How much funding can be received?

The SSHRC Connection Grants provide funding of up to $50,000 to support short-term, targeted knowledge mobilization initiatives such as conferences, workshops, and outreach activities in the social sciences and humanities. These grants facilitate events and activities that exchange and disseminate research knowledge among academic and non-academic participants in Canada and internationally.

Financing terms and conditions

Events: funding between $7,000 and $25,000 per year.
Outreach activities: funding between $7,000 and $50,000 per year; higher amounts can be considered if well justified and manageable within one year.
Minimum request amount is $7,000.
Applicants must secure additional eligible cash and/or in-kind contributions from sponsoring organizations equal to at least 50% of the SSHRC funding requested.
Grant funds cannot be used to pay for conference registration fees, salaries or stipends for applicants/co-applicants/collaborators, or research activities.

Eligible projects & activities

Organizing workshops, colloquiums, conferences, forums, or summer institutes that facilitate knowledge exchange in the social sciences and humanities.
Initiating outreach activities aimed at engaging a broader public in knowledge mobilization, such as developing policy briefs, articles, media events, speaker series, or public debates.
Facilitating interdisciplinary or intersectoral exchanges between academic researchers and partners from public, private, or not-for-profit sectors.
Supporting international research collaboration and exchanges involving researchers, students, and non-academic partners from other countries.
Promoting research-creation initiatives and Indigenous research outreach events or activities.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 20,000

Organizing a public debate on climate change policy

$ 40,000

Creating an art exhibit focusing on migration narratives

$ 45,000

Organizing a bilingual conference on sustainable urban development

$ 35,000

Hosting a series of media events on healthcare innovation

$ 50,000

Developing an interactive platform for remote learning

$ 30,000

Hosting a workshop on Indigenous economic development

Eligibility criteria of the SSHRC Connection Grants program

The applicant must be either a Canadian postsecondary institution or a not-for-profit organization holding institutional eligibility with SSHRC.
Individual applicants (excluding postdoctoral researchers) must be affiliated with a Canadian eligible postsecondary institution at the time of application.
The project must focus on knowledge mobilization in the social sciences and humanities, such as events or outreach activities (not primary research activities).
The applicant must demonstrate active and significant involvement in organizing and delivering the proposed event or outreach activity.
Applicants must secure at least 50% matching support (cash and/or in-kind) from sponsoring organizations, confirmed by signed letters of support.

Who is eligible?

Canadian postsecondary institutions (universities and colleges) holding SSHRC institutional eligibility
Canadian not-for-profit organizations holding SSHRC institutional eligibility
International postsecondary institutions (as co-applicants or collaborators only)
Canadian philanthropic foundations, think tanks, and municipal, territorial or provincial governments (as co-applicants only)

Who is not eligible

Companies or organizations that are not eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions or not-for-profit organizations with SSHRC institutional eligibility.
Businesses whose primary activity is conducting research (e.g., field work, interviews, data collection) or developing standalone research publications, as these activities are not eligible for this funding.
Private sector companies and federal government organizations—these can only be collaborators and cannot apply as primary applicants or co-applicants.
Organizations seeking funding for activities related to business meetings, book launches, member receptions, or association activities normally covered by operational fees of academic associations.

Eligible expenses

Development of connection-related tools for knowledge mobilization activities (up to $50,000).
Salary research allowance for not-for-profit organizations to release personnel from their duties for project participation.

Eligible geographic areas

Canadian postsecondary institutions that hold institutional eligibility
Canadian not-for-profit organizations that hold or obtain institutional eligibility

Eligibility criteria of the SSHRC Connection Grants program

Challenge – The aim and importance of the endeavour (40%): Assesses the project's originality, significance, quality of the approach, the value of the research being mobilized, opportunities for training and mentoring, and potential for impact within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities sector.
Feasibility – The plan to achieve excellence (30%): Evaluates the suitability of the timeline, the likelihood of meeting objectives, the appropriateness and justification of the budget, and the ability to secure and leverage additional resources.
Capability – The expertise to succeed (30%): Reviews the experience, outputs, and past results of the applicant(s), evidence of knowledge mobilization activities and impacts, and experience in training and mentoring highly qualified personnel.

How to apply to the SSHRC Connection Grants program

Preliminary Registration

Ensure your institution has institutional eligibility to administer funds.
Contact SSHRC if you need to verify or initiate the eligibility process for not-for-profit institutions at least five business days prior to the deadline.

Prepare Application

Compile the project proposal including objectives and budget.
Gather supporting documents such as letters of support indicating matching funds.
Ensure all team members meet the eligibility criteria specific to their roles.
Select if you wish to be considered for any SSHRC joint initiatives.

Complete Application Form

Fill out the application form according to the instructions provided by SSHRC.
Ensure the application aligns with SSHRC’s guidelines and scoring criteria.

Submit Application

Submit the completed application electronically by an authorized research grants officer or equivalent.
Ensure submission is before the respective deadline (February 1, May 1, June 20, or November 1 at 8 p.m. eastern).

Confirmation of Submission

Receive confirmation of submission from SSHRC, which is typically available through their respective portals.

Follow-up and Communication

Monitor SSHRC’s platform for updates on the application status.
Engage with SSHRC representatives if additional information or clarification is requested.

Additional information

If a deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday in Ontario, the application system remains open until 8 p.m. (eastern) on the next business day.
Results are announced at the end of each funding cycle (January, March, June, September).
Only contributions from sponsoring organizations provided in signed support letters are counted toward the required 50% matching funds.
Grant holders are expected to report on the use of funds, funded activities, and outcomes as per requirements included with the notice of award.