CEF Digital Program – Digital Equity Initiatives Stream

• Board Members list (mandatory)
• Audited Financial Statements (mandatory)
• Program Marketing Material (optional)
• Program Specific Material (if applicable)

Who is eligible?

• Incorporated, not-for-profit, community organization, volunteer organization/unincorporated groups with non-for-profit goals and governance structure, whose mandates align with the objectives of the CEF Digital program.
• Groups of two or more organizations with similar vision/project ideas may collaborate on projects.

Who is not eligible

• Foundations; political parties/organizations; for-profit groups and ventures; individuals; and, religious organizations (except in cases where the applicant demonstrates clear boundaries between religious activities and the budget of the proposed program).
• Organizations whose activities are deemed to come under the jurisdiction of other levels, divisions, departments, or agencies of the City or other governments, i.e. school boards, post-secondary institutions, social service organizations, hospitals, business improvement associations.
• Applications signed by a City of Hamilton employee will not be considered.

Eligible expenses

• Retaining external expertise or consultants to work with the applicant on a specific digital equity project or program, including the external experts, consultants, or coaches’ fees and travel costs within Ontario
• Costs associated with infrastructure projects (e.g. renovations, purchase/lease of equipment)
• Volunteer costs (e.g. training, food, non-alcoholic beverages, distinctive clothing)
• Administration
• Evaluation

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Alcohol and associated expenses (permit fees, police, fencing, etc.)
• Ongoing operations (e.g. salaries, wages, travel, supplies, material, fundraising, marketing, governance, and other costs related to ongoing operations)
• Deficit reduction
• Retroactive activity
• HST

Eligible geographic areas

• Hamilton

• Organizational Capacity (25%)
• Program Merit (45%)
• Community Impact (30%)

• Read the City Enrichment Fund General Guidelines and the Digital Equity Initiatives Handbook.
• Attend an optional workshop led by program staff.
• Create an applicant profile and submit application(s) online at https://cityofhamilton.smapply.io/
• Complete all sections of the application online and upload all relevant attachments.
• Submit before the 15 November 2024, 4pm deadline.

• CEF staff will contact you by email or phone to confirm the details in your application and ensure your application is complete.
• If your application receives a passing score (above 60%), your score and recommended level of funding will be presented to the City of Hamilton Grants Sub-Committee for review and approval in spring 2025.
• You will receive confirmation of funding by email, including instructions to receive your funding and a timeline of when funds will be released.
• You must acknowledge the City of Hamilton’s support through CEF in your program materials and promotion.
• You must complete a Final Report and submit it to CEF staff by February of the following year.

• 2026 City Enrichment Fund intake period is now closed.
• Registered attendees for the digital information sessions will receive the meeting link details by email.
• The digital program area is open to eligible organizations within various sector areas.