General Class Contribution Program

Who is eligible?

• Indigenous organizations and governments
• Non-profit organizations
• Academic and public institutions
• Provincial, territorial, or municipal governments
• International organizations
• For-profit organizations

Eligible expenses

• Project-related personnel costs and salaries.
• Purchase of materials and equipment directly required for project delivery.
• Travel and accommodation expenses associated with the execution of the project.
• Consulting and professional service fees linked to project objectives.
• Operating and administrative expenses essential for implementing the funded project, including approved overhead costs.
• Costs for monitoring, reporting, and evaluation activities required by the funding agreement.
• Outreach, communication, and educational expenses necessary to fulfill project requirements.

Eligible geographic areas

• All provinces and territories across Canada, as the General Class Contribution Program is administered nationally by Parks Canada Agency and supports projects with a Canada-wide scope.

• Alignment of the project with Parks Canada Agency’s mandate and Departmental Results Framework.
• Clarity and feasibility of project objectives, design, and work plan.
• Demonstrated management and administrative capacity of the applicant organization.
• Anticipated results and outcomes in support of Parks Canada’s priorities, including Indigenous reconciliation when applicable.
• Appropriate risk assessment and mitigation measures based on project scope and recipient characteristics.

• Step 1: Confirm Project Eligibility
  • Ensure your project activities align with the General Class Contribution Program (GCCP) Terms and Conditions as outlined by Parks Canada.
  • Verify your organization’s management capacity and develop a detailed work plan including estimated costs.
• Step 2: Assess Project Risk Level
  • Complete the GCCP risk assessment template to determine your project's risk level.
  • Consider requirements concerning overhead costs and official languages.
• Step 3: Identify Approval Level and Prepare Approval Package
  • Determine the required approval authority based on project funding amount:
  • Up to $25,000: Director-level approval.
  • $25,001 to $100,000: Executive Director approval.
  • $100,001 to $500,000: Vice-President approval.
  • Over $500,000: CEO approval.
  • For projects over $25,000, prepare a package including the contribution agreement, a letter to the Member of Parliament, a communications approach, a transmittal slip, a briefing note to the CEO, and an approval form.
  • For projects $25,000 or less, prepare the contribution agreement, MP letter, and approval form; communications approach is optional.
• Step 4: Submit Approval Package for Review
  • Send the complete approval package to the Centre of Expertise in Grants and Contributions within Parks Canada for review and compliance verification.
• Step 5: Secure Formal Approvals and Signatures
  • Obtain the necessary signatures as per approval level required.
  • Ensure all parties involved sign the contribution agreement.
• Step 6: Convert and Record Funds
  • Convert the relevant portion of your operational budget into contribution funds for the project.
  • Record funds in Parks Canada's financial system.
• Step 7: Finalize and Send Required Communications
  • Send the signed MP letter to the appropriate Member of Parliament for the project location.

• The General Class Contribution Program (GCCP) is not a traditional funding program and does not have a dedicated budget; funds must be identified for each contribution agreement.
• Recipient organizations are expected to manage and report on project funds in accordance with Parks Canada's requirements, including providing narrative and financial reports.
• Since 2017, the use of the GCCP has steadily increased, with new tools, templates, and risk-based approaches introduced to streamline processes and support a wider range of recipients.
• Feedback from both program users and recipients is recognized as important for ongoing program improvement and management framework updates.