Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities — National or Regional Component
grant_single|update January 24, 2025
Canada
Support for disability inclusion and accessibility
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|noCondition
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|closingDate July 22, 2022
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- grant_single|allIndustries
grant_single|grantors
- Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
- Government of Canada
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
Get up to $15 million for a project that will help individuals and employers create inclusive and accessible workplaces for persons with disabilities, through activities such as coaching, training, and human resources support. This call for proposals is a
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
This grant allows organizations to apply for funding to support activities that promote disability inclusion in the workforce and workplace accessibility. Funding modalities are designed to support a range of projects up to a maximum amount over a specified duration.
- Eligible projects can request a maximum of $15,000,000 in funding.
- Funding is available for projects up to 36 consecutive months in duration.
- Separate proposals must be submitted for national and regional components if applying for both.
- Each eligible organization can submit one proposal per component (National or Regional).
- Projects under the national component must deliver activities in three or more provinces or territories.
- Projects under the regional component must deliver activities in one or two provinces or territories.
- Projects may combine activities from different streams, but must clearly separate information and objectives for each stream within the proposal.
- Funding for this grant is based on actual expenditures incurred, with no option for flat rate reimbursement for administrative and project costs.
grant_single_labels|projects
The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities supports projects enhancing employment inclusivity and accessibility for persons with disabilities. Eligible activities vary based on targeted streams, including individualized support for participants and employer-focused interventions.
- Work Experience activities, which can include wage subsidies for employers to hire persons with disabilities.
- Skills for Employment, providing skills and employment training for participants.
- Self-Employment support to assess and launch business plans for participants with disabilities.
- Enhanced Employment Assistance Services offering tailored support to facilitate employment inclusion.
- Employer Awareness activities to raise the profile of workers with disabilities among employers.
- Enhanced Employer Support to help prepare workplaces for the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
- Career Advancement Work Experience activities such as internships or job-shadowing to help career growth.
- Skills for Advancement initiatives to provide training and professional certification support.
- Employer Supports for Career Advancement to develop career programs and address biases in workplaces.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 4,000,000
Creating an inclusive employment program for persons with disabilities
$ 5,000,000
Launching a skills development initiative for persons with disabilities
$ 5,500,000
Developing a specialized job coaching program for persons with disabilities
$ 4,500,000
Implementing a self-employment training program for persons with disabilities
$ 3,000,000
Organizing accessible career fairs for persons with disabilities
$ 2,500,000
Establishing an employer support network for inclusive hiring
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the type of organization and the nature of the project.
- Your organization must be one of the following types:
- Not-for-profit organizations
- For-profit organizations (if the nature and intent of the activity in its proposal is non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program priorities and objectives)
- Municipal governments
- Educational Institutions (including post-secondary institutions), school boards
- Indigenous organizations (including band councils, tribal councils and self-government entities)
- Provincial and territorial governments, institutions, agencies and Crown Corporations with approval from the Minister - If your organization is established in Quebec, you may apply through the National Component but not the Regional Component.
- Each project must have a maximum duration of 3 years (or 36 consecutive months).
- The maximum funding request for a project is $15,000,000 total.
- For the National Component, project activities must be delivered in 3 or more provinces or territories.
- For the Regional Component, project activities must be delivered in 1 or 2 provinces or territories.
- Projects must clearly indicate the stream(s) under which they propose to deliver each activity.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Eligible applicants for the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities include:
- Not-for-profit organizations
- For-profit organizations, as long as the proposed activity is non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program objectives
- Municipal governments
- Educational Institutions (including post-secondary institutions) and school boards
- Indigenous organizations (including band councils, tribal councils, and self-government entities)
- Provincial and territorial governments, institutions, agencies and Crown Corporations with approval from the Minister
Note: In Quebec, organizations may apply through the National Component due to regional program administration under the Canada-Quebec Agreement. Quebec entities must ensure compliance with An Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30) before signing agreements with the federal government.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
This grant does not specify any exclusions for types of companies or industries based on their status or main activity. The information available primarily outlines eligibility without detailing specific ineligible sectors.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The grant funds projects that support disability inclusion and accessibility in employment, focusing on an inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing labour market barriers, and providing innovative programming. Projects can span across national or regional components with various streams of activities.
- Work Experience programs supporting the hiring of persons with disabilities through wage subsidies and job placements.
- Skills for Employment training, ranging from pre-employment supports to advanced skills development.
- Self-Employment support including business concept assessments and entrepreneurial training.
- Enhanced Employment Assistance Services offering personalized services for work integration.
- Enhanced Employer Support to help employers prepare for workplace inclusion.
- Employer Awareness projects aimed at raising the profile of persons with disabilities and promoting inclusivity.
- Career Advancement Work Experience programs providing job placements for skill enhancement.
- Skills for Advancement initiatives to improve proficiency for higher job roles.
- Employer Supports for Career Advancement to facilitate growth opportunities for employees with disabilities.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
This grant provides funding opportunities for eligible organizations across Canada. Projects must be delivered in one, two, or three or more provinces or territories depending on the component applied for (regional or national).
- National projects must operate in three or more provinces or territories.
- Regional projects must operate in one or two provinces or territories.
- Organizations in Quebec can apply for the National Component but not the Regional Component due to the Canada-Quebec Agreement.
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.
- Project Relevance: Clear link to the objective of the CFP and overall relevance of the proposal (25%).
- Project Management: Clear activities and timelines, feasibility, project experience, results delivery and results measurement indicators (55%).
- Project Budget: Clear, reasonable, and eligible costs to support project activities (20%).
grant_single_labels|apply
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grant_single_labels|otherInfo
The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities grant is focused on supporting disability inclusion and accessibility in employment through innovative projects. It addresses labor market barriers and offers funding up to $15,000,000 for projects running up to three years.
- Application period: Closed as of July 22, 2022
- Funding components: National (3 or more provinces/territories) and Regional (1 or 2 provinces/territories)
- Eligible organizations can apply for one proposal under each component
- Eligible project duration: Up to 3 years (36 consecutive months)
- Average cost per participant guidance: Approximately $12,000
- Streams: Participant-focused, Employer Stream, Career Advancement Stream
- Eligible expenditures: Overhead costs, wages, training, travel, professional fees, etc.
- Ineligible expenditures: Fundraising activities, penalties, entertainment costs, capital costs for construction, purchase of motor vehicles, etc.
- Assessment criteria: Project Relevance (25%), Project Management (55%), Project Budget (20%)
- Supports to employers include coaching, training, HR support, and creating inclusive and accessible workplaces
Apply to this program
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