ADVOCACY AND ACTION FUND

SHIFT can provide funding of $20,000 to two coalitions or collaborative as part of this pilot program.  

• Depending on the nature of the application, the funds may be either split between the partners, be sent to one core partner or umbrella organization, or held by SHIFT in trust for reimbursement.  
• This fund is unrestricted, and funding can be used at the discretion of successful applicants. See below for examples of how funding can be spent. 

This program is only open to groups that have not received funding from SHIFT before, to be eligible for the Advocacy & Action Fund, your team must meet the following requirements: 

• You are applying as a coalition or a collaborative (see our definition here). 
• Your group is based in Montreal. Priority is given to groups who are working to specifically transform the lives of Montrealers, with the understanding that some applicants may be working at provincial (Quebec only) or national levels. 
• Your group is a collaborative that includes two or more organizations or groups. 
• Your coalition or collaborative is striving for a sustainable and socially just Montreal through multiple approaches, prioritizing specifically public policy or institutional advocacy, activism or direct action, or mobilization.  
• Your work is aligned with SHIFT’s mission, values, and basic criteria.  
• You must already be in active collaboration with (a) a unit at Concordia, (b) a SHIFT funded project, or (c) have a representative from a SHIFT funded project sit on the coalition. We prioritize applicants with clear Concordia connections. 
• You must be interested in working towards building deeper partnerships with/within Concordia University, to leverage the institution’s resources towards your organization’s sustainability and impact. For example: 
  • Accessing interns or student labour support through Concordia’s various experiential learning programs 
  • Working with student or faculty researchers  
  • Collaborating with technical departments at Concordia on digital and/or audiovisual materials creation 
  • Accessing trainings or coaching  
  • Embedding your work in Concordia’s curriculum  
  • Partnering with Concordia-based groups working towards systems change 
• You are interested in engaging in collaboration with SHIFT's ecosystem 
  • Ex: Acting as peer mentors or public educators for members of the SHIFT Learning Community to provide insight on how your work operates 
  • Ex: Wanting SHIFT’s support in communication, wanting to work with more SHIFT-funded projects, use the SHIFT space, etc. 

This funding can be used to support both the core operations of a coalition or collaborative, or a specific, time-bound project.  

There is a broad spectrum of eligible expenses.The funds can be used to cover any necessary labour or material expenses that would strengthen the coalition/movement’s work.  

This includes but is not limited to:  

• Food and travel expenses 
• Compensation for experts or professional supports (ex: street medics)  
• Posters, graphics, and other campaigns-based expenses  
• Shared equipment or shared infrastructure (ex: space rental)  
• Compensation or salaries for collaborative or shared staff (ex: coalition coordinator, coalition communications staff)  
• Legal fees and bail fees 
• Mutual aid programs for supporters/members 
• Fundraising expenses  
• Consultations with experts in various settings
  • Ex: nonviolent direct-action training, facilitated movement strategic planning, policy analyst to support campaigns, internal consultants to support stronger governance or organizational capacity. 

Although it is not mandatory, you are strongly encouraged to book time during our Office Hours to discuss your application with our Funding & Evaluation Coordinator. 

Application deadline: Monday, October 16, 2023

Please note: 

• Application form to be submitted under the name of the primary applicant and must have at least one collaborating partner. 
• In case of a collaboration of multiple organizations wherein one is a previously funded SHIFT team, that organization must be the primary applicant. 
• If a formal collaborative or coalition, the application form must have a detailed list of representatives and organizations involved.   
• If an informal collaborative or coalition, the application form to be submitted under the name of the primary applicant organization and must have a minimum of one other project associated with their work.  
• You will not be asked to submit a budget, but you will be asked in the application form to provide an explanation and justification of how you will spend the funds. 
• 5 applicants will receive interviews with the Selection Committee. You will be notified whether you receive an interview approximately 1 week after the deadline. 

The scenarios below are examples of eligble applications, to give you an idea of the possibilities. This is not an exhaustive list, many other scenarios can exist and can potentially be eligible for SHIFT's Advocacy & Action Fund.   

Ex 1: A collaborative of two community organizations, with volunteers throughout the sector (including Concordia researchers) have the mission of promoting prison abolition in Montreal. They provide both individual support (through legal advice), public advocacy, and direct action (through responsive protest). They apply for funding to cover their clients’ legal fees, for stipends for research participants and facilitators, and for new technological equipment to improve programming.

• They want to partner with Concordians on creating a video series to highlight and disseminate their research. They also want to access interns through Experiential Learning.

Ex 2: A coalition of climate justice organizations (including one previously funded SHIFT project), including youth organizers, do both education and mobilization as well as responsive direct action (protests, blockades) when needed. They apply for funding to create a reserve for emergencies or unplanned demonstrations (including food and outdoor expenses), for physically printed materials and graphic design.

• They want to access individual and organizational coaching through the business school to support their governance transition. 
• They want to partner with several student associations to increase youth organizer participation and engagement.

Ex 3: Several organizations are sending representatives to work in collaboration with a previously funded SHIFT partner as leader, to advocate for queer & trans parents’ rights. Together this collaborative is working on multiple projects, with the largest being pursuing public policy advocacy (ex: suing the government) and mobilization of Montrealers against a proposed provincial bill to no longer allow for “Parent 1” and “Parent 2” on birth certificates. They apply for funding to pay legal fees associated with their public policy advocacy and pay some of their members.

• They want to partner with Concordia's clinic and mental health practitioners to add medical expertise to their case.
• They want to work with the Equity Office, CSU, and Center for Gender Advocacy, and other units at Concordia to mobilize students in this issue.