This grant supports community-based projects that enhance the social inclusion, participation, and well-being of seniors. Projects of up to $50,000 must align with one of five objectives: encouraging senior volunteering, promoting mentorship, raising awareness of elder abuse, increasing social participation, or improving facilities and spaces for seniors through capital assistance. Capital projects must also support at least one additional objective and may allocate up to $25,000 toward eligible capital expenses.

Applications can receive additional assessment points by addressing national priorities such as healthy aging, preventing senior abuse, celebrating diversity and inclusion, or supporting seniors' financial security.

Projects must be completed within 52 weeks, request up to $50,000, align with at least one program objective, actively involve seniors in planning or delivery, and demonstrate benefits to seniors and their communities.

Funding supports activities that promote seniors’ participation, mentorship, social inclusion, and awareness of elder abuse, as well as eligible equipment purchases and facility improvements. Capital projects may receive up to $25,000 for renovations, repairs, or equipment and must address two program objectives.

Program Objectives

Projects must support at least one of the following objectives:

• Promote senior volunteering by encouraging community involvement, leadership, mentorship, and volunteer participation.
• Engage seniors through mentoring by sharing knowledge, skills, and life experiences with other generations or peers.
• Increase awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse, scams, and fraud prevention.
• Support social participation and inclusion by creating opportunities for seniors to connect and engage in community activities.
• Provide capital assistance for facility improvements or equipment that enhance seniors’ participation and social inclusion. Capital projects must also address one additional program objective.

Eligible expenses:

• Project staff wages and related employment costs
• Professional services (e.g., instructors, presenters, facilitators)
• Materials and supplies
• Costs associated with events, workshops, and program delivery
• Equipment purchases related to project activities
• Facility renovations and repairs (capital assistance projects)
• Administrative costs directly related to the project (up to 25% of total project costs)

Ineligible expenses

• Core operating expenses not directly related to the project
• Purchase of vehicles
• Purchase of land or buildings
• New construction or building expansions
• Medical services, interventions, or devices
• Leisure-only activities and related transportation costs
• Grant writing and application preparation costs
• Expenses incurred before a funding agreement is approved and signed
• Renovations or repairs to buildings not owned by the applicant
• Alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and similar products
• General beautification or aesthetic improvements (e.g., landscaping, decorative painting)