The Canada Post Community Foundation Frequently Asked Questions (last updated: February 2018)

Transcription

1 The Canada Post Community Foundation Frequently Asked Questions (last updated: February 2018) Applications from registered charities, school programs or community organizations are invited annually for funding of projects consistent with the Foundation s objective to provide support for initiatives that benefit children. Funding from the Foundation will not exceed $25,000 per grant. Grants to schools, school/parent organizations, daycares, sports teams, playground and all recreation facility initiatives (pools, ice rinks, skateboard parks, etc.) will not exceed $5,000. Grants to unregistered organizations will not exceed $5,000. The Canada Post Community Foundation will offer up to three Signature Grants of $50,000 each to support the overall work and mission of national organizations delivering programs or support for children and youth. These Signature Grants are the largest grants awarded by the Canada Post Community Foundation. Here we provide answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we receive during our grant application process. The GRANTS section of the website contains detailed information about the Foundation s granting criteria and areas of concentration. The online application also includes detailed information which you should read carefully before submitting your organization's application. TIMELINES AND PROCESS Q. Who can apply for funding? A. To be eligible for funding from the Canada Post Community Foundation, your organization must: be a registered charity with a Canadian Charitable Registration Number OR a registered non-profit organization with a valid B/N business registration number OR a school (as defined by the education act in each province) OR an unregistered community organization OR a community library OR a registered Canadian amateur athletic association have a volunteer board of directors/organizing committee (this does not apply to schools and community libraries) While paid employees can be used to deliver programming, the board of directors must be made up of unpaid positions; payment for expenses incurred by the directors is acceptable. have a detailed plan for the project being submitted (except for Signature Grant applications) have a budget for the project being submitted (except for Signature Grant applications) have:

2 o independent audited financial statements in the case of all Signature Grant applications o at a minimum, a Review Engagement Report for grant applications from $15,001 to $25,000 o at a minimum, a Notice to Reader Compilation Engagement for grant applications from $5,001 to $15,000 o the organization s financial statement/plan for the current year at a minimum for grant applications of up to $5,000. NOTE: If you do not provide the correct financial documentation according to the grant amount you are requesting, your application will automatically be declined. Audited financial statements, Review Engagement Reports and Notices to Reader/Compilation Engagement reports are independent, professional exams of an organization s financial records, conducted by an accounting professional and using a common set of standards and reviews. If you are unclear what your financial statements are, please verify them with your organization s treasurer or other accounting professional. Q. When will the Foundation accept applications for the 2018 funding round? A. Applications open on Thursday, March 1 and close atnoon (Ottawa time) on Friday, April 6, We will accept applications during this period only, via our online system. No extensions will be granted. Q. When will our organization be notified of the outcome of our application? A. We will notify all organizations of the outcome in August Q. What feedback can you give us on our organization s application? A. In light of the large number of applications we receive, we are unable to provide individual feedback. We will inform your organization of the outcome of the application by August Q. May we meet, or discuss our application on the phone, with the Foundation during the assessment period? A. Because we assess such a large number of applications, we are unable to meet or speak with organizations during the application process. This ensures the program is fair and equitable to all applicants. Q. May we contact the Foundation to find out how the application is progressing? A. In light of the large number of applications we receive, we are unable to give individual updates on applications. Q. What should we do if our organization s circumstances or funding situation changes for example if we secure funding from another source for the same activity as we have applied for? A. Send an to community@canadapost.ca regarding any changes in your application status. We will consider the circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

3 FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS Q. How much money may I apply for? A. First, you need to determine what financial documentation you have; consult the Who can apply for funding? question above. Up to three Signature Grants of $50,000 each could be awarded. Project funding from the Foundation will not exceed $25,000 per grant. Grants to schools, school/parent organizations, daycares, sports teams, playground and all recreation facility initiatives (pools, ice rinks, skateboard parks, etc.) will not exceed $5,000 each. Grants to unregistered organizations will not exceed $5,000 each. Q. What amount of funding is available in 2018? A. The Canada Post Community Foundation has $1.2 million available to grant in the 2018 grant cycle. Q. Our organization has many funding needs. What should we apply for? A. Signature Grant and project grant applications must align with the Foundation s focus on community-based, front-line activities that benefit children. The application should demonstrate that a need will be met and that there is little or no duplication or competition with existing services; in other words, the project should either be unique or complementary. Projects must have a realistic plan, with resources, including any other funding sources, being commensurate with objectives. Projects must involve capacity-building or the creation or expansion of services, rather than the maintenance of existing services. Expansion may include augmentation of a service, addition of a service or inclusion of a new geographic territory. Capacity-building activities could also include hiring and/or training staff; or covering costs directly related to the delivery of a program, such as mileage, facilities rental, communications activities; or the purchase, construction or addition of new equipment or facilities. Finally, a project s expected outcome should address community needs and be measurable. Q. Can my organization apply for general funding? A. National organizations seeking general funding may apply for Signature Grants. However, organizations seeking general funding through project grant applications are deemed ineligible.

4 Signature Grant applicants should demonstrate a proven track record of delivering successful programing that improves the community or individual circumstances for children and youth at a national level. Q. What sectors are funded? A. The Foundation works to distribute funds between projects that meet community, education and health needs in a community. Q. How much should our organization apply for? A. Three things should be considered in determining the amount you apply for: The type of organization you are; remember that grants to unregistered community organizations, schools, school/parent organizations, daycares, sports teams, playground and all recreation facility initiatives (pools, ice rinks, skateboard parks, etc.) will not exceed $5,000 each. The financial documentation you have; refer to the question Who can apply for funding? The amount required for your organization s activity; funding is available up to a maximum of $25,000 per project grant application, $50,000 for a Signature Grant application. Q. What are my organization s chances of receiving funding? A. In 2017, we received almost 1, 800 applications (totalling over $21 million), of which 103 projects were funded (totalling about $1.1 million). Q. Do you have information available on past funding recipients? A. You can read about some of the organizations that have received funding in the past. Q. I have been unsuccessful in the past; should I apply again? A. Yes. Last year s evaluation does not carry over to All submissions will be newly evaluated. Q. My organization received funding last year. Can we apply for another grant this year? A. Yes, provided your organization has started its previous project and that the request is for a different project. APPLICATION FORM Q. Can we submit multiple applications if we operate nationally? A. Organizations may submit a maximum of three applications. Any additional applications will be ineligible. The Foundation will not fund more than one project per applicant during any given grant cycle. Signature Grant applicants may also apply for up to two project grants in the same grant cycle. Recipients of a 2018 Signature Grant are not eligible to apply for a Canada Post

5 Community Foundation Signature Grant in the 2019 or 2020 granting cycle. However, they may continue to apply for project grants. Q. What do I do if my organization does not come under one of the sectors listed in the applications form? A. Please choose the sector that is most closely related to your organization. Your answers to the other questions in the application will provide us with the required information. Q. How can my organization secure multi-year funding? A. Multi-year funding is not available. Q. What happens if I make an error in the application form that has already been submitted? A. The application you submit will be treated as your organization s final application; no further applications or additional information will be accepted. If key fields are missing or blank in the application form, your organization may be ineligible for funding. It is critical to ensure the application has been correctly completed before it is submitted. Q. Will I still be eligible for funding if my accounts are not audited? A. Depending on the grant amount you are requesting, yes. Learn more here. Be sure to attach the appropriate financial documents to match the grant amount requested in your application. If you do not supply the correct financial documentation, your application will automatically be disqualified. Q. My application was refused as I didn t have the correct financials. We are a small group and we cannot afford to have our financials audited. This is unfair. A. The Foundation recognizes that many smaller organizations cannot afford to have their financial affairs audited regularly; it s a financial undertaking many grass-roots organizations cannot afford. The Foundation also has a responsibility to the customers and employees who donate the funds the Foundation grants to ensure there is proper due diligence and review given to both the project and the organizations that apply for funding. The money granted is entrusted to the Foundation with the belief that it will be granted in a fair, respectful and accountable manner. When we developed the funding criteria for the Foundation, we provided a tiered approach to the grant requests and supporting financials required. Grants of up to $5,000 require only a minimal amount of financial documentation (project budget and financial statement for the current year). Grants in higher amounts require increasing financial review documentation, up to independent audited financial statements for Signature Grant rant requests. We believe this approach is the most fair and provides granting opportunities to the most organizations while still maintaining our commitment to Canadians who support us.

6 Q. Your application asks us to list our directors and any affiliation they may have with the Canada Post Community Foundation. Is a relationship between our organization and the Canada Post Community Foundation a consideration during the review of our application? A. No. Nevertheless, we would like to be made aware of any affiliation grant applicant board members may have to the Canada Post Community Foundation to ensure full transparency among our Board of Trustees when applications are reviewed. An affiliation between organizations applying for grants and a Foundation trustee is not given any consideration, either way, during the evaluation process. Q. Can I save a draft application and return later? A. Yes. You can press Save at any point and log out. Don't forget to print or record your specific user ID and password before you exit the form. When you log back in, your draft application will be saved and you can start where you left off. Q. Can more than one person work on an application? A. A number of people can work on an application using the same login details as long as only one person is working on the document at a time. Make sure you save as you go. Q. Can I print a copy of my application? A. Yes. Once you have completed the form, you will be able to print a full copy BEFORE you submit the proposal. NOTE: You are unable to print individual pages of the application form as you work through them. Q. Can I have access to my request once it has been submitted? A. No. You will no longer be able to view or otherwise have access to your application once it is submitted. Therefore, be sure to print a copy for your records before you submit. Q. How will I know the application has been submitted? A. When you submit the application you will receive an automated indicating that the application has been submitted. This will be sent to the address you indicated under primary contact information. The submit button is on the final page. You will not be able to submit your application until all the mandatory questions (marked *) are completed. Q. What should I do if I experience a technical difficulty with the application form? A. Should you have any technical difficulties, please contact technical support by clicking the "Need help?" link in the top right hand corner of the screen. This will open a short form in which you can enter your name, telephone number and address and a brief description of your problem. You will be contacted either by telephone or to provide assistance within one business day.