to promote inclusivity in their workplace
• who report they would hire/retain from the 4 participant groups(s)
• whose staff [employees] report feeling more valued, included and safe
• who have increased the proportion of women from the 4 sub-groups in the workplace
• whose participants from the project report feeling more valued, included and safe

Training Providers:

Percent of training providers (which may be the Recipient) who report gaining a better understanding of supports and training needed for the target groups.

Question 59: Does this proposed project fit with your organization’s other activities?

If “yes”, describe how your project relates to the work your organization is doing now.

Question 60: Will any of the project activities take place somewhere other than where your organization is located?

If “yes”, give the main address first and then add other addresses.

If you have more than 5 locations, please continue your answer in Appendix A.

Question 61: Will your project benefit or involve people in English or French Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs)?

We commit to enhance the vitality of the English and French linguistic minorities in Canada. We support and assist their development and foster the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society. Official language minority communities are English-speaking communities established within the province of Québec and French-speaking communities established outside the province of Québec.

Answering “No” to this question will not invalidate your application.

If your proposed project involves official language minority communities, you should answer “yes” to this question. Complete the question following the instructions in the application form.

If you answer yes to this question, we will ask you to:

• publicly announce the project in English and French
• actively offer project-related services to the public in English and French
• make project documents or other project information for the general public available in English and French
• encourage members of English and French language communities to take part in the project
• consider the needs of English and French language communities in providing the services when possible

Find more information about official language minority communities

Question 62: Will any other organizations, networks or partners be involved in carrying out the project?

If you secure partnership(s) or you will collaborate with organization(s) to meet the experience requirements, you must provide:

• information about the partner or partners:
  • name
  • type of organization, such as union, not-for-profit, public (see list in question 66)
• how the partner(s) will participate in the project (time and/or resources)
• how the partners meet the requirements for eligibility of an organization if the partner is being used to meet an experience requirement (Question 49). As listed in Question 49, if your organization does not meet the experience requirement, you must collaborate with one that does. There are 3 experience requirements set out in Question 49:
  • providing and testing pre-employment and skill training
  • serving 1 or more of the target groups
  • where an employer is involved in the project, working with employers to improve inclusivity
• how the partner(s) or partners will benefit from the project results, if applicable.

Question 63: Does the project address the program’s national, regional or local priorities?

Answer “yes” to this question.

Projects under this call must be:

• national in scope (that is serve participants in 2 or more provinces/territories), or
• regional in scope, if serving participants located in Official Language Minority Communities

Question 64: Does your project include activities that are listed in Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) Regulations Designating Physical Activities established under the Canadian Impact Assessment Act 2019?

Not applicable for this funding. Answer “no” to this question.

Question 65: Source name

List Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) as the first source name and include amount requested.

If you are receiving contributions from other sources, include the name(s) of all the organizations that provide cash and/or in-kind contributions to this project.

Question 66: Source type

For each organization providing contributions to your project, indicate the type of organizations using the following list:

• non-profit organizations
• municipalities
• provincial and territorial governments, institutions and Crown Corporations
• Indigenous organizations including:
  • band councils
  • tribal councils
  • self-government entities
• international organizations
• coalitions, networks or committees
• research organizations or institutes
• educational institutions
• public health and social services institutions

Question 67: Cash contributions

Tell us how much in cash contributions you will receive.

Question 68: In-kind contributions

If you are getting in-kind contribution, tell us how much it is worth.

To be eligible as in-kind contribution:

• you must need it for the project to succeed
• the organization who gives it to you also gives you a document showing its commitment

In-kind contributions are goods or services people or organizations give for free. Your organization, other organizations or partners can donate. Donations include equipment, services or labour that you receive for free.

We will recognize in-kind contributions only if we can estimate what a person would pay for the contribution.

Question 69: Confirmed cash and in-kind

Check the box if the contributions are confirmed.

In-kind contributions are non-monetary goods or services that are contributed to the project by the contribution recipient or other organizations/partners for which the contribution recipient will not be requesting re-imbursement.

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

• essential to the project's success
• eligible costs under this Call for Proposals
• supported by a commitment from the contributor, and
• recorded in the recipient's contribution agreement at fair market value

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

Cash contributions and in-kind contributions must be supported in writing from the contributing source.

Question 70: Cost category

Use the budget detail template (PDF format) to provide necessary details to costs categories. List each activity and its associated cost. Costs must be reasonable and directly related to your project activities.

Examples of eligible costs:

• overhead cost of up to 15% of total funding by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

• materials and supplies
• wages and mandatory employment related costs
• professional fees (for example consultants, research, audit, translation)
• training and professional development for staff
• honoraria costs
• printing and communication
• computer services, library expenses, research and evaluation costs, and collection and analysis of data
• other administrative expenses that are agreed to by both parties, for example:
  • hospitality
  • accommodation
  • costs to support persons with disabilities
  • reasonable child care costs
• other costs necessary (training, wrap-around supports) to support the purpose of the funding as approved by ESDC
• participant cost such as:
  • cost for a course or program of instruction
  • living expenses
  • reasonable childcare cost, etc.
• other cost necessary to support the purpose of the funding as approved by ESDC (such as:
  • participant training
  • participant wrap-around supports, such as:
  • child-care
  • transportation
  • counselling
  • living allowances
  • access to technology
  • appropriate work clothing
  • mentorship or sponsorship, etc.
• capital costs, such as equipment purchases

• remote locations
• lack of infrastructure
• limited partnership opportunities
• or other barriers as approved by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion or delegated authority

Examples of ineligible costs:

• costs incurred in the preparation of the proposal
• entertainment costs
• costs outside the start and end dates of the contribution agreement
• fines or penalties
• lobbyist fees
• international travel

Questions 71 to 73: Planned spending ($) (ESDC/other - cash/other - in-kind)

Give the total planned spending from all sources, including Employment and Social Development Canada. The amounts should align with those that you put in section A. Anticipated sources of funding of your Application for funding.

“Other” means a cash or in-kind contribution from other sources other than Employment and Social Development Canada.

Question 74: Associated businesses or individuals

Check all statements that apply to your planned spending of the funding from Employment and Social Development Canada.

In carrying out the project, you may have to buy goods or services you need from contractors. You may also contract out to third parties (outside providers) to carry out part of the project activities.

“Associated businesses or individuals,” means:

• an officer, director or employee of your organization, or a member of their immediate family
• 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 connected to your organization

Question 75: Capital assets: Will capital assets be among your planned expenditures with ESDC funding?

Answer “yes” or “no”.

If “yes”, explain how your project will benefit from buying capital assets.

A capital asset is any single or composite asset that costs more than $1,000 (before taxes). A capital asset is not part of another product and you can still use it at the end of the project.

A composite asset is a group of assets that form one unit, where you need everything for the asset to work. A group of assets is a single capital asset if the total cost is more than $1,000 (before taxes).

For example, a composite capital asset is:

• a personal computer with a hard drive
• a monitor
• a keyboard
• a mouse
• cables

Four chairs that each cost $300 are not capital assets because each chair works on its own. The chairs cost less than $1,000 (before taxes).

Question 76: Further budget details

Include a breakdown of your total costs per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31), by project activity and cost category.

As an example, this could be the breakdown for a 2-year project with $420,000 in eligible costs:

• January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022: $150,000
• April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023: $270,000