How much funding can be received?

The Program Pilot for Digital Creation offers up to $20,000 in funding, aimed at supporting mid-career digital content creators in Canada who produce short videos for social media platforms. Eligible activities include video content creation, business growth, and marketing initiatives.

grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions

The CMF Digital Creators Pilot Program provides financial support to mid-career digital content creators to assist in their growth and increase their content monetization opportunities over a six-month period. The funding is designed to cover both content creation and marketing expenses, supporting creators in producing new audiovisual content exclusively for social media platforms.

Financing is offered as a non-repayable contribution, with a maximum of $20,000 available to each successful applicant.
The CMF's contribution cannot exceed 75% of the total budgeted expenses, requiring beneficiaries to demonstrate additional funding sources or their own financial input to make up the difference.
The grant covers expenses related to video content creation, including labor for scripting, filming, editing, equipment rental or purchase (up to 20% of total expenses), and costs associated with sustainability practices.
Marketing and company growth expenses are also eligible, including incorporation costs, labor for company staff, marketing consultancy fees, legal and accounting services, software subscription fees, and promotional activities.
The funding is disbursed in two installments: 80% upon contract signing and 20% after the approval of the final report and cost report.
Beneficiaries must provide interim "Success Reports" for two years following the submission of their final report.

grant_single_labels|projects

Eligible activities for this grant revolve around the expansion and enhancement of digital content creation. The grant focuses on both content production and business development activities to support digital creators in Canada.

Creation of a minimum of four original, edited video contents under eligible content types such as dramas, documentaries, children's programming, or performing arts shows.
Business activities aimed at growing the creator's audience or subscriber base.
Market and promotional activities to enhance the creator's reach and impact.
Incorporating environmentally sustainable practices and appointing personnel dedicated to these efforts.
Formation of a corporate entity for creators who haven't incorporated yet.

grant_single_labels|admissibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's corporate status, control, and operational compliance.

The applicant must be a for-profit corporation, taxable under the Canadian Income Tax Act.
The corporation must be under Canadian control as defined in sections 26 to 28 of the Investment Canada Act.
The applicant's head office must be located in Canada.
All stakeholders of the corporation must be 18 years of age or older.
The corporation must be in good standing with all industry guilds and associations.
All individuals who hold and control the applicant corporation must have a PERSONA-ID account and include their account number in the application.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

The grant is designed to support Canadian mid-career digital content creators producing short videos exclusively for social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Eligible applicants must be for-profit Canadian corporations that are taxable under the Income Tax Act of Canada, controlled by Canadian citizens, headquartered in Canada, and whose stakeholders are at least 18 years old.
Applicants must be compliant with industry association and guild requirements.
Applicants must have a current and active presence on one or more eligible platforms for at least 12 months, with a regular posting frequency.
Eligible creators must meet minimum engagement thresholds based on subscriber count or video views, which vary by the primary language of content publication (English or French).
Creators from diverse communities, including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, and persons with disabilities, are eligible if the majority shareholders belong to these communities.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply

The grant guidelines do not specify particular types of companies or industries that are ineligible based on status or primary activity. However, there are restrictions related to the completion of previous grant terms.

Beneficiaries of a PPCN grant in the 2023-2024 fiscal year are ineligible to apply for the 2024-2025 period.

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

The grant covers expenses related to content creation and business growth activities.

Labor expenses for content creation, including script writing, filming, editing, and post-production.
Rental of equipment or shooting location.
Purchase of equipment (limited to 20% of the total expenses).
Reasonable expenses related to environmental sustainability practices or hiring personnel for such practices.
Corporate incorporation fees (if not already incorporated).
Labor expenses for company operations, such as hiring a production assistant or a social media manager.
Hiring marketing or branding consultants.
Legal and accounting service fees.
Subscription fees for software.
Marketing and promotion expenses.

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

This grant is available to Canadian-controlled companies as per the eligibility criteria outlined by the funding body. The company must have its head office located within Canada to qualify.

Companies headquartered in Canada.

grant_single_labels|criteria

The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on specific criteria with allocated point scores to ensure alignment with the grant’s objectives.

Past experiences of the creator or creators - 30 points (including knowledge and experience of the applicant and collaborators, if applicable; proof of success in content dissemination and audience engagement on social media platforms; quality and range of previously published content).
Business plan and growth strategy - 40 points (including structure of the business plan; relevance and timeliness of proposed activities to support the applicant's professional trajectory; likelihood of achieving proposed goals or target audience during the period; capability of the applicant and collaborators, if applicable, to carry out proposed activities; ability to complete proposed activities within the budget; potential to contribute to the vibrancy and resilience of Canada's creative economy).
Content - creativity and potential - 30 points (including strength and quality of the proposed content; originality or uniqueness within the ecosystem; Canadian perspective in themes, issues, and demographics; consistency of the proposed content with the types of eligible content of the Canadian Media Fund).

grant_single_labels|register

Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:

Step 1: Preliminary Registration
Create an account in the Dialogue portal.
Prepare a Persona-ID for everyone controlling the applicant company.
Step 2: Prepare Application Contents
Compile a brief profile of current online presence.
Provide a list of platforms with current audience engagement data.
Create a general content presentation document including a publication schedule.
Draft an audience engagement plan/business plan and growth strategy.
Prepare the proposed budget for planned activities.
Prepare an optional video presentation showcasing the applicant's personality, style, and growth plan.
Step 3: Submit Application
Access the Dialogue portal when it opens approximately two weeks before the deadline.
Upload all required application documents to the portal.

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

Bénéficiaires are encouraged to adopt environmentally sustainable practices during content creation.
Content supported by the grant must adhere to Canada's moral standards and not harm the reputation of the FMC.
Incorporating accessible and inclusive design practices, such as alternative text and captions, is encouraged.
Beneficiaries are encouraged to respect guidelines when working with Indigenous Peoples or content.

Apply to this program

Enhancing Digital Content Creation Through Pilot Program

The "Programme Pilote pour la Création Numérique" offers financial support to mid-career digital content creators in Canada to help them expand their reach and monetization on social media platforms. It targets Canadian creators focusing on producing original video content for platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook over a six-month period.

Exploring the Guidelines and Impact of the Digital Creation Pilot Program

In the contemporary digital landscape, content creators need robust support systems to thrive. Addressing this need, the "Programme Pilote pour la Création Numérique" (PPCN) has emerged as a critical initiative by the Fonds des médias du Canada (FMC) for the 2024-2025 grant period. Specifically designed for mid-career digital creators, the PPCN aims to extend financial support tailored to enhancing the creators' capabilities, improving their audience engagement, and sharpening monetization strategies on major social media platforms. By offering up to $20,000 to each eligible candidate, the program underscores FMC’s commitment to fostering the growth and sustainability of Canada's digital creative industry.

Understanding the operational framework of the PPCN is crucial for prospective applicants. The program's structure necessitates the submission of a comprehensive business plan delineating strategic objectives and the proposed content creation during the stipulated six-month publication period. A vital ambition of this initiative is to empower creators to develop at least four pieces of polished content corresponding to FMC’s defined eligible content types, including dramas, documentaries, children's programming, and performing arts, emphasizing Canadian themes and narratives. Through this lens, the program does not merely grant financial aid but seeks to catalyze creators' broader engagement with Canadian culture and storytelling.

The eligibility criteria for participation emphasize Canadian ownership and control, ensuring that creative rights and financial benefits remain within the country's cultural economy. This prerequisite aligns with broader goals of strengthening domestic creative industries and ensuring Canadian content receives the necessary platforms for growth both locally and globally. Applicants are thus required to be Canadian-controlled corporations, actively engaging with one or more of the specified social media platforms for content dissemination, and must meet stipulated Canadian ownership conditions.

As digital content production often involves diverse costs, PPCN funding supports a range of expenses. These include labor costs related to scripting, shooting, and editing, rental or purchase of production equipment, and professional fees for marketing and branding efforts. Moreover, the initiative encourages environmentally sustainable practices, pushing creators to integrate innovative technologies and reduce non-renewable resource use during production.

The selection for this competitive grant rests on applicants demonstrating prior success in engaging audiences on social media, coupled with a viable growth strategy. By fostering projects with significant potential economic and social impact, PPCN not only reinforces the creators’ professional growth but also bolsters the overall digital economy by steering it towards a resilient and inclusive trajectory. An external jury comprising digital creation experts contributes to a rigorous selection process, ensuring that only the most innovative and promising projects receive this prestigious backing.

Furthermore, through periodic progress reports, the program ensures ongoing assessment of each project's growth and challenges, advising necessary changes to align with evolving market dynamics. This ongoing engagement post-funding serves as a dynamic feedback mechanism while furnishing insights for future grant cycles. Ultimately, the Programme Pilote pour la Création Numérique serves as a linchpin in advancing digital content creativity in Canada, offering a sustainable framework that nurtures creativity, innovation, and socio-economic growth within the digital ecosystem.