The 2023 – 2024 grant application process is now open. Applications are due on Thursday, September 14, 2023, 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.

Join Katja Brittain, Director of Church Engagement, Kindred Works, Jill Strapp, Coordinating Consultant, Centre for Church Development and Leadership, TUCC and Janice Meighan, Director of Fundraising and Donor Care, TUCC for guidance on how to complete your grant application and to hear about projects that other communities of faith are undertaking.

Program objectives

Projects submitted for this grant must meet at least one of the following program objectives:

1. promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations
2. engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others
3. expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse
4. 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.

Pre-work:

If you plan to apply for the grant this year, you will need to have a well-developed project idea and at a minimum have familiarized yourself with the grant application process before attending the session since the timeline to apply is so short.

Alternatively, if you intend to apply in a future year, assuming this recurring grant continues to be offered, you are welcome to attend to hear ideas from other communities of faith and to learn about the process.

If you would like to discuss a project idea in advance of the information session or have questions about it, please email Jill Strapp at jill@tucc.ca.