Vulnerable populations across Canada continue to be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Marginalized groups, youth, children and the elderly, essential workers, and newcomers are just some of the communities that are facing increased challenges right now.
Launched on May 19, 2020, the Government of Canada’s new Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) aims to provide additional and much-needed assistance to charities and non-profit organizations serving vulnerable populations. The Government of Canada is flowing funds through national networks, including Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Centraide Canada and the Canadian Red Cross. Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation is proud to be working with Community Foundations of Canada and the Government of Canada to deliver funding locally in Waterloo Region to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens are safe and healthy. Through the ECSF, we will be investing an additional $254,000 towards local charities and qualified donees supporting vulnerable populations.
We are working together with KWCF and UWWRC
Since there is overlap in funding eligibility, Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation (CNDCF), Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF) and United Way Waterloo Region Communities (UWWRC) are working together. We will be jointly reviewing applications to ensure we are coordinating and aligning funding to flow ECSF support to those organizations who need it most right now. Together, we have approximately $2.25 Million to distribute across Waterloo Region prior to July 27, 2020.
Additional information to help you
We have pulled together some additional resources to help you if you want to apply to CNDCF or KWCF for funding:
Here is the Applicant Guide that explains eligibility requirements, how to apply and examples of eligible projects
Specifically, eligible programs will:
- Clearly address a pressing social inclusion or well-being need caused by COVID-19;
- Serve one or more vulnerable groups(defined below);
- Be carried out in a short time frame with a reasonable budget, before March 31, 2021
You can download a copy of the Application Form to know in advance what the questions will be. Its been designed to be straight forward and only ask questions that will be used in the review process. It should take your organization about 20 minutes to complete
How do organizations apply?
- Organizations can apply starting on May 19, 2020. You can apply for up to $75,000 for a project
- This infographic has been created to help guide you to knowing whether you should apply to the Community Foundation, United Way or Red Cross in our community
- If you are applying for funding through KWCF or CNDCF, we are sharing one application that is on the Community Foundations of Canada Community Foundations of Canada’s national application portal. We will be accepting applications between May 19, 2020 and July 14, 2020, and will be distributing funds on a rolling basis.
Note: you can also apply for funding through United Way WRC as long as it is for a different project. Please visit their website to understand their application process.
If you are interested in applying for funding through the Canadian Red Cross, here is a link to their site that includes their application.
Vulnerable Populations include
Populations: Children, Youth or Elderly
- Children and youth (ages 0-29)
- Youth ageing out of care
- Seniors and Elders
- People experiencing homelessness
- People struggling with addiction
- People living with mental illness
- People with low-income or living in poverty
- Persons with disabilities
- (in and not in care)
Vulnerable Workers
- Caregivers
- Workers who are vulnerable (essential, temporary foreign, those in the informal labour market)
Populations Requiring Specific Care or Supports
- People experiencing domestic or gender-based violence
- People living in group homes or supportive living (under the age of 55)
- Prison populations (detained and incarcerated)
- Veterans
- Students (postsecondary)
Marginalized Communities in Canada
- Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs)
- Women and girls
- Members of LGBTQ2s+ communities
- Newcomers (Permanent and temporary residents including immigrants and refugees)
- Racialized people (Arab, Black, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Latin American, South Asian, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Other racialized groups)
- Indigenous people (First Nations, Métis, Inuit)
If you would like to learn more about the Emergency Community Support Fund, please contact CNDCF at 519-624-8972 or info@cndcf.org
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