Connecting Rural Regions Call for Applications

Applying for a grant: what you need to know

About

Eligibility

Criteria

Grant amount

Application and deadline

Before you apply

More information

About

This call is now closed.

The Law Foundation of Ontario invites nonprofit organizations to apply for a Connecting Rural Regions grant, funded through our Connecting Region program.

The purpose of the Connecting Rural Regions granting is to support a group of legal and community organizations to work together to coordinate and integrate their existing services to improve the delivery of legal information, referrals, and support to residents of a rural area.

The Foundation has a flexible definition of what constitutes a rural region that is best expressed in the report, Connecting Across Language and Distance. This report was commissioned by the Foundation which led to the launch of the Connecting Region program. The Foundation understands that there are multiple definitions of “rural” and is open to regional efforts that include smaller urban centers as part of this call.

This new call is the direct result of past successes. In 2017, the Foundation commissioned an evaluation of the Connecting Region program. The evaluation report showed that seed grants (with no ongoing funding) to two rural consortiums were important in the development of networks and service coordination that continue today. It is hoped that the new Connecting Rural Regions grants facilitate similar service delivery coordination and integration. Overall, the Connecting Rural Regions granting program is part of the Foundation’s larger Connecting Project.

What's Connecting Region? Learn more here.

Eligibility

Criteria

A Connecting Rural Regions grant project must:

Support access to justice and fit within the Foundation’s mandate and be consistent with the Foundation’s vision and mission
Identify a lead organization and project lead as well as confirmation of participation from no fewer than three social and/or community service organizations and at least one legal organization
Come to completion or be self-sufficient after the term of the grant, as this is one-time funding

Preference will be given to applications that:

Build on existing networks and collaborations
Have attracted additional funding from other sources or show the potential to do so
Include a knowledge capture and dissemination plan to share lessons with other rural regions about their project
Engage different legal service providers (community legal clinics, legal aid, private bar lawyers, paralegals, students, and academics)
Explain how different organizations with a mix of skills and expertise will contribute to the planned activities
Include the possibility of learning and developing our understanding of legal needs and possible solutions that could uniquely benefit people living in rural areas

Grant amount

Application and deadline

Stage 1 deadline: November 1, 2018

Applications in stage 1 are for projects that propose to improve service integration and coordination and to develop further ideas to improve access to justice in rural areas. Activities may include needs assessment, research, evaluation, and/or convening participating organizations.

At the end of the grant, a final report is required and will need to include:

Detailed activities and financial report
Description of the improvements to service integration and coordination achieved within the grant term
Identification of three to five time-limited projects that could be pursued to further integrate and coordinate services (total cost of all projects not to exceed $250,000 over three years)

Complete the application form and submit it by the deadline to: grants@lawfoundation.on.ca

Download the application form in Word format here: Connecting Rural Regions – Stage 1 Application Form

Before you apply

More information

Frequently asked questions

Eligibility to apply

Do we have to be a registered charity in order to apply for a grant?

Can an individual apply for a grant?

Can an unincorporated committee apply for a grant?

Does a proposed project have to benefit more than one geographic community in order to meet the Foundation’s requirement to “provide a benefit to Ontario”?

Can an organization outside Ontario apply to the Foundation for a grant?

What criteria does the Foundation use to define “rural”?

The Foundation has a flexible definition of what constitutes a rural region that is best expressed in Connecting Across Language and Distance, a 2008 report that it commissioned and led to the launch of the first Connection region program. The Foundation understands that there are multiple definitions of “rural” and is open to regional efforts that include smaller urban centers as part of this call. We also welcome regional efforts to link rural areas to regional hubs and smaller urban centres.

We want to apply for a grant jointly with another organization – can we do this?

Are community legal clinics eligible to apply for a grant?

I am interested in launching a new program that will coordinate services between community agencies in my region. Is this type of initiative eligible for a Stage 1 grant?

No, funds will be used for projects and not to set up programs with ongoing costs beyond the term of the grant. Funds are to be used to improve service integration and coordination and to develop further ideas to improve access to justice in the rural area. Activities may include needs assessment, research, evaluation, and/or convening participating organizations. Stage 1 grants will result in improvements to coordination and integration of existing services and the development of three-to-five time-limited projects that could be pursued to further improve access to justice.

Application process

I understand that this program has two stages. How will those who receive a Stage 1 grant be eligible for Stage 2 funding?

Not all organizations who are successful in the first stage will proceed to the second stage. Stage 1 grants will result in improvements to coordination and integration of existing services and the development of three to five time-limited projects that could be pursued to further improve access to justice. One region may be selected and funded to implement one or more of the projects identified through the Stage 1 grants for a term of up to three years (up to $250,000). Funds from the Stage 2 grants are to be used to implement projects to build capacity and/ or develop new tools and resources that will have a lasting impact on access to justice.

Do you have a fixed amount of available funding that is allocated to specific geographic regions?

Do you require an applicant to find funding from other sources?

If we have identified other potential funders for our project idea, do you require us to provide confirmation of their commitment before you will consider our application to you?

Do you require an applicant to have other partners involved in the implementation of the project?

No. However, we do encourage partnerships and applications that engage across sectors (e.g. community organizations with trusted intermediaries, legal organizations prepared to collaborate, support and, if appropriate, supervise work, academics, and evaluators to design and oversee/implement an evaluation) will be preferred. If, in your application, you indicate the intent to partner with another organization, you should include a letter of commitment from the partner(s).

Eligible costs

Will you fund core operating costs associated with a project? If so, do you fund on the basis of a set percentage of total project costs?

I understand that the Foundation will not fund capital expenditures. Are office furniture or computer equipment considered to be capital expenditures?

Can we include the cost of an evaluation in our application?

Yes, the cost of evaluation is an eligible project expense because we believe evaluation results are of value not just to the Foundation but also can help grantees to improve the program and in seeking out other funding sources. Remember, too, that an evaluation does not need to be an expensive, time-consuming undertaking. The evaluation plan should be commensurate with the size and nature of the project being funded.

We anticipate using some of the funds to bring various stakeholders together to flesh out how service integration could be achieved. Will the Foundation fund the costs of these gatherings?

We would like to bring a test case. Can we apply to the Foundation for funding?

We would like to lobby government to make needed changes to the legislative and policy environment surrounding our legal issue. Can we apply to the Foundation for funding?

After a grant application is approved

Our grant application has been approved – what happens next?

What is the payment schedule?

The payment schedule is developed taking into consideration the information provided in the work plan included in the grant application, and often also in consultation with the grantee. In general, the Foundation makes payments in advance, in accordance with each grantee’s needs, and subject to any special conditions of approval being met. The Foundation makes every effort to accommodate special requirements (for instance, where significant expenses have to be incurred at an early stage of the project). For all projects, the final payment is a hold-back instalment (typically 10% of the total grant) that is paid out on receipt of the final report.

What are your reporting requirements?

All grantees are required to submit written activity reports, as well as budget-to-actual financial reports, over the course of the project. A full final report is required in order to receive payment of the final grant instalment. Instalment payments are always conditional upon receipt of required reports, in accordance with the schedule established between the Foundation and the grantee. The timing and frequency of reporting is tailored to the circumstances of each project. Visit our Reporting requirements & templates webpage for more information about reporting requirement.