Round 2 of the Emergency Community Support Fund
Durham Community Foundation is re-activating the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) alongside Community Foundations of Canada
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unpredictable and challenging time for many, with some communities experiencing higher levels of vulnerability than others. Marginalized groups, youth, children and the elderly, essential workers, and newcomers are just some of the communities that have faced increased challenges. To provide emergency relief, the Government of Canada launched the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) to help support communities made increasingly vulnerable by the pandemic.
With COVID-19 cases increasing in many communities, and a continuous call for emergency relief, the ECSF will reopen with a second round of funding, providing much-needed assistance to charities and non-profit organizations serving communities experiencing vulnerability. The Government of Canada is flowing this funding through Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Centraide Canada and the Canadian Red Cross. We are proud to be working with CFC and the Government of Canada to deliver funding locally in the Region of Durham and Northumberland County to ensure that our citizens are safe and healthy. Through the ECSF, we will be investing an additional $575,000 towards local charities and qualified donees supporting people experiencing heightened vulnerability.
CFC ECSF 1-Pagers
Select a language below to download the CFC ECSF 1 Pager in your preferred language.
Important Dates
Organizations can apply starting on Monday October 5, 2020.
Application deadline is Friday October 30, 2020.
About the Fund
- The Government of Canada’s $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) is helping community organizations adapt frontline services to better meet the needs of people experiencing heightened vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The balance of the ECSF is now being made available to support communities continuing to address the impact of the pandemic. Qualified donees can begin submitting applications via the community foundation network from October 5 to 30, 2020.
- The ECSF first opened to receive applications on May 19,2020. The first round of funding supported projects in every province and territory and for every vulnerable group. The Fund’s three intermediaries – Community Foundations of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross and United Way Centraide Canada – combined their national reach and local expertise to flow money quickly to where it was most needed.
- The Government of Canada is releasing the balance of the funds now to ensure it and its partners can make adjustments, as necessary, to continue responding to evolving emergency needs as a result of COVID-19.
Pandemic Context
- The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a disproportionate impact on people experiencing heightened vulnerability in Canada.
- Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared over six months ago, community-based charities and non-profit organizations have been working tirelessly to provide emergency support, in particular to individuals and communities experiencing heightened vulnerability.
- Demand for the services of charities and non-profits has increased dramatically and organizations are struggling to meet these needs with their limited resources. Charities and nonprofit organizations are pillars of their communities who are working tirelessly to serve their communities.
- The Fund is designed to help support organizations as they continue to respond to the pandemic. The demand for the ECSF far exceeds the funds available. Community Foundations of Canada also continues to advocate for broader recovery and stabilization support for the charitable sector.
About the application and granting process for applicants
- The ECSF has simple eligibility criteria and a quick application process and reporting procedure. We invite you to learn more below and apply starting today.
- The application is designed to be straightforward and efficient. It should take your organization about 20 minutes to complete.
- Qualified donees will be funded through United Way and community foundations. Non-profit organizations will be funded through the Canadian Red Cross.
- Most organizations will apply to their local community foundation. If you are a national or provincial charity you may need to submit to the national/provincial stream. More information is available in our Applicant Guide.
- All applications for this final round of ECSF funding must be submitted by 11:59PST on October 30, 2020.
- Applicants who received ECSF funding in Round 1 can submit an application in Round 2 for project costs which were not funded in Round 1. Applicants cannot receive funding twice for the same project costs. Applicants must submit a budget to identify new eligible costs.
- Applicants who were declined in Round 1 of ECSF can submit an application for the same or different project costs, as long as funding for the project costs was not provided by any of the ECSF funding intermediaries in Round 1.
Where to Apply - CFC, CRC and UWCC
- Qualified donees are eligible to apply to community foundations and United Way Centraides. Qualified donees are encouraged to reach to their local community foundation and United Way Centraide to decide where they wish - and feel it’s most logical - to apply.
- In communities where there is both a community foundation and a United Way Centraide, our teams are coordinating efforts and sharing information about ECSF applications on an ongoing basis.
- Qualified donees may apply to both CFC and UWCC but cannot receive funding for the same project costs from two intermediaries.
- Grant limits may differ between community foundations and United Way Centraides:
- Community Foundations may grant up to $75,000 for a project. Local community foundations may set lower maximum grant sizes.
- Local United Way Centraides have the flexibility to apply a minimum or maximum grant size depending on the local situation.
- Nonprofit organizations should apply to the Canadian Red Cross. The Canadian Red Cross will give preference to non-profit organizations with annual revenues of $1.5M or less. In some cases, local United Way Centraides may also support non-profit organizations through an appropriate trustee relationship with a qualified donee.
Applicant Guideline
Application Portal
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The Emergency Community Support Fund Funded by