Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not launching Round 2 of our Funding and Support Program at this time. For information about other funding opportunities specifically related to COVID-19, please refer to this list.
From April to June 2020, SHIFT allocated $70,000 to 15 local initiatives that are striving for social transformation in the crisis and post-crisis context. Applications are now closed. Learn more here and stay updated through our newsletter.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
During its pilot year, the SHIFT Funding and Support Program is offering $110,000 of funding to multi-stakeholder teams working on socially transformative projects.
$70,000 will be available in Round 2 to support projects at different stages of development
As we wait to launch the applications for Round 2, we invite you to explore the revised funding streams and get to know the program.
Develop your Idea
Your team is in the early stages of project development. You have an idea and you need support to better understand community needs, build partnerships, and/or create plans for executing your pilot project.
Pilot or Evaluate your Project
Your team is ready to test your project for the first time or to repeat a project you haven’t had the chance to evaluate yet. You need support to run your project and measure its impact.
Sustain or Scale your Impact
Your team has already run this project and has evidence of its contribution to social change. You need support to repeat this project and/or to increase or deepen its impact.
We’re looking for projects that:
Tackle a significant community identified issue related to inequity, injustice or unsustainability
Make a tangible impact on the system they are seeking to transform
Connect to Concordia through teaching, learning, research or student life
Round 1 Results
SHIFT is proud to support the transformative work of the 7 multi-stakeholder teams whose projects were selected in the first round of our Funding and Support Program.
Working together
The SHIFT Funding and Support Program is designed to support multi-stakeholder teams. Individuals are not eligible.
Teams may be pre-existing groups of people or may be formed specifically to work on a SHIFT-funded project.
A team must consist of individuals representing two or more stakeholder groups.
At least one team member must be based at Concordia.
Supporting projects with more than funding
In addition to financial support, teams that receive funding will be accompanied by a dedicated SHIFT staff member throughout the duration of their project. In total, SHIFT anticipates offering an additional $100,000 of in-kind support to project teams based on their respective needs.
Contributing to community learning
Recipients of SHIFT funding play a key role in nourishing our collective learning about social transformation. Through workshops, skill shares and collaborative evaluation processes, recipients of SHIFT funding are asked to share their expertise and experience with the SHIFT community.
Learning as we go
For our pilot year, we’re starting with a smaller version of this Funding and Support Program to test our assumptions and processes. Our goal is to learn, adjust and improve the program with each iteration. Based on recommendations from an Evaluation Working Group and with the approval of our Steering Committee, we plan to update the program and increase the amount of funding and accompaniment offered in subsequent years.
