Social and Community Initiatives Support Program (SCISP) – Community Action and Volunteerism Component

Who is eligible?

• Legally constituted non-profit organizations (NPOs)
• Non-profit organizations active within the community
• Non-profit organizations with an autonomous community action mission
• Non-profit organizations directed by an independent board of directors (not from the public sector)
• Family economy cooperative associations (ACEF) assimilated to community action

Who is not eligible

• Organizations incorporated for less than 12 months.
• Entities with missions or activities that are political, religious, union-related, or professional in nature, as well as foundations mainly focused on fundraising and redistribution of funds.
• Organizations listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA).
• Organizations that, within the past two years, have failed to meet their obligations following previous financial support from the Ministry after being formally notified.

Eligible expenses

• Necessary expenses directly related to the implementation of approved projects.
• Costs associated with the publication and dissemination of research and evaluation project results.
• Salaries for human resources directly involved in carrying out approved projects, provided they align with the organization's usual pay standards for similar roles.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

• Relevance of the project to the Ministry’s field of responsibility, objectives, and priorities, as well as its complementarity with other projects funded by the Ministry.
• Realism of the project planning.
• Organization’s capacity to carry out the project, based on expertise, partners, and financial stability.
• Anticipated outcomes and impact of the project in relation to the specific objectives of the program.
• Innovative and structuring nature of the project, including potential for replication within the community.

• Step 1: Consult Program Guidelines
  • Review the Program Framework (Cadre normatif) for the Social and Community Initiatives Support Program (SCISP) – Community Action and Volunteerism Component to ensure the project and organization meet all requirements.
• Step 2: Prepare Application Package
  • Prepare a detailed project description including context, objectives, expected results, planned activities, timeline, involved partners/participants, anticipated impacts, and justification of costs.
  • Gather required supporting documents, including:
    • Board of directors’ resolution approving the application and designating a signatory
    • Copy of the organization's statutes (charter, letters patent, or constitutive act), unless already provided and unchanged
    • Copy of current general bylaws, unless already provided and unchanged
    • Most recent annual activity report, presented or adopted at the last annual general meeting
    • Most recent financial report (auditor’s report, review mission, compilation mission, or internal report, as required by financial scale)
    • Detailed project budget, including the amount requested and anticipated use of funds
    • List of current board members
    • Minutes or extract of the latest AGM signed by an administrator, showing democratic process and presentation of activity and financial reports
    • Final report of the previous phase, if this is a follow-up project
• Step 3: Submit the Application
  • Submit the complete application and all mandatory documents by email to the designated address: sacais.psisc@mess.gouv.qc.ca
  • Check periodically for calls for projects, as submission periods may vary.
• Step 4: Await Evaluation and Decision
  • The Ministry reviews the application according to program criteria and may request additional information if needed.
  • Receive notification regarding acceptance or rejection of the funding application, including reasons if refused.
• Step 5: Sign the Funding Agreement
  • If approved, sign the grant agreement that outlines obligations and payment terms.
• Step 6: Project Implementation and Reporting
  • Execute the funded project according to the approved plan.
  • Submit interim and/or final reports, including detailed financial and activity documentation, as stipulated in the funding agreement to enable the release of subsequent installments.

• The program supports one-time projects only and does not fund an organization's core mission or regular activities.
• Subsidized projects must not be already completed before the grant decision is rendered.
• Organizations receiving funding are required to enter into a formal grant agreement with the Ministry.
• Decisions on grant approval are final and cannot be appealed through a formal review process.