CMF Sector Development Support - Organizational Advancement Stream

• Dialogue application form
• Activity proposal
• Activity budget
• Certificate of incorporation
• Audited financial statement for the previous fiscal year
• Organization bylaws and organizational chart
• Activity timeline

Who is eligible?

• Canadian-controlled nonprofit corporations
• Screen sector organizations incorporated under federal or provincial legislation
• Organizations with a board of directors and at least one staff member
• Nonprofit screen organizations serving Indigenous, Equity-Deserving, and Regional communities

Who is not eligible

• For-profit organizations
• Government, quasi-government, or government agencies
• Other funding bodies
• Organizations in poor standing or default with the CMF
• Organizations whose primary mandate is outside the Canadian audiovisual sector

Eligible expenses

• Consulting and expert fees
• Contract positions tied to eligible activities
• Software and technical costs
• Design, translation, and interpretation
• Outreach, travel, accommodation, per diems, and rental costs directly related to the activity
• Administrative expenses up to 15% of the total budget

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Core business, operating, and overhead costs
• Content development, production, post-production, or distribution
• Training delivery, events, panels, exhibitions, showcases, or festivals
• Equipment purchases, capital assets, publications, and websites
• Taxes recoverable by the applicant and union dues, fines, penalties, or prizes

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada
• English activities: any part of Canada more than 150 km by the shortest reasonable roadway route from Toronto
• French activities: any part of Canada more than 150 km by the shortest reasonable roadway route from Montreal

• Organizational mandate, mission, and impact
• Leadership, governance, and community representation
• Strength of the proposed activity and expected outcomes
• Collaboration, feasibility, and third-party support
• Budget clarity, financial health, and contingency planning

• Step 1: Prepare application materials
  • Review the guidelines and complete the required templates.
  • Gather supporting documents and PERSONA-ID numbers for key personnel and board members.
• Step 2: Complete the Dialogue application
  • Sign in to the Dialogue portal.
  • Fill in all required fields and upload the supporting materials.
  • Save your work if needed and complete all required sections.
• Step 3: Submit online
  • Submit the application through Dialogue before the deadline.
  • Make sure the submission confirmation appears.
  • Keep the generated application number for your records.

• Applications are reviewed after the deadline on a selective, juried basis
• Decisions are communicated by email or through Dialogue about 10 to 12 weeks later
• Successful applicants receive an offer letter and a financing agreement
• Funding is released after the agreement is executed and required reports are delivered

• Applications are submitted through the Dialogue portal.
• No email submissions or deadline extensions are accepted.
• Technical support is available for Dialogue account and document upload issues.
• Applicants requiring accessibility support should contact the CMF in advance.