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Strengthening Community Capacity to Support Mental Health and Wellbeing

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Overview
Available Funding
Eligibility Criteria
Deadline to Apply
Resources for Applicants

Thanks to funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross is pleased to announce the Strengthening Community Capacity to Support Mental Health and Wellbeing: COVID-19 Mental Health and Wellbeing Grant Program. This new grant program is intended to assist community organizations working on the frontlines supporting those whose mental health and wellbeing have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

COVID-19 has presented a number of unprecedented challenges including extensive mental health impacts on people and families that will continue for years to come. Pre-pandemic mental health challenges, including pre-existing inequities, risk of sexual and gender-based violence, limited access to services, and the compounding impact of emergencies such as wildfires and floods have all been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community-based organizations understand these challenges first-hand and are on the frontlines of service delivery, working tirelessly to meet the increasing mental health and wellbeing needs of people and their families.
 

Overview

This program is open to registered charities, non-profits, and other qualified organizations currently supporting those whose mental health and wellbeing have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The program is designed to support community-based organizations in their work to:
 
  • Promote mental health and wellbeing in the context of COVID-19 by building protective factors and/or reducing risk factors and enhancing resilience.
  • Prevent longer term mental health illnesses including those associated with COVID-19 related traumatic experience.
  • Respond by equipping organizations and service providers to offer safe, responsive, and effective programming and support for those whose mental health and wellbeing has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Available Funding

Not-for-profits are critical in the response to community needs in times of crisis and organizations across Canada are stepping up to respond to COVID-19 while quickly adjusting to the unprecedented impact on their operations, fundraising, and ability to safely reach and support their communities.

Community-based organizations were able to apply for funding of activities with a budget of a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $75,000, inclusive of direct and admin costs.

Organizations were able to submit more than one application provided that each application was for a distinct project; however, efforts will be made to fund as many distinct organizations as is feasible.

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Eligibility Criteria

Funding for time-limited project grants is available to community-based organizations across Canada, especially those serving populations whose mental health and wellbeing has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and in accordance with the following guidelines.
 
Organizations that met ALL the following criteria were eligible to apply for funding from this program by July 29, 2022:
  • Have a mandate, guiding statement, and/or established history of delivering mental health and wellbeing services, including to strengthen social connectedness, in communities in Canada
  • Have been in operation since on or before December 31, 2019, and have operated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic without prolonged cessation of services
  • Are incorporated or established in Canada or have a principal registered office address in Canada
  • Are registered federally as a charity or qualified donee; registered provincially, territorially; or federally as a non-profit, and are in good standing; or are an established Indigenous governing body  
  • Have a governance structure with at least three people on the board, management committee, etc.
  • Have internal accountability measures such as practices and procedures for internal controls and accountability
  • Have a bank account in the name of the organization and a financial management system to effectively track the income and expense transactions of the organization
Given the limited funding available, preference may be given organizations who have at least two years’ experience in delivering mental health and wellbeing services and/or that have annual revenues of $1,500,000 or less.

Note that if you are a Quebec-based organization and are selected to receive a grant, you may be required to comply with Act M-30. The CRC is here to help you navigate this process if your organization is selected.

 

Deadline to Apply

Applications for this program closed on July 29, 2022. We will be reaching out to applicants over the coming weeks on the status of their grant application.

All activities and expenditures must occur between October 1, 2022 and January 31, 2024
 

Resources for Applicants

Those interested in applying are encouraged to consult the following documents prior to submitting their applications. Community-based organizations interested in learning more about this program or for assistance in applying to the program, please contact the Canadian Red Cross at 1-833-966-4225 Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm EDT or email mentalhealthgrants@redcross.ca.