Funding Opportunities
The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund and the Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund are part of Bell Let’s Talk, Canada’s largest corporate initiative dedicated to mental health.
Click below to learn more about each fund.
Diversity Fund
Overview
Bell has taken a strong stance against racism and social injustice and we're taking meaningful action to address the impacts of systemic racism on Black, Indigenous and People of Colour within our company and across our communities.
Part of this commitment includes the creation of the Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund.
The Diversity Fund supports the mental health and well-being of members of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities across Canada.
We are engaging with a broad circle of advisors, including mental health experts and people with lived experience from within these communities to help guide us, including advice on directions and priorities, consultation on the development and future evolution of the new fund, and in aspects of the review process.
The period for submitting an Expression of Interest is now closed. Please refer to the timeline below for more details. To read more about this initiative, click here.
Eligibility
Canadian registered charities, non-profit organizations, and community organizations are eligible for consideration.
Canadian registered charities, non-profit organizations, and community organizations are eligible for consideration.
Criteria
Preference will be given to projects that:
- Are led by and include staff members who reflect the community they support
- Clearly articulate how the proposed project will advance the mental health and well-being of the community it serves
- Are evidence-based and/or culturally-informed
- Include an estimate of the anticipated project costs including the portion to be funded with the Bell Let’s Talk grant
- Identify community impact and how it will be measured
Exclusions
- Business or contract fundraisers, individuals, families and political parties
- Private clinics
- Event sponsorship
Terms of grant
The fund will award grants of up to $250,000 payable over 3-5 years. The timeline for the 2020 round of funding is described below.
Timeline
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July 30-September 14 – Expressions of Interest (EOI) accepted (1 EOI per organization)
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September 21-October 9 – EOIs reviewed by mental health experts, community leaders and people with lived experience
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October 10-14 – Applicants will be notified of the status of their EOI
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October 15-November 30 – Organizations whose EOIs are accepted will develop formal proposals in conjunction with the Bell Let’s Talk team for final review
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December 15 – Successful applicants notified
The fund will award grants of up to $250,000 payable over 3-5 years. The timeline for the 2020 round of funding is described below.
Timeline
-
July 30-September 14 – Expressions of Interest (EOI) accepted (1 EOI per organization)
-
September 21-October 9 – EOIs reviewed by mental health experts, community leaders and people with lived experience
-
October 10-14 – Applicants will be notified of the status of their EOI
-
October 15-November 30 – Organizations whose EOIs are accepted will develop formal proposals in conjunction with the Bell Let’s Talk team for final review
-
December 15 – Successful applicants notified
Community Fund
The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund application period is now closed and will reopen in January 2021. To learn more about the Community Fund projects we have funded to date, please click here.
Eligibility
Canadian registered charities are eligible for consideration. Successful grant recipients will only be eligible for another Community Fund grant one year after the date of any previous grant. If you received a 2019 grant, you are not eligible to apply again until the 2021 cycle.
Canadian registered charities are eligible for consideration. Successful grant recipients will only be eligible for another Community Fund grant one year after the date of any previous grant. If you received a 2019 grant, you are not eligible to apply again until the 2021 cycle.
Criteria
The Community Fund supports projects that improve access to mental health care, supports and services for people in Canada. Preference will be given to applications that:
- Leverage, expand or replicate proven programs and services already being offered by other mental health agencies
- Have clear objectives and a measurement plan
- Are evidence-based or evidence-informed
- Include a detailed budget and have secured funding from other sources for the project
- Specifically address project sustainability post-funding
- Identify community impact and specify the number or increased number of individuals helped through the project
Applicants must agree and adhere to the terms and conditions as stated in the online application form.
Exclusions
- Business or contract fundraisers, individuals, families and political parties
- Private clinics
- Capital campaigns and projects
- Medical equipment
- Anti-stigma projects
- Multi-year funding requests
- Projects supporting neurological and developmental disorders as defined by the World Health Organization
- Event sponsorship
- Research projects
- Projects supporting post-secondary student mental health and wellness services
Bell Let’s Talk is committed to supporting post- secondary student mental health and wellness. Together with The Rossy Foundation and the RBC Foundation, we are funding the creation of a new voluntary Standard for Psychological Health and Safety of post-secondary students under the leadership of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) and in partnership with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Upon completion of the Standard, projects supporting post-secondary student mental health and wellness services will be eligible.
In the interim, post-secondary projects delivering services for the greater community (i.e. mental health walk-in clinic) are eligible.
Terms of grant
The Bell Let's Talk Community Fund only provides annual funding. The grant year starts on October 1 and ends September 30 the following year. Stewardship reports are due October 15, one year after grants are awarded.
The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund may provide a grant amount for less than that requested; when this happens, the grantee must submit a revised budget within the amount approved.
The Bell Let's Talk Community Fund only provides annual funding. The grant year starts on October 1 and ends September 30 the following year. Stewardship reports are due October 15, one year after grants are awarded.
The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund may provide a grant amount for less than that requested; when this happens, the grantee must submit a revised budget within the amount approved.