The 2024 - 2025 grant application process is now open. Applications are due on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 3 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST).
The New Horizons for Seniors Program Grant is a federal grant that provides up to $25,000 to support communities of faith to develop and deliver programming that provides meaningful engagement for seniors.
In this free course, you can access tips on how to write a grant application, and see some examples of past projects. You can also view TUCC's webinar from September, 2023, which provides guidance on completing the grant application. Jill Strapp, Coordinating Consultant, Centre for Church Development and Leadership, TUCC, Katja Brittain, Director of Church Engagement, Kindred Works, and Janice Meighan, Director of Fundraising and Donor Care, TUCC provided detailed information on how to apply for the grant.
Program objectives
Projects submitted for this grant must meet at least one of the following program objectives:
- promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations
- engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others
- expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse
- supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors
Another objective is to provide capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.
Priorities:
Projects submitted for this grant (up to $25,000) will be assessed more favourably if they meet at least one of the following priorities.
- Priority 1: Supporting healthy aging
- Priority 2: Preventing senior abuse
- Priority 3: Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion
- Priority 4: Supporting financial security
Past projects undertaken by communities of faith include:
- Filming seniors about their life story.
- Events that included a bus trip with a visit to a museum, zoo, aquarium, etc.
- Music making activities, such as bands, ensembles or choirs, and their performances.
- A seniors’ engagement program that included a weekly Euchre/Bridge drop-in and a new pickleball club along with a bi-weekly program on Healthy Aging – Body, Mind and Spirit.
Applying for the grant:
If you plan to apply for the grant this year, you will need to have a well-developed project idea. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the grant application process as soon as possible because the timeline to apply is short.
Alternatively, if you intend to apply in a future year, assuming this recurring grant continues to be offered, you may wish to listen to the recording to hear ideas from other communities of faith and to learn about the process.
If you would like to discuss a project idea or have questions about it, please email Jill Strapp at jill@tucc.ca or Daniel Reed at daniel@tucc.ca.
