• How to Apply
  • Application Deadline
  • Submitting Applications
  • Help for Applicants
• About the Newcomer Settlement Program
• Applicant Eligibility Criteria
• Application Assessment Criteria
  • Organizational Criteria
  • Application Criteria
• Activities Funded and Funding Limits
• Eligible Expenses
• Eligible Client Groups
• Next Steps for Successful Applicants
  • Letter of Approval and Grant Agreement
  • Reporting Requirements
  • Recognition Requirement
  • Additional Requirements
• Additional Information
• Discretionary nature of the Program
• Disclosure of Information

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How to Apply

These program guidelines outline the funding criteria for the Newcomer Settlement Program and provide other important program information to help you apply for funding.
The Newcomer Settlement Program Guidelines 2008-2009 provide applicants with information about the program, including the eligibility and assessment criteria used to evaluate applications and make funding decisions.

The guidelines must be used with the 2008-2009 Newcomer Settlement Program Application Form.   A downloadable version of the Application Form is available from the Ministry’s web site at www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/english/living/settlement/
Hard copies can also be requested by calling 416-314-7295 or 1-800-267-7329.

Application Deadline

Completed applications must be received at the Ministry’s office by 12:00 noon on Friday, February 15, 2008.
Applications received after this date will be returned to the sender and will not be reviewed.

Submitting Applications

Three (3) hard copies of the completed application and required attachments must be sent to:

Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
Settlement and Diversity Unit
400 University Avenue, 3rd Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2R9

Help for Applicants

To discuss your application, or for help in completing the application form, contact staff by calling 416-314-7295 or 1-800-267-7329.   Program staff are available to meet with applicants to discuss their applications.

 

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About the Newcomer Settlement Program

The goal of the Newcomer Settlement Program (NSP) is to help newcomers fully engage in all aspects of Canadian life -- social, economic, political and cultural -- and to maximize the benefits of their participation and contribution to Canadian society.

To achieve this goal, the Newcomer Settlement Program focuses on improving the quality and availability of, and access to, services that improve the social and economic situation of newcomers. Funding is provided to initiatives that:

• Focus on finding new ways of meeting existing and emerging needs by filling service gaps;
• Deliver effective programs and services for newcomers;
• Improve coordination between settlement and other services – social, educational, language training, labor-market integration - needed by newcomers;
• Increase the effectiveness of the settlement service delivery system through the development of innovative solutions to sector issues and collaboration with other service providers.

To increase the impact of programs for newcomers and to build on the successes achieved in previous years, applicants are encouraged to look beyond traditional responses and pilot new ways of meeting existing and emerging needs, informed by their experience and expertise. 

Grants are awarded yearly and support programs and services during the fiscal year of the Ontario Government (April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009).

NSP funding is intended to benefit a wide range of newcomers, including permanent residents regardless of their Canadian citizenship status, and refugee claimants.

The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration provides a range of settlement, language training and labour-market integration services to support the successful integration of newcomers to Ontario. Information on these programs can be found at www.citizenship.gov.on.ca.

 

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Applicant Eligibility Criteria

To receive NSP funding, applicants must:

• Be incorporated as a not-for-profit organization for at least two years
• Have at least two years’ experience in delivering programs and services to newcomers
• Be located in Ontario
• Carry commercial general liability insurance of not less than $2,000,000 for property damage, bodily and personal injury.

Applicants and organizations that receive funding are expected to comply with Ontario’s Human Rights Code, which provides for equal treatment in the areas of services, goods, facilities, accommodation, contracts, and employment without discrimination on the grounds of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, same sex partnership status, family status, receipt of public assistance (in accommodation only) or record of offences (in employment only).

NSP does not accept applications from:

• Universities, colleges and boards of education
• Grant-making organizations
• Organizations applying for support for programs or services with political and/or religious purposes
• For-profit organizations
• Individuals
• Other levels of government

 

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Application Assessment Criteria

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria, organizations and their applications are assessed against the following criteria.

Organizational Criteria

• Proven track record of providing effective services to newcomers
• Organizational capacity, operating systems and infrastructure needed to implement the proposed initiative
• Financial viability and appropriate fiscal management systems required to account for public funds
• Appropriate Board and management structure, including representation from the communities served
• Need for funding
• Past performance (for organizations that have received NSP funding previously)

Application Criteria

• Clear, measurable benefits to newcomers
• Sound program delivery plan
• Degree to which request addresses needs in under-served communities and gaps in services
• Evidence of partnerships and coordination of services with other service providers to ensure coordination between settlement and other services needed by newcomers
• Established systems for evaluating and monitoring program delivery
• Evidence of support from key community stakeholders
• Relationship between the requested amount of funding and the results of the proposed initiative

 

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Activities Funded and Funding Limits

There are three types of grants available:

• Settlement Program Grants – up to $105,000 per application to cover program delivery and administrative costs.

Eligible activities include, but are not limited, to:

• Traditional settlement services, including client needs assessment, provision of information and referral to other community services, general settlement orientation 
• Services/programs that facilitate access to employment and support economic integration
• Innovative programs that clearly support the social and economic integration of newcomers

• Capital Grants – up to $25,000 per application to cover the cost of equipment or renovations.

Applicants requesting a Settlement Program Grant may also apply for a capital grant but may not apply for a capital grant only. The amount requested is in addition to the program grant request.

• Sector Development Grants – up to $25,000 for projects that strengthen the capacity of the settlement sector and enhance the service delivery system.

Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited, to:

• Professional and skills development for the settlement sector
• Projects that develop innovative solutions to sector/regional issues
• Sector capacity building initiatives

Funding requests may include a combination of grants. For example, applicants may apply for both a Settlement Program Grant and a Sector Development Grant at the same time. However, Capital Grants can only be requested as a complement to Settlement Program Grants.

The Ministry will place priority on supporting programs and services that facilitate the successful integration of newcomers.  Funding for Capital and Sector Development activities will be provided based on availability of funding.

Grants over the amounts listed above may be awarded in exceptional circumstances to initiatives that are comprehensive in approach, involve multiple partners and/or demonstrate extraordinary need for funding.

 

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Eligible Expenses

• Direct program/project costs, including program staff salaries and benefits, materials and resources, training and contract work.
• Core administrative expenses (up to a maximum of 15% of total program/project costs) including administrative staff salaries and benefits, rent, utilities, insurance, fax/phone/internet and accounting fees.
• Renovations and/or equipment purchases.  

The Newcomer Settlement Program will not fund:

• English/French as a Second Language or occupational skills training
• Expenses not directly related to NSP-funded initiatives
• Budget deficits or debt reduction activities
• Organizational reserves
• Major capital costs
• Duplication of funding received from another funder
• Religious and/or political activities, as defined by Canada Revenue Agency
• Activities that could be deemed discriminatory, as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code

 

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Eligible Client Groups

NSP funds can be used to support the settlement and integration of the following newcomer groups:

• Permanent residents, regardless of their Canadian citizenship status
• Refugees and refugee claimants
• Newcomers admitted under Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program
• Foreign domestic workers admitted under the Live-In Caregiver Program
• Minister’s Permit holders or persons who have received special permission to remain in Canada for the purpose of becoming a permanent resident

 

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Next Steps for Successful Applicants

Letter of Approval and Grant Agreement

• After an applicant is approved for a grant, a Letter of Approval is sent to the applicant confirming the amount of funding approved and the purpose of the grant.
• Following the Letter of Approval, organizations will receive a Grant Agreement that sets out the terms and conditions of funding, and which represents a legally binding contract between the Ministry and the organization. The Agreement must be signed by an authorized signing officer from each party.
• The first grant payment will be released after the Grant Agreement has been signed by both parties.

Reporting Requirements

• Organizations receiving funding are required to report on the activities undertaken and the results achieved with NSP funding, actual and projected expenses, and the impact of the grant.
• For partnership initiatives undertaken by two or more organizations, the organization designated as the Lead Applicant is responsible for all reporting.
• All grant recipients must submit a Progress Report mid-way through the funding year. Additional reports may be required, if needed. 
• Payments are contingent on satisfactory review of reports by Ministry staff. Failure to submit a Progress Report or to meet grant conditions will delay the release of payments.
• A Final Report must be submitted at the end of the funding period.
• The Reporting Schedule is outlined in the Grant Agreement.
• Copies of reporting templates will be provided to grant recipients prior to reporting due dates.
• Unsatisfactory reporting may affect the continuation of the grant.

• Organizations that receive NSP funding are required to follow the government’s recognition and visual identity guidelines. Organizations that receive NSP funding may not make any public funding announcements prior to the Government of Ontario’s announcement about the Newcomer Settlement Program grants.
• In addition, grant recipients are required to acknowledge the support of the Government of Ontario in all reports, materials, advertising and publicity related to the activities funded by the Newcomer Settlement Program. Details regarding recognition and use of the Ontario logo will be included in the Grant Agreement that is signed by the grant recipient and the Ministry.

Additional Requirements

• Organizations that receive NSP funding are expected to include a link to www.ontarioimmigration.ca on their web sites.

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Additional Information

Discretionary Nature of the Program

The Ministry cannot guarantee financial support to all applicants, nor can it provide total support for settlement program and service costs.

Commitments made by the applicant prior to, or in anticipation of, official written notification that a grant has been approved are the applicant’s responsibility. If an applicant is unsuccessful, the Ministry will not be responsible for costs already incurred by the organization.

Disclosure of Information

Information provided as part of the NSP application process is subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1990.