Granting Process

Each year, The Counselling Foundation of Canada receives many more requests than it
can accommodate with grants. The Foundation’s resources are finite, and many requests
are turned down. The Foundation can make grants only for charitable purposes, and only
to organizations which have been issued a registered charity number under the Income
Tax Act of Canada.

In an effort to streamline the process, we highly recommend sending a letter of intent
outlining, in brief, the nature of your project, the amount requested and duration of the
grant request. After reviewing the letter of intent, if the Executive Director feels that the
idea has merit and might be considered by the Foundation’s Board, a full proposal will be
requested.

The Board generally meets quarterly, and proposals are accepted throughout the year.
The Foundation does not have formal deadlines, but proposals must be received at least
one month in advance of an upcoming board meeting to allow the Executive Director to
review the request, conduct the necessary research, ask further questions, and develop a
summary for the Board. This due diligence is an important part of the vetting process, so
late or last-minute requests are not usually accepted.

Decisions on the awarding of grants are made by the Directors of the Foundation.
Directors consider a number of factors when reviewing proposals and reaching their
decisions, including the innovative nature of the program request, the ability to replicate
the program in other settings, the ability of the organization to sustain the program at the
end of the granting period, and other contextual influences. Being asked to submit a
formal proposal or provide additional information does not guarantee approval by the
Directors or signify preferred status for an application.

All granting decisions are final and there is no appeal process for requests that have been
declined. Applicant organizations are advised of the Foundation Directors’ decisions —
both approved and declined requests — soon after each meeting. The Foundation
receives hundreds of applications annually. We cannot, therefore, either return application
packages or provide reasons for unfavourable decisions

It should also be noted that support will not be provided in response to the following types
of requests:

• Capital campaigns and capital expenditures
• General fundraising requests and campaigns
• General administration or operating costs
• Emergency funds or deficit financing
• Endowments, awards, fellowships, internships, sabbaticals, scholarships, or bursaries
• Grants to individuals