College and Community Social Innovation Fund ### 📋 Eligible Entities - Primary Applicant: Canadian colleges and community colleges (public institutions) - Partner Organizations: - For-profit businesses and corporations - Not-for-profit organizations - Public sector organizations - Social enterprises - Business Role: Your business participates as a partner in a college-led application; the college is the grant recipient - Geographic Requirement: College must be Canadian; partnership can extend across sectors - Exclusions: Colleges cannot apply on behalf of businesses; businesses must formalize partnership agreements with eligible colleges ### 💰 Funding Details - Grant Size: Typically $25,000–$250,000+ per project (varies by program intake) - Repayability: Non-repayable grant (not a loan) - Cost-Sharing: Often requires 20–50% co-investment from partner organizations (may be in-kind contributions such as staff time, equipment, or facilities) - Matching Ratio: College funding typically covers 50–80%; partners cover 20–50% - Funding Duration: Usually 12–24 months per project cycle - Payment Structure: Funds allocated to the college; businesses receive indirect benefit through project execution and outcomes ### 🛠️ Approved Expenses - Research & Development: Social innovation research conducted by college faculty and students - Personnel Costs: Researcher and project staff salaries (college-employed) - Community Engagement: Stakeholder consultation, co-design sessions, and community workshops - Prototyping & Piloting: Development and testing of social innovation solutions - Technology & Tools: Software, platforms, and digital solutions for social problems - Professional Services: Consulting, evaluation, and external expertise - Dissemination: Documentation, reporting, and knowledge translation activities - Travel & Convening: Project-related meetings and stakeholder events - Equipment & Materials: (modest, project-specific purchases aligned with social innovation goals) ### ⚠️ Conditions & Milestones - Partnership Requirement: Your business must execute a formal partnership agreement with the applying college before