Funding Opportunities

Bell Let’s Talk has partnered with more than 1,100 organizations providing mental health supports and services throughout Canada, including hospitals, universities, local community service providers and other care and research organizations. On this page you will find the most up to date information about funding available through the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund, Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund and the Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund.

Click below to learn more about each fund.

Community Fund

Overview

As part of the Bell Let’s Talk mental health initiative, the Community Fund provides annual donations of up to $25,000 to charitable organizations to fund mental health services and supports in communities across Canada.

Over the past 10 years, the Community Fund has invested more than $13 million in grants to 775 organizations. To learn more about the projects we have funded to date, please click here.

The 2021 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund grant application window is now closed and will re-open in January 2022.

Successful applicants will hear back on the status of their applications by July at which time a list of the 2021 grant recipient projects will be posted for reference.

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 2020 grant, you are not eligible to apply again until the 2022 cycle.

Please note only one application per organization will be accepted.

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
  • Post-secondary projects supporting student mental health and wellness services. To learn more about the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund click here.

Post-secondary projects delivering mental health services for the greater community (i.e. mental health walk-in clinic) are eligible to apply for a Community Fund grant.

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.

For more information about the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund please send an email to mentalhealth@bell.ca.

Post-Secondary Fund

Overview

Bell is committed to continued support for post-secondary student mental health and wellness across Canada. Bell Let’s Talk funding enabled the creation of the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students (the Standard), under the leadership of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) and in partnership with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

Bell is building on this commitment to support student success with the creation of the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund. The Post-Secondary Fund will include two initiatives to support post-secondary institutions in their journey to implement the Standard. The first funding initiative made available was the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund Kickoff Grant. The period for submitting an application for a Kickoff Grant is now closed. To see a complete list of universities and colleges who received a $25,000 Kickoff Grant, please click here.

The second Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund initiative will launch later this spring. This initiative will support specific programs that guide an institution’s implementation of the Standard to strengthen student mental health and well-being and align with the guiding principles and models of the Standard. More information about this initiative will be available at launch.

Please continue to visit this page and follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter to stay informed about any developments.

Eligibility

Publicly funded Canadian post-secondary institutions that are taking action to begin the research and planning that will assist with the implementation of the Standard are eligible for Kickoff Grants.

Criteria

The Post-Secondary Fund Kickoff Grant supports initiatives that improve student mental health and support the institution’s journey to align with the Standard. Preference will be given to applications that:

  • Leverage the sample Internal Audit tool available on page 13 in the Standard Starter Kit to gain insight into the mental health needs of their students.
  • Based on the internal audit tool, provide a detailed description that outlines activities and/or actions that will help start the implementation of the Standard (i.e. focus groups, internal meetings, resource salary supplement, research, etc.)
  • Clearly explain how the Kickoff Grant will help offset the costs of starting the journey of implementing the Standard.

Applicants must agree and adhere to the terms and conditions as stated in the online application form.

Exclusions

  • For-profit institutions
  • Business or contract fundraisers, individuals, families and political parties
  • Private clinics
  • Event sponsorship

Terms of grant

The Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund will award a one-time Kickoff Grant to 100 eligible institutions in the amount of $25,000 in 2021. The Grant application period is open from January 13 to February 26, 2021. Successful applicants will receive funding within 6-8 weeks from the close of the application period. Stewardship reports are due one year after grants are awarded.

For questions about the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund, please send an email to postsecondarymentalhealth@bell.ca.

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. To learn more about the projects we have funded to date, please click here.

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. To read more about this initiative, please click here.

The Bell Let's Talk Diversity Fund grant application window is now closed and will re-open in July 2021. As soon as it opens, the announcement will be available on all our platforms. Please continue to visit this page and follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter to stay informed of any developments.

Eligibility

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.

For more information about the Bell Let’s Talk Diversity Fund please send an email to mentalhealth@bell.ca.