Financial support program for government initiatives in community and volunteer action

• Financial assistance is provided through multiple disbursements that may extend over several years, aligned with the duration of the grant agreement.
• Eligible expenditures for funding are detailed in the program's regulatory framework.
• The government support represents a significant participation toward admissible costs, covering a "baseline threshold" to ensure continuity of organizational activities, but the government does not fund the entirety of costs.
• Beneficiaries may retain a surplus of up to six months of operational activity without affecting government support, to promote financial stability and encourage self-financing efforts.

• The applicant must be a non-profit organization.
• The organization must be rooted in its community.
• The organization must maintain an active and democratic associative life.
• The organization must be free to determine its own mission, approaches, practices, and orientations.

Who is eligible?

• Non-profit organizations engaged in community action
• Organizations rooted in the community with democratic and associative life
• Organizations with missions focused on social development, exclusion prevention, and citizenship engagement
• Organizations conducting collective advocacy for rights
• Organizations providing alternative services to those of public administrations

Who is not eligible

• Professional orders (professional regulatory bodies).
• Political organizations or parties.
• Trade unions or labor organizations.
• Organizations with a religious character or primary religious mission.
• Foundations whose main purpose is to collect and redistribute funds.
• Organizations whose operations do not align with community action (e.g., those serving only private or corporatist interests, or created by public entities for administrative needs).

Eligible expenses

• General operating expenses, including rent, office supplies, and technological infrastructure.
• Salaries and wages related to the core operations and alternative services of the organization.
• Expenses associated with the social mission of the organization, such as education on rights, collective rights advocacy, membership activities, and participation in consultations and representation.
• Support and supervision costs for volunteer action.
• Costs related to popular education activities in accordance with the organization’s mission.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

• Alignment of the project with government orientations in community and volunteer action.
• Contribution to social development and improvement of quality of life within the community.
• Demonstration of innovative approaches or responses to new or unmet community needs.
• Clarity and feasibility of the project plan and anticipated outcomes.
• Capacity of the organization to deliver the project and effectively manage resources.

• The program is structured to evolve over time, responding to the needs and feedback from users and government entities.
• Transparency and mutual respect are emphasized in all interactions between the government and community organizations.
• Harmonization of administrative practices across government departments is a key objective of the framework guiding this program.
• Mechanisms are in place for regular evaluation and possible updates of the governing framework based on ongoing experience and feedback.