Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is a governmental department in Canada focused on creating programs that strengthen the labor market and improve Canadians' quality of life. It offers funding and grants to support employment, skills development, and social innovation for businesses and non-profit organizations, aiming to foster economic growth and social inclusion. View Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)'s website for more information.

129 programs

Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Apply for funding for the Sectoral Initiatives Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for sectoral skills solutions
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 2,500,000 $
Up to 10% of project cost
Eligible Industries
Construction
Manufacturing
Transportation and warehousing
Information and cultural industries
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Canada
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Apply for funding to become an intermediary under the Apprenticeship Service Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for SME apprenticeship intermediaries
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 72,500,000 $
Eligible Industries
Construction
Manufacturing
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Apply for funding to establish a National Institute for People of African Descent under the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding to establish a national Black-led institute
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 7,250,000 $
Eligible Industries
Public administration
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Apply to become a Western intermediary under the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Support for a Western Black-led intermediary
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 1,400,000 $
Up to 25% of project cost
Eligible Industries
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund
The Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for Black-led community initiatives
Eligible Funding
From $40,000 to $250,000
Eligible Industries
Information and cultural industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Types of eligible projects
CommercializationInnovationDigital Transformation
Gatineau, Toronto
Grant and FundingClosed
Call for Concepts – Step 2 – Solicited Call - WORBE: Workplace opportunities: Removing barriers to equity – Closed
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports equity-focused workplace partnerships
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Canada
Other SupportPartnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingLoans and Capital investmentsClosed
Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports social finance investment in Canada
Eligible Funding
From $50,000,000 to $400,000,000
Up to 10% of project cost
Eligible Industries
Finance and insurance
Types of eligible projects
Human ResourcesInnovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Call for proposals: Investment Readiness Program – Stream 1: Readiness support partners (Round 2)
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports organizations building investment readiness
Eligible Funding
Varies by project
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Innovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Canada Service Corps – Micro-grants Stream
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Youth-led micro-grant support across Canada
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Innovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Canada Service Corps – Service Placements National Stream
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for national youth volunteer placements
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 8,000,000 $
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Canada-Manitoba Workforce Tariff Response Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Government of Manitoba
Support for tariff-affected workers and employers
Eligible Funding
Varies by project
Eligible Industries
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Construction
Manufacturing
Wholesale trade
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Manitoba, Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Canada-Yukon Workforce Tariff Response
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Government of Yukon
Training support for tariff-impacted workers
Eligible Funding
Varies by project
Eligible Industries
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Construction
Transportation and warehousing
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Yukon, Canada
Wage Subsidies And InternsClosed
ESDC — Apprenticeship Service Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Support for SMEs to take part in apprenticeship
Eligible Funding
Minimum amount : 5,000 $
Eligible Industries
Construction
Manufacturing
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
ESDC — Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Money for projects that support women in apprenticeship
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
Eligible Industries
Construction
Manufacturing
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Innovation
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports innovative early learning and child care projects
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Types of eligible projects
Innovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Early Learning and Child Care small projects component under the Enabling Accessibility Fund
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Accessible child care centre improvements
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 70,000 $
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
TechnologyConstruction and Renovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Employment Assistance Services (Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities)
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Support for employment services in minority-language communities
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Quebec, Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF)
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for accessibility projects across Canada
Eligible Funding
From $500,000 to $1,000,000
Eligible Industries
Construction
Manufacturing
Retail trade
Information and cultural industries
Types of eligible projects
Construction and Renovation Digital Transformation
Quebec, Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Enabling Accessibility Fund - Enabling Accessibility Fund for mid-sized projects
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for accessible workplaces and communities
Eligible Funding
From $500,000 to $1,000,000
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Construction and Renovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities (EF-OLMC) — Solicited Call for funding for organizations to support development and enhance community vitality
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports community vitality in minority language communities
Eligible Funding
Varies by project
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities - Employment Assistance Services
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports minority-language employment services
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Enhancing Access to Professional Sign Language Interpretation - Step 2 – Solicited Proposals
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports access to professional sign language interpretation
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
Educational services
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Canada
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Enhancing Access to Professional Sign Language Interpretation – Call for Concepts
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports access to professional sign language interpretation
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Types of eligible projects
Human ResourcesInnovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Equitable Access to Reading Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Expands access to alternate format reading materials
Eligible Funding
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Foreign Credential Recognition Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports foreign credential recognition and newcomer integration
Eligible Funding
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Other SupportPartnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Foreign Credential Recognition Program – Innovation and skilled newcomer employment
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports innovative newcomer employment projects
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 800,000 $
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
TechnologyHuman ResourcesInnovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Funding WORBE: Workplace opportunities: Removing barriers to equity
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports employment equity solutions and measurable workplace inclusion results
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
Eligible Industries
Transportation and warehousing
Information and cultural industries
Finance and insurance
Other services (except public administration)
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Funding for Early Learning and Child Care Innovation
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports innovative early learning and child care projects
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Types of eligible projects
Innovation
Canada
Researchers And FacilitiesPartnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Funding for Longitudinal Research Projects Stream – Work Integration Social Enterprises Phase II
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Support for longitudinal WISE research projects
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 550,000 $
Eligible Industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Funding: International Trade and Labour
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for international labour-related initiatives
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
Eligible Industries
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Public administration
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Funding: Occupational Health and Safety
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for workplace health and safety projects
Eligible Funding
Varies by project
Eligible Industries
Educational services
Public administration
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Quality Improvement Projects
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Improving Indigenous early learning quality
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
Eligible Industries
Health care and social assistance
Types of eligible projects
Innovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Urban and non-affiliated labour market stream
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports Indigenous employment and skills development initiatives
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 70,000,000 $
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
Public administration
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Investment Readiness Program – Stream 2: Ecosystem builder (Round 2)
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports social innovation and social finance ecosystem building
Eligible Funding
Varies by project
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Innovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
National AccessAbility Week Funding
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for accessible awareness projects
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 360,000 $
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
National operating funding stream - Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Capacity funding for national disability organizations
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 600,000 $
Eligible Industries
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Network of Early Childhood Stakeholders (NECS) and Implementation of Early Learning and Child Care Initiatives in Francophone Official Language Minority Communities
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for Francophone early learning and child care coordination
Eligible Funding
Varies by project
Eligible Industries
Educational services
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
New Horizons for Seniors Program - Community-based Projects
New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for seniors-focused community projects
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 50,000 $
Eligible Industries
Public administration
Types of eligible projects
Construction and Renovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities — National or Regional Component
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Support for disability inclusion and accessibility
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 15,000,000 $
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Canada
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Partnership Fund
CDE of the Laurentians (CDE), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for Indigenous skills training partnerships
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
Eligible Industries
Public administration
Types of eligible projects
Human ResourcesDigital Transformation
Quebec, Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program-Solicited Call
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports innovative retirement savings pilots for care workers
Eligible Funding
From $1,000,000 to $30,000,000
Eligible Industries
Health care and social assistance
Types of eligible projects
Innovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for PSW retirement savings pilots
Eligible Funding
From $1,000,000 to $30,000,000
Eligible Industries
Health care and social assistance
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Canada
Partnering and CollaborationGrant and FundingClosed
Sectoral Initiatives Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for sectoral skills and workforce solutions
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 2,500,000 $
Eligible Industries
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration
Types of eligible projects
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Supports key sector workforce needs
Eligible Funding
From $5,000,000 to $50,000,000
Up to 10% of project cost
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Skills for Success - Research and Innovation Stream
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for research and innovation in workforce skills
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 7,500,000 $
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Educational services
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration
Types of eligible projects
Human ResourcesInnovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Skills for Success - Training and Tools Stream
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for skills training and assessment tools
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
Eligible Industries
Educational services
Types of eligible projects
Human Resources
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for research to support the skills development of adults
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 7,500,000 $
Up to 50% of project cost
Eligible Industries
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration
Types of eligible projects
Human ResourcesInnovation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Skills for Success Program — Training and Tools Stream
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Funding for foundational and transferable skills training and development
Eligible Funding
Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Human ResourcesDigital Transformation
Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Social Development Partnerships Program - Disability Component (SDPP-D) - Intersectional Capacity Development Stream
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Capacity funding for intersectional disability inclusion
Eligible Funding
From $500,000 to $700,000
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Quebec, Canada
Grant and FundingClosed
Social Development Partnerships Program - Disability Component (SDPP-D) - Organizational Capacity Development Stream
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Capacity funding for disability organizations
Eligible Funding
From $250,000 to $500,000
Up to 50% of project cost
Eligible Industries
All industries
Types of eligible projects
Quebec, Canada

Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

Apply for funding for the Sectoral Initiatives Program

Apply for funding to become an intermediary under the Apprenticeship Service Program

Apply for funding to establish a National Institute for People of African Descent under the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative

Apply to become a Western intermediary under the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative

Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund

Call for Concepts – Step 2 – Solicited Call - WORBE: Workplace opportunities: Removing barriers to equity – Closed

Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed

Call for proposals: Investment Readiness Program – Stream 1: Readiness support partners (Round 2)

Canada Service Corps – Micro-grants Stream

Canada Service Corps – Service Placements National Stream

Canada-Manitoba Workforce Tariff Response Program

Canada-Yukon Workforce Tariff Response

ESDC — Apprenticeship Service Program

ESDC — Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative

Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Innovation

Early Learning and Child Care small projects component under the Enabling Accessibility Fund

Employment Assistance Services (Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities)

Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF)

Enabling Accessibility Fund - Enabling Accessibility Fund for mid-sized projects

Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities (EF-OLMC) — Solicited Call for funding for organizations to support development and enhance community vitality

Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities - Employment Assistance Services

Enhancing Access to Professional Sign Language Interpretation - Step 2 – Solicited Proposals

Enhancing Access to Professional Sign Language Interpretation – Call for Concepts

Equitable Access to Reading Program

Foreign Credential Recognition Program

Foreign Credential Recognition Program – Innovation and skilled newcomer employment

Funding WORBE: Workplace opportunities: Removing barriers to equity

Funding for Early Learning and Child Care Innovation

Funding for Longitudinal Research Projects Stream – Work Integration Social Enterprises Phase II

Funding: International Trade and Labour

Funding: Occupational Health and Safety

Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Quality Improvement Projects

Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program — Urban and non-affiliated labour market stream

Investment Readiness Program – Stream 2: Ecosystem builder (Round 2)

National AccessAbility Week Funding

National operating funding stream - Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability

Network of Early Childhood Stakeholders (NECS) and Implementation of Early Learning and Child Care Initiatives in Francophone Official Language Minority Communities

New Horizons for Seniors Program - Community-based Projects

Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities — National or Regional Component

Partnership Fund

Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program-Solicited Call

Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program– Call for Concepts – Step 1

Sectoral Initiatives Program

Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program

Skills for Success - Research and Innovation Stream

Skills for Success - Training and Tools Stream

Skills for Success Program — Research and Innovation Stream

Skills for Success Program — Training and Tools Stream

Social Development Partnerships Program - Disability Component (SDPP-D) - Intersectional Capacity Development Stream

Social Development Partnerships Program - Disability Component (SDPP-D) - Organizational Capacity Development Stream