Grants and Contributions Program to National Voluntary Organizations (call for applications)

Description

There are countless Canadians who've served their sentences and are living law-abiding lives, yet continue to face stigma and barriers because they still have a criminal record. Furthermore, lingering criminal records have led to the overrepresentation of Indigenous, Black and other racialized individuals in our criminal justice system. That's why the Government of Canada is taking action to help more people break free of this stigma by making record suspensions fairer, cheaper and more accessible to everyone.

Background

The Grants and Contributions Program (GCP) for Voluntary Organizations (VOs) provides funding to eligible groups active in the area of corrections, conditional release and community reintegration.

The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposed $77.9 million over two years, starting in 2025-26, to launch Canada's Black Justice Strategy (CBJS). This strategy aims to address the overrepresentation of Black individuals in the criminal justice system. As part of this strategy, up to $12.6 million in grants is available through the GCP-VO to organizations that are Black-led or that serve primarily Black populations, and who provide support to offenders inside the correctional system or after. Funding may be provided as grants and will go towards project that will be delivered between April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.

In addition, up to $1.8 million in ongoing funding is available to eligible Canadian National Not-for-profit organizations that offer corrections and community reintegration programming to the broader Canadian population.

Eligibility criteria

Eligible recipients

The Minister may provide funding to the following classes of recipients in support of the objectives of the GCP-VO, only if they have the legal capacity to enter into an agreement. This call for proposal has two independent streams.

• Stream 1 – For the $12.6 million in Canada Black Justice Strategy-associated funding for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (1-year Project)
  • Black-led Canadian not-for-profit organizations
  • Canadian not-for-profit organizations that serve primarily Black populations
• Stream 2 – For the $1.8 million in ongoing funding towards core expenditures for corrections and community reintegration programming
  • Canadian not-for-profit national organizations.

For more information on who is eligible, please read the Grants and Contributions Program (GCP) to Voluntary Organizations (VOs) Terms and Conditions.

Eligible expenses

You may only use funds for eligible expenses that are approved in the budget submitted with your application.

Eligible expenses must be:

• reasonable
• incremental
• directly related to your project, and
• completed by the end of the project

Eligible expenses include:

• salaries, wages and benefits
• rent (or equivalent to rent) costs, normal utilities, maintenance of offices and other buildings, insurance and taxes
• office equipment, minor capital acquisitions (up to $10,000 per acquisition), program supplies and materials, and educational or outreach materials
• travel and living expenses related to delivery of the project
• training costs, including costs of developing training manuals and procedures
• honoraria defined as time-limited remuneration or gift for a volunteer service or participation
• professional and consulting fees directly related to the project goals, including professional fees for preparing audited financial statements
• computer services, library expenses, research costs and collection and analysis, including: subscription and data access fees related to the project outcomes, such as
  • electronic subscriptions and publications
  • services related to the collection
  • dissemination, provision, analysis and access to external data
• translation and live interpretation
• shipping charges, postage, printing and distribution costs
• administrative expenses, which should not exceed 15% of total funding received from the Government of Canada, if not already included in other line items. The amount must be supported by reasonable methodology and breakdown and be for costs directly related to the administration of the project
• culturally appropriate expenses including gifts (for a maximum of $100), community feasts, ceremonies and ceremonial meals, gatherings, and circles.

Ineligible expenses

• interest charges and costs of borrowing
• travel expenses for delegates or participants not directly related to the project or initiative, invited by others, or voluntarily attending
• non-monetary transactions are not reimbursable, such as amortization of costs

Eligible projects

The projects eligible for funding must focus mainly on Black offenders, which can include:

• Black-specific initiatives
• legal and court support services
• training and educational initiatives
• prison in-reach and release planning
• cognitive skills development programs
• peer-to-peer and self-support initiatives
• women and Indigenous-specific programming
• residential beds in halfway and transitional houses
• sex offender and substance abuse treatment programs, and
• federal parole supervision and community assessments

Funding can also be used to support mainly Black victims, families of offenders and communities by delivering:

• victims assistance programs
• dialogue between offenders and families, and
• restorative justice and conflict resolution services

Project readiness

Proposals should demonstrate readiness to begin the work detailed in their application soon after approval is received. Readiness could mean projects with a solid understanding of risks, costs and timelines; projects that have clear objectives and understood activities; and, that can be delivered starting April 1, 2026.

Diversity, equity and representation considerations

Preference may be given to proposals that can demonstrate and provide proof of the following:

• projects proposals that support and/or mobilize groups such as:
  • Black
  • youth
  • Indigenous
  • LGBTQ+
  • elderly
  • vulnerable, and
  • other diverse communities

Maximum funding per project

The maximum grant amount payable shall not exceed $ 500,000 per recipient and per fiscal year.

Stacking requirement

Total government support (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) must not go over 100% of the eligible expenses.

Recipients are required to share all confirmed and possible sources of funding before the project starts and at the end of a project.

The program will ensure that the funding follows the stacking limits. The federal contribution is based on the total government assistance received, including:

• grants and in-kind contributions
• new investments
• loans and loss coverage
• subsidies
• forgivable loans
• investment tax credits, and
• any other grants or contributions received

If the total amount exceeds the total government assistance limit, repayment will be calculated on a prorated basis, based on total government assistance received toward the same eligible expenses.

Before you apply

Instructions

Review this information carefully, noting all of the required information and supporting documentation. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.

Deadline

Completed applications must be submitted online no later than Friday, January 23, 2026 at 12:00p.m. (noon) PST.

Incomplete applications, or applications received after the deadline, will not be considered for funding.

Application templates

To be considered for funding, an application must include these mandatory documents:

• Online funding application form
• Project workplan template
• Project budget template

Applicants must use the online funding application form to be considered eligible.

Applications must be complete in order to be considered. You must:

• make sure all questions are answered on the application form
  • forms with blank boxes or missing information will not be accepted
• fit all responses within the character limits in the application form
• follow the mandatory budget and workplan templates provided
• attach your project budget and workplan to your application

If you have issues with the online application form or require an alternative format to apply, please email us at gpnvo-psobn@ps-sp.gc.ca.

Work plan template

The work plan provides information on the key activities and timelines. For this application, only include the steps that will help achieve your project anticipated results and outcomes. If your project is approved, you will be required to report on all results achieved. activities. Writing reports will be easier if you only include the key activities.

Note: The work plan template may not be fully accessible. Should you require assistance with the template, please email us at gpnvo-psobn@ps-sp.gc.ca

• GCP-VO Work Plan (Excel 19 KB)

Budget template

Along with your work plan, the budget template forms the basis of your application for funding. Please make sure it is as detailed and accurate as possible to avoid issues and delays in your application.

Note: The budget template may not be fully accessible. Should you require assistance with the template, please email us at gpnvo-psobn@ps-sp.gc.ca

• Budget template for Stream 1 - $12.6 Million - 1 year (Excel 74 KB)
• Budget template for Stream 2 – $1.8 Million - 5 year (Excel 165 KB)

How to build a strong application

To build a strong application, please make sure the following key elements are addressed in the application:

• Use simple language. Only use jargon when necessary. Character limits in the application range from 1000 to 2500 characters.
• Identify your project objectives, ongoing actions, and deliverables, and outline how they are connected.
• Clearly communicate the intended results of the project.
• Demonstrate how your project and/or initiative support the Grants and Contributions Program to Voluntary Organization's goals and expected results.
• Demonstrate how your project targets Black population
• Draft a clear budget and work plan for your project.

Applicants are encouraged to explore the following resources:

• Gender-Based Analysis Plus – Government of Canada's Approach