Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund

Q: How much funding can be received?

Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund Funds up to 95% of admissible expenses.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Q: Is the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund?

Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund is funded by Public Safety Canada (PSC), Government of Canada

Q: Who is eligible for the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund program?

To be eligible for the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund program, you must: • For-profit Canadian organizations are eligible if the activity is non-commercial. • Must provide at least 5% in-kind and/or cash contributions from sources other than Public Safety Canada. • Must submit a complete application aligned with annual priorities.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund?

You can contact Public Safety Canada (PSC) by email at sarsecretariat-secretariatrs@ps-sp.gc.ca.

Q: Where is the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund available?

The Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund program is available across Canada.

Q: Are Indigenous Peoples eligible for the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund program?

Yes, Indigenous Peoples are eligible to apply for the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Canada

Funding for search and rescue initiatives

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Up to 95% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : November 1, 2023
Closing date : January 24, 2024

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Transportation and warehousing
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Closed

Overview

The Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF) offers up to $7.6 million annually to support projects that enhance search and rescue (SAR) prevention and response across Canada. Eligible activities include improving SAR effectiveness, promoting best practices, advancing cooperation, and supporting innovation in SAR systems.

Financing terms and conditions

Total SAR NIF funding will not exceed 95% of the total project cost.
Applicants must secure a minimum of 5% of the total project cost from other sources (in-kind and/or cash contributions).
The SAR NIF has an annual budget allotment of $7.6 million, which is divided among approved projects each year.
Salaries funded must be incremental to the project and cost-efficient compared to hiring a contractor.

Activities funded

Coordinating multi-jurisdictional search and rescue (SAR) exercises.
Conducting research and development initiatives relevant to SAR.
Implementing information sharing projects within the SAR community.
Developing and managing collective SAR data management or analysis systems.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 70,000

Launch an indigenous SAR training initiative to enhance local response capabilities

$ 90,000

Conduct a research study on improving SAR tactics for avalanche-prone regions

$ 58,000

Create a public awareness campaign to prevent common boating accidents

$ 140,000

Develop a new search and rescue drone technology for wilderness areas

$ 170,000

Acquire state-of-the-art water rescue equipment for operations

$ 75,000

Implement a community-based SAR training program to increase volunteer readiness

Eligibility

The applicant must be a not-for-profit Canadian organization, a Canadian volunteer association, a government entity (provincial, territorial, municipal, regional, or Indigenous), a Canadian university or educational institution, an Indigenous organization, or a for-profit Canadian organization provided the project is non-commercial in nature.
The applicant must provide a minimum of 5% of the total project cost as in-kind and/or cash contributions, confirmed by the source.
The project must support one of the Annual Priority Initiatives identified in the current SAR NIF Call for Proposals.
The application must be complete, including the mandatory project budget, work plan, list of equipment/materials/supplies (if applicable), and any required letters of support or commitment.
The applicant must be willing to report project results to the Government of Canada and consent to the collection and use of organizational and project data.

Who is eligible?

Not-for-profit Canadian organizations
Volunteer associations
Provincial, territorial, municipal, regional, and Indigenous governments
Canadian universities and educational institutions
Indigenous organizations
For-profit Canadian organizations (for non-commercial activities)

Who is not eligible

Individuals (not organizations or companies).
Federal departments and agencies.
International organizations.

Eligible expenses

Communications costs directly related to the project.
Materials and supplies required for project delivery.
Professional services (such as consultants or contractors specific to project needs).
Project-related honoraria, if required.
Rental expenses necessary to carry out project activities.
Salaries for incremental project staff (new hires or backfill of current personnel involved in the project, if more cost-efficient than contracting).
Travel expenses, including accommodation, meals/incidentals, and transportation (must not exceed National Joint Council rates and must be within Canada).
Utilities required for the project (excluding ongoing operations and maintenance).
Translation costs related to project activities or deliverables.

Eligible geographic areas

All provinces and territories across Canada are eligible, including provincial, territorial, municipal/regional, and Indigenous communities.

Selection criteria

Degree to which the project addresses the objectives and annual priorities of the national Search and Rescue (SAR) program.
Alignment with the priorities of a supporting SAR partner and demonstration of their support or endorsement.
Clarity in addressing the identified need through proposed project activities, expected results, and outcomes.
Demonstrated management capacity of the applicant and assessment of financial risks.
Consultation with a SAR partner during proposal development and the extent of their involvement or endorsement.

How to apply

Review Eligibility and Priorities

Carefully read the Application Guide to understand eligibility criteria.
Review the Call for Proposals to align your project with one of the annual priority initiatives.
Consider contacting a SAR NIF partner to ensure your proposal aligns with program and partner priorities.

Prepare Your Application

Download the Application for Funding and required templates from the program's website.
Fill out the mandatory workplan, budget, and, if needed, the list of equipment, materials, and supplies templates.
Draft a detailed project proposal addressing the annual priority initiatives.
Ensure compliance with any addendum information such as equipment limitations and budget considerations.

Attend Virtual Information Sessions (Optional)

Participate in virtual sessions offered by SAR NIF for insights into the application process.

Submit Application

Complete and upload the application and all supporting templates using the online platform.
Ensure submission is completed before the deadline: January 24, 2024, at 12:00pm Pacific time.

Confirmation

Await confirmation from SAR NIF team regarding the receipt of your application.
Retain any confirmation emails or communication for your records.

Contact for Assistance

If you have questions or need accessibility assistance, contact the SAR NIF team.

Additional information

Applicants are encouraged to attend virtual information sessions to better understand program priorities and application requirements.
Projects must be new initiatives or the next phase of previously funded projects, with clear justification if continuing previous work.
A minimum of 5% of project funding must come from sources other than Public Safety Canada, supported by letters of commitment.
Organizations based in Québec may be subject to additional requirements as per the Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30).

Documents and links

Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund

Contacts

sarsecretariat-secretariatrs@ps-sp.gc.ca

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.