CMF — Digital Creators Pilot Program

• Completed Dialogue application form
• Brief profile of current online presence
• Current platforms and audience engagement data with screenshots
• Content overview and posting schedule document
• Audience engagement and business growth strategy plan
• Proposed budget for intended activities
• Certificate of Incorporation, if applicable
• Declaration of Canadian status and corporate information, if applicable

Who is eligible?

• Canadian mid-career digital content creators
• Canadian mid-career podcast creators
• For-profit Canadian companies and corporations

Who is not eligible

• Companies whose primary focus is traditional linear film, streaming, or television content
• Applicants who received funding under the program in 2023-2024
• Applicants who do not meet the required engagement thresholds

Eligible expenses

• Content creation labour, including scripting, filming, editing, and post-production
• Equipment or location rental
• New equipment purchases, up to 20% of total costs
• Business growth and marketing labour, including hires and consultants
• Legal, accounting, software, marketing, and promotion costs
• Incorporation fees, if needed

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Content production costs are not eligible starting in 2026-2027
• Activities mainly for branded, commissioned, or sponsored content are not eligible
• Core business operating costs and capital expenditures, such as rent or real estate purchases, are not eligible
• Alcohol fees are not permitted

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada

• Creator experience and track record (26 points)
• Business plan and growth strategy (40 points)
• Content creativity and potential (30 points)
• Parity: majority control by women-identifying people (2 points)
• Diversity: majority control by a diverse community (2 points)

• Step 1: Create a Dialogue account
  • New applicants must create a Dialogue account before applying.
  • The application portal opens about two weeks before the deadline.
• Step 2: Prepare the application package
  • Complete the application form and required templates.
  • Gather your online presence profile, audience data, content overview, growth strategy, and budget.
  • Include corporate information if applicable.
• Step 3: Submit through Dialogue
  • Upload all required documents separately in Dialogue.
  • Submit the completed application before the deadline.
• Step 4: Wait for the decision
  • The CMF reviews the application and sends the decision through Dialogue.
• Step 5: Sign the agreement if selected
  • Selected applicants must complete incorporation if needed and sign the funding agreement.

• Applications are first reviewed for eligibility by the CMF Program Administrator team
• Eligible applications are then assessed through a selective process using an external independent jury and CMF analysts
• Applicants receive a decision letter through Dialogue about 8 to 10 weeks after the deadline
• Selected applicants must sign a legal funding agreement before receiving funds

• Beneficiaries are required to submit a final report and a cost report at the end of the publishing period.
• Interim success reports must be provided for two years following the submission of the final report.
• 1/3 of program funds are allocated to French-language applicants or content.
• The contribution agreement must be signed by the applicant directly and not by an agency or third party.