Funding FAQ

What types of organizations do you support?

Our portfolio is made up of mostly charities and nonprofits with a smaller amount of support going toward post-secondary institutions. In some instances, there have been examples of partnerships between community organizations and post-secondaries.

We also look for initiatives that have demonstrated that they have the capacity to advance their work. To that end, we tend to privilege organizations (or departments in the case of post-secondaries) that have a minimum $300,000 operating budget.

How many funding requests are successful in receiving funding?

Given our capacity, we tend to say no a lot more than we are able to say yes. We are also a multi-year funder so our turnover rate can be slower than others and means we have less capacity to take on new requests per year. Only approximately 5% to 7% of the Letters of Intent we receive lead to a full Funding Application. Approximately 85% of Funding Applications are approved by the Board of Directors. Typically, the Foundation supports between 7 and 12 funding requests each year.

When are funding decisions made?

For 2026, we will aim to have 2-3 submission deadlines for letters of intent. If staff see strong alignment, the applicant may be invited to submit a full funding application. Full applications will be reviewed by The Board of Directors in the spring and fall. Only the Board approves funding requests. All decisions are final and there is no appeal process for requests that have been declined. Notification of Board funding decisions, both positive and negative, are usually provided within 48 hours of the Board meeting.

Once funding has been awarded, the funding recipient will be asked to complete a Funding Letter of Agreement. This document details the payment schedule, reporting expectations & timetables, and knowledge dissemination benchmarks that align with the funding recipient organization’s timing and project milestones. This process is typically completed within 30 days of notification of a successful funding application.

What is your typical funding amount?

It depends on the needs of your project/program. In recent years, our average (mean) funding amount per year has been approximately $50,000. On the higher end, we have funded some organizations at $100,000+ per year and on the lower end, we have funded some organizations at $20,000 per year. We suggest you look at our Funding Database and recent Activity Reports for examples of specific types of projects/programs that we have funded and amounts.

My organization is working with another organization, can we submit a joint letter of intent?

Yes! We encourage collaboration and welcome joint submissions. In one Letter of Intent you should indicate all the partner organizations that are involved and how the requested funding will be split between the organizations.

Can I submit more than one program/project for funding?

Please choose one program/project that you feel best aligns with our funding interests per year. Given the volume of requests we receive, we are unable to provide support to all requests. Foundation staff are available to discuss your ideas in advance to help with your decision-making.

Can I also apply to CERIC for funding?

The Counselling Foundation and CERIC work closely together. While CERIC’s activities are funded in large part by The Counselling Foundation of Canada, CERIC funds projects to develop innovative resources that build the knowledge and skills of diverse career and employment professionals. CERIC has its own funding priorities that are aligned with its mission. Please do not apply to both organizations for funding at the same time. The Foundation’s priorities are outlined above. CERIC typically accepts funding requests related to research and learning through calls for project proposals that are open twice a year. Research applications may focus on practical or academic research related to career development in Canada and/or its application. Learning applications may focus on the development and/or implementation of career development-related learning material in Canada.