What Does the ISSE Hosting Program Fund? Eligible Costs and Coverage
The International Single Sport Events (ISSE) Hosting Program is a Sport Canada initiative under Canadian Heritage that supports Canadian National Sport Organizations (NSOs) to host international single‑sport events in Canada. This funding helps deliver World Championships, World Cups, and Olympic/Paralympic qualification events while advancing high‑performance sport objectives.
This guide explains what the ISSE Hosting Program can fund. It details eligible expenses, common exclusions, cost‑share limits, documentation requirements, examples of funded budgets, how claims are paid, stacking rules with other government funding, and practical budgeting tips for NSOs.
Program Funding Overview
The ISSE Hosting Program provides federal contributions (non‑repayable funding) to help NSOs plan and deliver international single‑sport events in Canada. The program aims to strengthen high‑performance sport development and raise the international profile of Canadian sport.
Key context for funding coverage:
Intake is ongoing, but application timing affects planning and cash flow.
Requests up to $250,000 are considered Tier I; requests over $250,000 are Tier II.
Funding is provided through a Contribution Agreement that sets the terms for what costs can be claimed, when, and how.
This article focuses on what the program will pay for, what it will not, and how to structure your budget and records to meet ISSE requirements.
Funding Amounts & Rates
There is no single fixed percentage applied to every project. ISSE funding is tailored to the approved scope and budget and is subject to government assistance limits.
Key parameters:
Tier definitions:
Tier I: requests up to $250,000.
Tier II: requests over $250,000.
Total government assistance cap:
Combined support from federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal sources cannot exceed 100% of total project‑related costs.
Federal share limits for larger projects:
When the federal contribution is greater than $250,000, the Government of Canada caps its share so it does not exceed:
35% of total event costs (including both eligible and non‑eligible expenditures), and
50% of total government assistance.
Administration expenses:
Reimbursable up to a maximum of 15% of the funding request (for general administration only; excludes project management).
Travel‑related expenses:
Reimbursable travel, accommodation, and per diems must respect Government of Canada travel rates.
Note: Meeting eligibility does not guarantee funding. Final amounts depend on program priorities, the competitive context, and available budgets.
Eligible Expenses
Only project‑related expenses are eligible. Costs can include cash and in‑kind components; however, in‑kind contributions are not reimbursable (see the in‑kind subsection below).
The ISSE Hosting Program typically covers the following categories:
Event operations and venue
Competition and venue expenses directly tied to staging the event
Site operations and technical services necessary to run the field of play
Promotion and communication activities related to the event
Examples include venue rental and setup, field‑of‑play services, overlays, sport‑specific technical requirements, timing/scoring services (if rented), and public‑facing communications and media operations
Travel, accommodation, and per diem
Travel, lodging, and per diems for eligible participants and event delivery needs in line with Government of Canada travel rates
Trip cancellation insurance may be claimed when appropriate
Personal accident or personal medical insurance is not allowable under this category
Administration (capped at 15% of the funding request)
Reasonable general administration costs required to complete project objectives, up to 15% of the funding request
May include:
Salaries and benefits for general administration functions (excluding project management)
Professional fees tied to general administration
Bank charges and utilities
Carbon offsets for travel‑related activities
Purchase of eligible carbon offset credits for travel‑related activities from vendors with third‑party verification and internationally recognized standards such as:
Gold Standard
VER+
VERRA (formerly Verified Carbon Standard)
B.C. Offset System
Reconciliation and Indigenous inclusion initiatives
ISSE expressly supports eligible expenses that advance reconciliation by addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action #87‑91 within the hosting of your event and its impacts/legacies. Examples include:
Professional development focused on Indigenous inclusion and cultural uniqueness (e.g., volunteer training, reconciliation training)
Indigenous facilitators’ honoraria
Partnership development/relationship building with the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC), Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies (PTASBs), and local First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and organizations
Program content and/or policy development and delivery centred on Indigenous inclusion and cultural uniqueness, such as:
Land acknowledgements
Opening and closing ceremonies
Indigenous spaces on venue sites
Access to Elders
Educational content and cultural programming
Resource design, printing, distribution, and Indigenous language support (e.g., translation)
Travel, meals, accommodation, and facility rental related to partnership or development opportunities
Documentation prerequisites for eligible expenses
To be eligible for reimbursement from Sport Canada:
Expenditures must be supported by paid, original invoices.
Expenditures must be incurred in the fiscal year specified in the Contribution Agreement (unless the project start date occurs after the fiscal year start; see disbursement section below).
In‑kind contributions (non‑reimbursable)
In‑kind contributions count as real contributions to project costs but are not reimbursed. To be counted as in‑kind, donations must:
Be essential to the project’s success
Be eligible in nature and otherwise would have been purchased
Be measurable at fair market value (relative to similar goods/services)
Be offset with equal in‑kind revenue in the budget
Ineligible Expenses
ISSE does not reimburse the following:
Prize monies
Capital expenditures (e.g., facility construction, major equipment purchases)
Sanction fees
Taxes for goods or services for which the recipient is entitled to a tax credit or reimbursement
Important notes:
If funding is approved, eligible costs may be supported from April 1 of the fiscal year in which funding is approved, or from the project start date when that date is after April 1.
Any expenses incurred before receiving written funding approval are at the applicant’s own risk.
Expense Documentation Requirements
Strong documentation is essential to support claims and to prepare for audits.
Required standards:
Keep original, paid invoices that detail each transaction, including in‑kind contributions.
Where an invoice cannot be obtained or has been lost, a signed affidavit may be accepted alongside other documents (e.g., credit card records).
Maintain accounting records at the project level so eligible expenditures are identifiable for each contribution.
Retain cancelled cheques, invoices, and bank statements for the required period (typically several years), and be audit‑ready.
If you receive a contribution of $250,000 or more, be prepared to submit an audit of project costs as stipulated in your agreement.
Best practices:
Align your chart of accounts to ISSE cost categories (operations, travel, admin, reconciliation/Indigenous inclusion, carbon offsets).
Track travel expenses against Government of Canada rates to avoid disallowances.
Record in‑kind donations with fair market valuations and corresponding revenue entries.
Examples of Funded Projects
The following illustrative scenarios show how budgets can align with ISSE eligible expenses. Actual approvals vary case‑by‑case.
Example 1: Senior World Cup event (Tier I request)
Total event budget: $1,200,000
ISSE request: $200,000 (Tier I)
Sample eligible cost mix:
Event operations and venue: $110,000
Travel, accommodation, per diem: $50,000
Promotion and communication: $20,000
Administration (≤15% of request): $20,000
Carbon offsets for team/official travel: included within travel category
Other funding sources: province/municipality, sponsorship, ticketing, broadcast, international federation fees (as applicable)
Outcome: ISSE reimburses approved costs based on contribution terms and documentation
Example 2: Senior Continental Championships (Tier II request)
Total event budget: $3,800,000
ISSE request: $600,000 (Tier II)
Federal share checks for Tier II:
Federal contribution may not exceed 35% of total event costs (including non‑eligible costs)
Federal may not exceed 50% of total government assistance
Sample eligible cost mix:
Competition/venue operations: $300,000
Travel, accommodation, per diem: $180,000
Indigenous inclusion initiatives: $40,000
Administration (≤15% of request): $80,000
ISSE contribution disbursed per milestones/claims in the Contribution Agreement
Example 3: Junior World Championships (Tier I request)
Total event budget: $2,100,000
ISSE request: $250,000 (Tier I)
Sample eligible cost mix:
Event operations and venue: $140,000
Travel and per diems: $70,000
Promotion/communication: $20,000
Administration (≤15% of request): $20,000
Emphasis placed on junior development and alignment with the NSO’s high‑performance and LTAD plans
Funding Disbursement & Claiming Process
ISSE support is provided via a Contribution Agreement that outlines payment terms, eligible expenses, reporting, and audits.
What to expect:
Payment model: Contributions may be reimbursed based on claims and/or milestone payments, as set out in the agreement.
Claim submissions: Send itemized claims with original, paid invoices and required summaries.
Timing: The program acknowledges receipt of applications within typical service standards; claims are processed in line with agreement schedules.
Eligible period: If approved, expenditures may be eligible as of April 1 of the fiscal year of approval or from the project start date if later. Costs incurred before written approval are at your own risk.
Reporting: Interim reports may be required; a final report is mandatory. Projects with contributions of $250,000 or more require an audit of project costs.
Compliance reminders:
Travel, meal, and accommodation claims must follow Government of Canada rates.
Official languages, safe sport, and anti‑doping obligations in the agreement must be met throughout delivery.
Public acknowledgement of federal funding in English and French is required.
Stacking Rules
ISSE allows cost‑sharing alongside other funders, within limits:
Total government assistance (federal + provincial/territorial + municipal) cannot exceed 100% of total project‑related costs.
For projects where the federal contribution exceeds $250,000, the federal portion is further limited:
Not more than 35% of total event costs (including non‑eligible costs)
Not more than 50% of total government assistance
Private revenues (sponsors, ticketing, donations) are encouraged to strengthen financial viability.
Practical implications:
If your provincial and municipal support is high, the federal amount may be adjusted to remain within the 50% of total government assistance limit.
When preparing your budget, model multiple scenarios to ensure compliance under different funding outcomes.
Real‑World Budgeting Tips
Use the following strategies to strengthen your financial plan and align with ISSE requirements:
Anchor your budget to the competition plan:
Ensure the event is on the Olympic/Paralympic program and appears in your NSO Hosting Plan and high‑performance/LTAD competition plans.
Build a compliant admin line:
Cap general administration at 15% of your ISSE request and exclude project management salaries from this line.
Control travel costs:
Budget travel, accommodation, and per diems according to Government of Canada rates. Include trip cancellation insurance if needed; exclude personal accident/medical insurance.
Plan Indigenous inclusion meaningfully:
Allocate a clear envelope for training, facilitators’ honoraria, partnership development with ASC/PTASBs/Indigenous communities, ceremonies, Indigenous spaces, and translation.
Use carbon offsets appropriately:
If you include offsets, choose verified providers aligned with recognized standards (e.g., Gold Standard, VER+, VERRA, B.C. Offset System) for travel‑related activities.
Treat in‑kind properly:
Value donations at fair market rates and mirror them as in‑kind revenue. Do not include in‑kind in reimbursement requests.
Avoid disallowed lines:
Exclude prize money, capital expenditures, sanction fees, and taxes you can reclaim.
Model stacking early:
Test federal share against both the 35% of total event cost and 50% of total government assistance rules for Tier II‑sized projects.
Prepare for audit:
Organize invoices by category and fiscal year. Maintain a document checklist and reconcile claims to your general ledger.
Conclusion
The ISSE Hosting Program funds a focused set of costs that directly support the delivery of international single‑sport events in Canada, with clear rules on eligible expenses, administrative caps, travel rates, reconciliation initiatives, and carbon offsets. By structuring your budget around these categories, respecting ineligible cost exclusions, documenting all expenditures, and planning for stacking limits, your NSO can claim ISSE funding efficiently and compliantly. Review your event budget against these guidelines early and engage your program analyst to confirm edge‑case items before you incur costs.
