Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat –Youth Engagement Grant Program Guidelines
Please consult these guidelines when preparing your application.
Grant overview
The grant program supports the Vision of the Secretariat by building capacity in organizations, local governments and communities to meaningfully engage young people in the essential tasks, processes, responsibilities and ownership of these entities.
Funding will not typically exceed $5,000 and is available for organizational and community capacity building. The focus is on initiatives that seek to increase the ability of organizations and communities to engage young people in their governance and operations. These initiatives are to be informed and/ or led by young people. Activities may include support for organizational structuring / restructuring to increase youth involvement in governance, and training and learning initiatives that support youth inclusion.
Principles
Funding processes will be guided by the following principles:
- Youth informed/Youth led – Proposals must show evidence that young
- people have informed and /or are leading the proposal process, thereby supporting the program in practice and increasing the likelihood of the project’s success.
- Diversity – Proposals must show evidence that the diversity of the youth community has been considered.Change making legacy – Proposals must demonstrate a commitment to instilling new practices and behaviours in communities and organizations that can lead to permanent cultural change.
- Learning and sharing – Proposals must demonstrate a commitment to both applying the learnings of the project, and to sharing these with others.
Roles and responsibilities
The Youth Secretariat will:
- Establish and communicate program criteria and ensure fair and unbiased review of proposals
- Finalize and communicate decisions in a timely manner
- Distribute funding
- Monitor and ensure evaluation of project activities and outcomes
Applicants will:
- Consult this overview for guidance when preparing proposals
- Meet required deadlines
- If approved, actively work with the Youth Secretariat to clarify or enhance proposals
- Use approved funding for its intended purpose, and provide progress and final reports as requested, including financial statements and evaluation
- Demonstrate they are incorporated in Nova Scotia or supported by a non-profit or public agency
- Have liability insurance
- Demonstrate they can complete the work by the stated dates
- Support the grant program’s principles (as noted above)
- Acknowledge the contributions of the Youth Secretariat in all promotional material
- File a final report. A form to assist with this will be provided.
Eligible costs
- Fees and wages, including incremental staff or consultants
- In province travel
- Resources, including print and audio-visual resources, software directly required by the project
- Office and Program supplies, including paper products, and non capital program items
- Meeting, facility and equipment expenses, including rent, copier and telecommunication charges directly related to the project
- Training, including registration fees and other expenses related to hosting or attending a training event
- Evaluation, including in house or external evaluation services
Ineligible costs/activities
Any costs that are not negotiated within the letter of offer are ineligible for funding. The
following costs/activities are typically ineligible:
- Capital costs, including construction/repairs of buildings or monuments, computer hardware and peripherals, etc.
- Travel outside Nova Scotia (unless agreed to in writing)
- Any financial losses/deficits incurred by the applicant
- Personal expenses of board or staff members
- Lobbying activities
- Costs/activities not listed here may be ineligible, and should be verified with the Youth
- Secretariat prior to any expenditure.
Application process and review
Applicants will complete the application form, including all requested support materials.
Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposal with Secretariat staff prior to submitting the request to ensure understanding of the process.
Applications will be submitted to the Youth Secretariat. Applications will be received on a first come first serve basis. Effort will be made to ensure there are funds available to consider all applications.
Proposals will be assessed by Youth Secretariat staff and a recommendation if appropriate will be made to the proper level for approval. Every effort will be made to ensure decisions are made as quickly as possible.
Applications will be reviewed against the following factors.
- Does the proposed project help achieve the Vision of the Youth Secretariat?
- Does the application support the intent of the program as described in the Overview?
- Are the program’s principles reflected in the application?
- Are all suggested costs eligible?
- Has the applicant demonstrated it can meet its roles and responsibilities as described above?
- Given funding limitations, repeat applications from the same applicant are not encouraged, Successful applicants can expect that subsequent applications will not receive priority consideration.
- Final decisions will be communicated to applicants in writing.
Letter of Agreement
A Letter of Agreement will be sent to organizations that receive approval for their proposal.
The Letter outlines the terms and conditions to be met by both parties.
Payment schedule
In most cases, project funding will be issued in two installments: 75 percent initially and 25 percent upon project completion and submission of a Final Report. The Final Report will report on progress towards the expected objectives, outputs and outcomes, and include evaluation and financial statements.
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP)
Prior to approval, proposals will be considered the property of the proponents and will only be available to the Youth Secretariat and others directly involved in evaluating the proposal.
Once approved, proposals submitted to the Youth Secretariat are subject to the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP). By signing a letter of agreement with the Province, proponents agree to public disclosure of their proposal content.
Next steps
If you have an idea that you think meets these program guidelines, please contact the Youth Secretariat at 902-424-0481.