Local Food Infrastructure Fund: Community Support Stream: 5. Complete the application and apply

5. Complete the application and apply

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) uses the information you give in the application form to determine whether your project is eligible.

The application form has 9 sections to be completed.

1. Project information

AAFC will use the information provided in this section, along with the details of your project's activities and budget, to determine the eligibility of your project.

Project title

Provide a short, descriptive project title that accurately reflects the project activities and outcomes.

Project objective

Provide a clear and concise summary of the project, using non-technical plain language. The summary should provide the overall goal of the project and what the project aims to achieve.

If the project is approved for funding, this summary may be used publicly on Government of Canada websites.

Project description

Outline the issues and gaps that the project will respond to as well as how the project will do this.

Accountability and management framework

State if your organization has the capacity to develop and put into action an accountability and management framework to support funding decisions with regard to ultimate recipients. This framework helps show that your organization has management oversight mechanisms in place in core areas (for example, finances, distribution of funding, information and technology, results and reporting, and human resources).

Previous experience further distributing funds

Describe any experience your organization has leading initiatives that further distribute funds to not-for-profit community-based organizations that support food security. Please include the initiative's objectives, results and dates, if funding agreements were signed with ultimate recipients, and any experience with overseeing reviews or audits related to the initiative(s).

Targeted programming

Describe your experience working with low-income communities, Indigenous groups (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) and/or individuals from other under-represented and marginalized groups.

For more information regarding low-income thresholds, please visit Low income measure (LIM) thresholds by income source and household size (Statistics Canada).

For more information regarding food insecurity, please visit Household food insecurity in Canada: Overview (Health Canada).

State if your organization has experience supporting culturally appropriate community food programming.

Impact on community food security

Describe how your organization will make sure that funded projects will maximize impact on community food security and will increase the capacity of ultimate recipients to provide nutritious and culturally appropriate food to Canadians most at risk of food insecurity.

Project design and delivery

Describe how your organization will design, launch and manage a clear, transparent, and open decision-making process for the selection of the ultimate recipient(s) and projects/activities to be funded.

Please provide a timeline to further distribute funding to not-for-profit community-based organizations that support community food programming from Fall 2026 to March 31, 2027 (maximum 6 months).

Community and environmental benefits

Describe how you will make sure of availability and a fair geographical distribution of funds to ultimate recipients serving communities at risk of food insecurity across Canada.

State if your project has broader benefits on community food security and if your project will help strengthen connections to local food systems and promote environmental sustainability. If so, explain how?

Project risk

Identify any financial and non-financial risks as well as associated mitigation measures.

Results reporting

Describe how you will collect data to measure and report on the distribution of funds and to track project outcomes.

Organizational description / Governance structure

Outline your geographical coverage for your services (national, provincial or territorial).

Provide the number of not-for-profit community-based organizations in your network, as well as approximate number of people served.

State if your organization is led by (more than 50%) one or more of the following groups? Select all that apply. (Responses to this question will be used for reporting and program planning purposes, and will not impact the success of the application)

• Indigenous Peoples - First Nations
• Indigenous Peoples - Métis
• Indigenous Peoples - Inuit
• Indigenous Peoples - Unknown
• Persons with Disabilities
• Members of Visible Minorities
• Women
• Youth
• 2SLGBTQI+
• Gender parity (50% women and/or non-binary people or more)
• Not applicable
• Decline to identify

Description of under-represented and marginalized groups

Indigenous Peoples

The collective name for the original peoples of Canada and their descendants and consists of distinct, rights-bearing communities comprising First Nations peoples, Métis and Inuit.^{note 1}

First Nations: are a people composed of many different nations having their own origin, history and culture, and whose members have called North America home for thousands of years. First Nations include Status and Non-Status Indians.

Métis: are a people whose members are of mixed First Nations and European ancestry, are united by a common origin, history and culture, and are generally accepted by the Métis Nation.

Inuit: are a people that inhabit or that traditionally inhabited the northern regions and Arctic coasts of Canada known as Inuit Nunangat, and whose members are united by a common origin, history and culture.

Persons with disabilities

The Employment Equity Act defines "persons with disabilities" as persons who have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric or learning impairment and who:

• consider themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, or
• believe that an employer or potential employer is likely to consider them to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, and
• includes persons whose functional limitations owing to their impairment have been accommodated in their current job or workplace.

Members of visible minorities

The Employment Equity Act defines "members of visible minorities" as persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.

Women

One of many gender identities. Includes all people who identify as women.

Youth

Individuals aged 39 and under.

2SLGBTQI+

Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities who use additional terminologies.^{note 2}

Gender parity

A minimum of 50% women and/or non-binary individuals.

Not applicable

Use this selection if the question is not relevant to your organization.

Decline to identify

Use this selection if you don't want to disclose this information at the time of your application.

Does your organization self-identify as being Black-led or Black-focused?

• Yes
• No
• Decline to identify

Black-led

An organization where the leadership positions are minimum 2/3 occupied by people who self-identify as Black, and/or where the governance structure is minimum 2/3 composed of people who self-identify as Black.

Black-focused

An organization where your mandate supports members of the Black community

Decline to identify

Use this selection if you do not want to disclose this information at the time of your application.

Describe your organization's capacity, governance structure, partners, the extent of your network, and facilities that will be leveraged to further distribute funding within a limited time frame.

Will your organization provide services and communication materials of equal quality in both official languages to reach potential ultimate recipients in the official language of their choice?

Organizational capacity (Project information section)

Describe how your organization has the capacity to deliver the project (that is, relevant skills and experience with the subject matter area of the project).

If applicable, provide details on past AAFC funded projects. Otherwise, provide details on projects of similar scale that your organization has previously delivered.

Primary project location

Enter the address where the project will take place.

If the project takes place in more than one location, provide the address of the location where most of the project activities and budget will take place.

Environmental considerations

Under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), we must determine whether projects that take place on federal land are likely to cause significant environmental damage.

To determine if the IAA applies to your project, answer the following questions:

Question A. Is the proposal a "project" as defined by the IAA?

Examples of projects include:

• construction of a greenhouse
• installation of a permanent irrigation system
• building construction or demolition
• any other activity related to a permanent human-made work

Activities that are not considered projects include:

• administrative or marketing activities
• workshops
• training or hiring staff
• installation of temporary or portable systems
• any other activity not related to a physical work

Question B. Where does the project take place?

AAFC has certain obligations under the IAA, if providing financial assistance to projects on federal land. Under the IAA, "federal lands" means:

1. lands that belong to His Majesty in right of Canada, or that His Majesty in right of Canada has the power to dispose of, and all waters on and airspace above those lands, other than lands under the administration and control of the Commissioner of Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut;
2. the following lands and area:
   1. the internal waters of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province,
   2. the territorial sea of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province,
   3. the exclusive economic zone of Canada, and
   4. the continental shelf of Canada; and
3. reserves, surrendered lands and any other lands that are set apart for the use and benefit of a band and that are subject to the Indian Act, and all waters on and airspace above those reserves or lands.

If you answer "Yes" or "Unsure" to Question A and "Federal lands or lands outside Canada" or "Reserves, surrendered land or other land set apart for the use and benefit of a band and that are subject to the Indian Act" to Question B, further assessment may be required. AAFC will contact you as necessary.

Project data collection

The responses to the following questions will be used for program reporting purposes only and will not impact the success of your application.

North American Industry Classification System

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States.

For more information, visit North American Industry Classification System (Statistics Canada).

AAFC has identified the following NAICS category option for this program.

• NAICS Identifier: 62421: Community food services

Select any of the following groups who will directly benefit from the intent of this project's activities (select all that apply).

• Indigenous Peoples
  • First Nations
  • Métis
  • Inuit
  • Unknown
• 2SLGBTQI+
• Women
• Youth
• Members of Visible Minorities
• Persons with Disabilities
• Not applicable
• Decline to identify

Descriptions for each of the above groups and options can be found in Organizational description / Governance structure.

Previously received funding

Has your organization received any funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) within the last 6 years?

If yes, and if known, list:

• the program(s) your organization received funding from
• the name of the projects
• the amount received

Official languages

AAFC is committed to enhancing the vitality of official language minority communities (OLMCs), supporting and assisting their development, and promoting the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.

OLMCs consist of Francophones outside Quebec and Anglophones in Quebec. These communities are often represented by provincial and regional organizations.

Audience

Do the project activities have the potential to reach an audience of both English and French speakers?

Community who will benefit

If approved, would the project activities specifically target an official language minority community (French speakers outside Quebec or English speakers in Quebec)?

If the approved project involves activities that may have an impact on OLMCs or promote the use of English and French, we will include appropriate commitments in agreements with your organization and additional expenses incurred as a result of these commitments will be considered eligible for contribution funding.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Communications
  • Project web pages and/or project social media account(s) produced and maintained in both official languages
  • Project materials offered in both official languages (brochures, kits, handouts, newsletters, reports, etc.)
  • Directional and educational signs produced in both official languages
  • Project-related advertisement in OLMC media (newspapers, radio, social media)
  • Bilingual coordinator or other contractor hired to help deliver project-related activities in both official languages (for example, master of ceremony for a project event, workshop facilitator or simultaneous translator)
  • Distribution of invitations in both official languages
  • Knowledge transfer activities
• Outreach
  • One or more OLMCs are included in the project target groups (for example, as in-kind or cash partners in project budget or to be invited to project events)
  • Other groups representing OLMCs are consulted to see if there is any potential for involvement on their end
  • Travel to or from OLMCs (costs associated with these project activities are included in project budget)

If your project is funded, your organization may be required to publicly acknowledge AAFC's support for the project, in both official languages, and in a form determined by Canada.

2. Project team

AAFC uses the information you provide in this section to confirm your organization's identity and to verify your organization's eligibility for funding.

Refer to the Eligibility checklist to determine if your organization is eligible under this program.

Review the contact information for project team members and edit if necessary. There is a maximum of 5 project team members per project. Any project team member can create and edit project application forms, submit direct deposit information and submit payment requests and performance reports to AAFC.

Note: If your organization has previously submitted an online application to AAFC, the system may not require you to complete this section again. If you're aware of any changes to your organization or business information since the last submission, please contact the program to verify and update your profile.

Organization or business

Legal name

Your organization's legal name, as it appears in legal documents such as articles of incorporation and certificate of incorporation.

Operating as (if used)

Enter the name under which your organization operates, if that name is different from its legal name. If you do not use an 'operating as' name, provide your organization's legal name.

Acronym (if used)

Enter the acronym your organization uses, if different from its legal and 'operating as' names.

CRA business number

Enter the first 9 digits of your 15-digit Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Business number.

Example: 123456789 RR 0001

If you don't have a CRA Business Number, select the checkbox "The organization or business does not have a Business Number" and provide an explanation. Note: you must get a CRA Business Number if your project is approved for funding.

State your Organization type

Select one of the following:

• Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit)
• Not-for-profit

Organization type – Additional information

Your answer to this question must be one (1) of the following:

• Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit)
  • First Nations, Métis or Inuit not-for-profit organization
• Not-for-profit
  • Corporation

Headquarters address

Enter the complete address, main email address and main phone number of your organization's headquarters or regional headquarters.

Mailing address

Enter the mailing address if different from the Headquarters' address or click on "Copy Headquarters address."

Organizational capacity (Project team section)

AAFC will use the information you provide in this section to understand more about your organization and to assess your ability to carry out this project.

How many employees work for your organization?

Include the total number of all full-time and part-time employees on your organization's payroll. Don't include contractors.

Describe your organization (for example, when it was established, the mandate/mission, and who it serves).

Include your organization's mandate/mission, priorities, and who it serves. Provide a brief history of your organization including when it was established and any significant changes in the past 2 years (for example, a significant increase or decrease of staff, changes to executive leadership/Board of Directors, a change in mandate).

Responses to the remaining organizational capacity questions will be used for reporting and program planning purposes, and will not impact the success of your application.

Does the mandate/mission of your organization target any of the following groups? (Select all that apply)

• Indigenous Peoples
  • First Nations
  • Métis
  • Inuit
  • Unknown
• Persons with Disabilities
• Members of Visible Minorities
• Women
• Youth
• 2SLGBTQI+
• Not applicable
• Decline to identify

Descriptions for each of the above groups and options can be found in Organizational description / Governance structure.

Is your organization majority owned (50% or more) by one or more of the following groups? (Select all that apply)

• Indigenous Peoples
  • First Nations
  • Métis
  • Inuit
  • Unknown
• Persons with Disabilities
• Members of Visible Minorities
• Women
• Youth
• 2SLGBTQI+
• Gender parity (50% women and/or non-binary people or more)
• Not applicable
• Decline to identify

Descriptions for each of the above groups and options can be found in Organizational description / Governance structure. Additional descriptions are provided below for "Gender parity" and "non-binary."

Gender parity - A minimum of 50% women and/or non-binary individuals.

Non-binary - A person whose gender identity does not align with a binary understanding of gender such as man or woman. It is a gender identity which may include man and woman, androgynous, fluid, multiple, no gender, or a different gender outside of the "woman—man" spectrum.

Does your organization's Board of Directors have a diverse composition with significant representation (30% or more) from one or more of the following groups? (Select all that apply)

• Indigenous Peoples
  • First Nations
  • Métis
  • Inuit
  • Unknown
• Persons with Disabilities
• Members of Visible Minorities
• Women
• Youth
• 2SLGBTQI+
• Gender parity (50% women and/or non-binary people or more)
• Not applicable
• Decline to identify

Descriptions for each of the above groups and options can be found in Organizational description / Governance structure. Additional descriptions are provided below for "Gender parity" and "non-binary."

Gender parity - A minimum of 50% women and/or non-binary individuals.

Non-binary - A person whose gender identity does not align with a binary understanding of gender such as man or woman. It is a gender identity which may include man and woman, androgynous, fluid, multiple, no gender, or a different gender outside of the "woman—man" spectrum.

Does your organization have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Plan or a Human Resources Plan that supports diversity, equity and inclusion?

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan

An employment equity plan addresses under-representation of marginalized groups such as Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women, youth, 2SLGBTQI+ people, and official language minority people and employment barriers they may face. A Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan goes beyond an employment equity plan to address under-representation and employment barriers for equity and equity seeking groups to advance diversity, equity and inclusion commitments in the workplace.

Human Resources Plan that supports DEI

A plan that links human resources management to the organization's overall strategic and operational plans and includes objectives to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

Does your organization participate in the 50 – 30 Challenge: Your Diversity Advantage?

The 50 – 30 Challenge program was designed to support organizations across Canada in fostering diversity and inclusion by promoting gender parity (50%) and increased representation of equity-deserving groups (30%) within leadership roles.

The 50 – 30 Challenge program has closed to new signatories as of March 31, 2025 but its resources are still available to support workplace equity, diversity, and inclusion in Canada.

3. Activities

Activity details

The Activities section is where you will provide a detailed description of the 1 planned activity noted in the application form, which is as follows.

Activity 1: Initial recipients will further distribute funds to ultimate recipients.

You should include key milestones and descriptions of your planned performance measures as well as how you will report on results.

The activities will be assessed to determine if they have been clearly planned and described, and if they are aligned with the project's goals, objectives, and purpose.

The project start and end dates are automatically determined by the date that work on the first activity will take place and the last day that work on the last activity will take place. The fiscal year begins April 1 and concludes March 31.

Activity title

Activity 1: Please enter "Further distribution of funds to ultimate recipients."

Activity budget

The maximum requested AAFC amount is $13,636,364 as the 10% administration costs will be automatically added for a total of $15,000.000.

The minimum requested AAFC amount is $2,727,273 as the 10% administration costs will be automatically added for a total of $3,000.000.

Activity cost by fiscal year

Provide the AAFC funding amounts for the activity by fiscal year. The amounts you input here will be summarized in the Funding Sources section of the application. The available fiscal years for each activity are determined by the activity's individual start and end date.

AAFC funding

The amounts that you're requesting from AAFC.

Non-AAFC funding

Please leave the value as 0.

This program does not require NON-AAFC funding as a source of funding.

Non-AAFC breakdown by funding source

Please leave the value as 0. This program does not require NON-AAFC funding as a source of funding.

Confirm all activities have been added for this project

After you list all of the project activities, you must click on "I confirm" before you can move to the next section of the application.

Administrative costs

Administrative costs — eligible cost items

Administrative fees will be calculated at a 10% flat rate at the approved cost-share ratio. Under the 10% flat rate, administrative cost items do not need to be detailed, negotiated or substantiated when submitting a claim. However, if subject to a compliance audit, you may be asked to supply supporting documentation. For this purpose, it is important to keep in the mind the following examples.

Administrative costs mean costs related to:

• project management costs: management and administrative staff wages, including those who oversee the project, pay the invoices, manage the project budget, start or oversee reviews and audits, and monitor and/or prepare the claims and any financial or progress/performance reports for the project
  • salaries, Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs), and benefits and/or contract services such as interpretation and translation services
• administrative office supplies and expenses
  • basic telephone fees (including fax lines) and cell phones
  • hydro
  • materials and office supplies (for example, pens, pencils, paper, envelopes, cleaning supplies, subscriptions)
  • monthly internet fees
  • postage and courier fees
  • office equipment (for example, computers, printers, photocopiers)
  • office space (rent) and related utilities, maintenance and property taxes
• legal fees
• other overhead type expenditures relating to the organization's office

Administrative costs — limitations/explanations

• Don't include administration costs in your application; the application form will calculate them automatically at a 10% flat rate.
  • This flat rate has been developed to represent the cost to the administration functions of the contribution agreement.
• To ease administrative burden, administrative costs do not need to be detailed at the time of application and will not be negotiated or need to be validated when submitting a claim.
• Administrative costs will be funded at the approved program cost-share ratio.

Note: You must keep all documentation of administrative costs. If you're subject to an audit, you'll need to supply the supporting documents at that time.

4. Funding sources

Please leave the value as 0.

This program does not require NON-AAFC funding as a source funding.

5. Budget summary

Review all information in this section. The budget summary is calculated from the addition of all activities, and you must return to the Activities section to make any changes.

6. Documents

Besides the application form, you must submit the following documents to AAFC:

Required: A copy of the organization's Certificate of Incorporation or Articles of Incorporation or Letters Patent

A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and Articles of Incorporation or letters patent, documenting your not-for-profit corporation's status as a legal entity and purpose for at least 2 years prior to the application submission date. If your corporation has amended its legal name or amalgamated since the initial registration, also provide the amendment document(s) to confirm the chain of re-naming.

Required: A copy of the last 2 years' financial statements

• Statements for the last 2 years
• Most recent interim financial statement

Other optional documents

If available: Accountability and Management Framework

An accountability and management framework helps show that your organization has management oversight mechanisms in place in core areas, such as finances, distribution of funding, information and technology, results and reporting, and human resources. The framework also helps show that you have accountability mechanisms and methods in place to make sure the ultimate recipients are held accountable to you.

If available: Additional documents

You can attach any additional documents you feel will support your submission.

7. Contacts

Primary contact

Enter the contact information of the person in your organization who is responsible for responding to inquiries about your application.

First name and last name

Provide the name of the person in your organization who will be AAFC's primary contact about your application.

Email address

Provide the email of the primary contact. Please note that AAFC will use this information to communicate with your organization about your application.

Language of correspondence

Provide the preferred language of the primary contact for written and verbal communication.

Position title

Provide the position title of the primary contact. For example, Business Owner, President, Executive Director.

Phone numbers and fax number

Provide the telephone number(s) of the primary contact. If applicable, provide a fax number. AAFC will use this information to communicate with your organization about your application.

Project contact

If your project is approved for funding, this is the person who will discuss the project with AAFC. This person can be the same as the primary contact.

State if you're the project contact or if you need to enter a new contact. If you enter a new contact, enter the following:

First name and last name

Provide the name of the person in your organization who will be AAFC's project contact for this application.

Email address

Provide the email of the project contact. Please note that AAFC will use this information to communicate with your organization about the project application.

Language of correspondence

Provide the preferred language, English or French, of the project contact for written and verbal communication.

Position title

Provide the position title of the project contact. For example, Business Owner, President, Executive Director.

Phone numbers and fax number

Provide the telephone number(s) of the project contact. If applicable, provide a fax number. AAFC will use this information to communicate with your organization about the project.

8. Declarations

Read and complete the declarations.

9. Review and submit

Provide any additional information you would like to include in your application.

After you complete your application form and include the additional documents, please submit your application.

If you have any trouble when you complete or submit the application, please contact the program.