What types of requests are NOT funded?
The Foundation does not support the following types of requests:
- Proposals from organizations that are not registered charitable organizations recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency or registered not-for-profit organizations or are not recognized as Qualified Donees under the Income Tax Act of Canada
- Capital campaigns and capital expenditures
- General fundraising requests and campaigns
- General administration or operating costs as the main focus of the request (We fund programs and projects, but allow for administration and operating costs as part of the request)
- Emergency funds or deficit financing
- Endowments, awards, fellowships, internships, sabbaticals, scholarships, or bursaries
- Event sponsorship
- Support for non-Canadian organizations
- Disaster relief
- Addictions, family, or trauma counselling
Where do you fund?
We are a national funder and we will consider initiatives from coast to coast to coast that support career development for youth in Canada.
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. 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?
Letters of Intent (LOIs) can be submitted any time throughout the year. If staff see strong alignment, the applicant may be invited to submit a full funding application. The Board of Directors typically reviews funding applications quarterly in February/March, May, September, and December. 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 $15,000 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?
We would prefer that applicants choose one program/project that they 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.
