BACKGROUND
In 2021, as part of CPO’s Board-approved Diversity Audit, we were committed to revisiting our funding model. CPO engaged Mehari Consulting to work with the Funding Review Committee to recommend a new model of funding based on stakeholder consultations and best practices. Mehari Consulting put forward a revised outcomes-based model that relies on CFPs. In February 2023, the Board approved phasing in the proposed model.
As part of the 2023 CPO Budget, the Board approved up to $600,900 of funding with four streams of funding within this envelope. Three of the streams were for agencies to apply via a call for proposal process to conduct research, develop/implement a strategy or deliver a program. The fourth stream is a discretionary fund for the Executive Director to disburse for opportunities and projects that are time sensitive and fall outside the granting cycle.
The total potential envelope of $600,900 was impacted by the Board’s decision to offer six-month funding to agencies who had received ongoing CPO funding for programs if they re-applied for funds through this new process and were unsuccessful. The six-month funding would allow time for the agencies to wrap up or transition their programs. These programs are detailed in Table 1 below.
Table 1
Agencies offered 6-month funding to wrap up or transition their programs | ||
Agency | Program Name | 6-month funding |
John Howard Society of Ottawa | Time 4 Change | $143,717.18 |
Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre | Post-Incident Neighbourhood Support Network Coordinator | $10,271.10 |
The Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO) was also approved for this 6-month fund in the April 3, 2023 Board meeting. However, the GRC subsequently approved their funding application, and that amount will be absorbed into their new grant.
Ultimately, $446,911.72 of the original $600,900.00 was available via the process.
APPLICATIONS
A Call for Proposals was launched in early February 2023. A total of 63 eligible applications, totaling over $4.2 million in requested funding was received. Table 2 provides a breakdown of the applications by funding stream and type of project.
Table 2
Distribution of applications across streams and types of projects | |||
Funding Stream | Type of Project | # of applications | Sum of Requested Amount |
Micro Grant | Program Delivery | 16 | $199,700.71 |
| Research | 1 | $15,000.00 |
Micro Grant Total |
| 17 | $214,700.71 |
Multi-year systems / collaborative
| Develop / Implement Strategy | 7 | $1,058,933.43 |
Program Delivery | 7 | $1,047,130.50 | |
Research | 3 | $478,087.50 | |
Multi-year systems / collaborative Total |
| 17 | $ 2,584,151.43 |
Non-renewable | Develop / Implement Strategy | 1 | $40,000.00 |
| Program Delivery | 26 | $1,263,839.00 |
| Research | 2 | $120,000.00 |
Non-renewable Total |
| 29 | $1,423,839.00 |
Grand Total | 63 | $4,222,691.14 | |
FUNDING RESULTS AND RATIONALE
A Grant Review Committee met on March 28, 2023, and April 6, 2023 to evaluate funding proposals using objective scoring criteria including alignment to CPO’s mandate and alignment to the defined outcomes, equity, organizational capacity, and budget. The Committee evaluated the 63 proposals and approved 13 projects for funding. All projects that were successful were for program delivery. There were no successful research or program development projects. Table 3 provides a list of approved organizations and the outcomes under the pillar(s) of CPO’s strategic plan that they will impact. Funding payments will be made upon receipt of signed contribution agreements. A brief summary of each project is listed here.
Table 3
Agencies awarded CPO funding for 2023 | |||||
Agency | Amount | PILLAR | |||
GBV | Youth | Neighbourhoods | Vulnerable Adults | ||
Multi-Year Systems-Level | |||||
Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization | $159,991.00 | X | X | ||
Non-Renewable | |||||
Canadian Center for Women’s Empowerment | $35,500.00 | X | X | ||
Christie Lake Kids Youth Leadership Training Program
| $15,000.00 | X | X | ||
Matthew House Ottawa Refugee Services: Diverting Refugees from Homelessness in Ottawa | $60,000.00 | X | X | ||
Nigerian Canadian Association Organization Mental Health Support for victims of domestic violence and New Immigrants | $21,275.00 | X | X | ||
The Olde Forge Community Resource Centre Connected Seniors; Safe and Strong | $36,518.00 | X | |||
Microgrants | |||||
Canadian Somali Mothers Association Learning Together: Mental Health Education for Youth | $15,000.00 | X | X | ||
Centre Pauline Charron Sécuri-Aînés | $15,000.00 | X | |||
Family Support and Care Services Centre Connecting Vulnerable Chinese Adults and Seniors by Presentations on Safety | $15,000.00 | X | |||
First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa Ajashki Food Security and Climate Change Learning Centre | $15,000.00 | X | X | X | |
ManUp (Ottawa-Carleton District School Board) ManUp Inspire Conference | $5,500.00 | X | X | ||
Odawa Native Friendship Centre Justice Mural | $15,000.00 | X | X | X | |
St. Joe’s Women’s Centre Transportation Support Program | $5,625.00 | X | |||
TOTAL | $414,409.00 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 10 |
DIRECTED FUNDING BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The approved funding model allowed for up to 15% of the funding envelope to be retained by the Executive Director to fund emerging needs that do not align with the funding cycle. The Grant Review Committee decided to retain $32,502.72 for this purpose (7.2% of the $446,911.72 available through the CFP).
GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
The Grant Review Committee (GRC) was led by a CPO Board Member and comprised of 4 community members who reviewed and made funding decisions based on objective funding criteria. The GRC consisted of members of diverse backgrounds and with extensive knowledge of community needs and issues in the identified funding priority areas.
- Chair of GRC: Shawana Shah, CPO Board member – South-Asian Muslim woman with experience in gender-based violence, mental health (youth and adult), and community work
- Vulnerable Adults: Samantha Garrett – White woman, social worker who works on an Assertive Community Treatment Team
- Neighborhoods: Brian Baskerville – White man, member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and active with Ottawa Community Housing’s (OCH) Tenants Circle Project
- Gender-Based Violence: Amal Elmi – Black Muslim woman working in gender-based violence and EDI
- Youth: this member was ultimately unable to take part in the process due to having to attend to an ailing family member.
CONCLUSION
Crime Prevention Ottawa would like to thank all applicants for their thoughtful submissions and their efforts to support the Ottawa community. CPO would also like to acknowledge the significant contributions of the members of the Grant Review Committee in reviewing and evaluating the funding applications. As well, CPO recognizes the valuable services that not-for-profit community organizations and groups provide to enhance the safety and well-being of the people in Ottawa.