[Canada-Wide] New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) Community-based 2023–2024 Call for Proposals funding community-based projects

On August 1^st, 2023, the Government of Canada will launch the annual New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) Community-based stream 2023-2024 Call for proposals (CFP) to invest in projects across Canada. This program is offered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

Please note that the online Application for Funding Form and the Applicant Guide will only be available on the NHSP Funding Page as of August 1^st, 2023. It is important to note that you cannot submit your application before the CFP is officially launched.

Organizations will have a total of six (6) weeks to submit their applications, from August 1 to September 14, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). To learn more information about NHSP, please visit the NHSP Page.

Eligible projects must meet the CFP criteria, including:

1.      be no longer than 52 weeks

2.      request no more than $25,000

3.      meet at least 1 program objective

4.      seniors will lead or play a vital role in its planning and/or delivery

5.      seek to benefit seniors and communities

6.      demonstrate cost effectiveness

The NHSP supports projects that address the following objectives:

6.      promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations;

7.      engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others;

8.      expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;

9.      supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors; and,

10.   providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.

Organizations will be invited to apply for funding that supports the 2023-2024 program’s national priorities:

Supporting healthy ageing, including:

1.      addressing social isolation, including through supporting seniors’ digital literacy;

2.      addressing ageism; and,

3.      supporting mental health and dementia.

Preventing senior abuse, including:

1.      providing measures to reduce crimes and harm against seniors including elder abuse; and,

2.      developing educational material to prevent unscrupulous practices, financial fraud and scams from happening to seniors. 

Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion, including:

1.      promoting intergenerational mentoring and engagement;

2.      advancing Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and helping to secure a better quality of life for Indigenous seniors

3. collaborating with diverse communities notably by serving members of the following vulnerable groups: low-income seniors, Indigenous Peoples, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, members of official language minority communities (OLMCs), seniors who primarily speak languages other than English or French, members of racialized and newcomer groups, persons with disabilities, veterans and seniors living in rural or remote areas.

Supporting financial security, including:

1.      helping seniors navigate and access government services and benefits and providing support to file their taxes; and,

2.      supporting financial empowerment of seniors.

In addition to regional information sessions, technical support sessions will be provided to organizations during the application period and can be requested through Service Canada.

We encourage you to follow Seniors in Canada on Facebook and on Twitter or access canada.ca/seniors  to obtain the most up-to-date information about the benefits, programs and initiatives available to seniors. Additionally, we are asking you to please comment, like and share our content to help spread the word about the 2023-2024 NHSP Community-based projects CFP and other important seniors-related announcements. Feel free to use #SeniorsInCanada to join the conversation.   

We invite you to watch the message from the Minister of Seniors, Kamal Khera.

Get notified of funding opportunities from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) by signing up to receive email notifications. To receive regular updates from the Minister of Seniors, sign up here!

Please note that a Call for Concepts for the Pan Canadian stream of the New Horizons for Seniors Program will be launched on October 4, 2023. The theme of the Call for Concepts will be increasing the social inclusion of vulnerable populations of seniors and will support concepts that use a collective impact approach. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.

If you are interested in attending a virtual Information Session, register here:

General Sessions: New Horizons for Seniors Program Events | Eventbrite