FEDDEV FUNDING: Youth STEM Guidelines

 

Youth STEM Guidelines

Background

Youth STEM addresses the labour needs of tomorrow by encouraging the development of the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians (STEM) required to build excellence in southern Ontario's knowledge-based economy.

The initiative will encourage more young people to pursue meaningful STEM careers and will build the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and problem solvers. The initiative will encourage a focused and coordinated approach to STEM outreach by organizations with established track records and significant impact and scope in STEM promotion.

The Youth STEM will provide funding to eligible not-for-profit organizations currently delivering related outreach programs in southern Ontario that encourage children and youth to enroll in STEM studies.

Objective

Youth STEM aims to:

Encourage more young people to pursue education and careers in STEM,
 Develop a STEM talent pool, and
 Improve young people's understanding of the business of science.

Eligibility

I. Eligible Recipients

Eligible recipients under this initiative will be not-for-profit corporations with established track records and currently providing STEM outreach programs in southern Ontario that encourage children and youth from kindergarten to Grade 12 to pursue STEM education and careers.

Southern Ontario is defined by the following 2006 Statistics Canada Census Regions:

Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry; Prescott and Russell; Ottawa; Leeds and Grenville; Lanark; Frontenac; Lennox and Addington; Hastings; Prince Edward; Northumberland; Peterborough; Kawartha Lakes; Durham; York; Toronto; Peel; Dufferin; Wellington; Halton; Hamilton; Niagara; Haldimand-Norfolk; Brant; Waterloo; Perth; Oxford; Elgin; Chatham-Kent; Essex; Lambton; Middlesex; Huron; Bruce; Grey; Simcoe; Haliburton; and Renfrew.

A list of the communities that form part of each Census Division is available [ http://stds.statcan.gc.ca/sgc-cgt/2006/sgcss-cgtrs1-fin-eng.asp?criteria=35 ]online.

II. Ineligible Recipients

Ineligible recipients under this initiative include:

Federal and provincial government departments, agencies, boards, corporations, and commissions, including federal and provincial museums and related agencies or societies;
 Municipal governments;
 For-profit businesses and business associations;
 Elementary and secondary schools and school boards;
 Post-secondary institutions (e.g. colleges, polytechnic institutes, universities and teaching institutions); and
 Not-for-profit corporations not currently in the business of STEM outreach.

III. Eligible Activities

The initiative will support eligible not-for-profit corporations to undertake activities that promote STEM interest among children and youth. These activities may include:

Development, enhancement and delivery of STEM learning activities (e.g., workshops, demonstrations, science fairs, competitions, mentorships, enrichment programs or camps and early learning activities);
 Collaborative activities with other major players in STEM outreach with the aim of coordinating and focusing efforts and broadening the impact of existing programs in southern Ontario;
 Other activities to broaden the impact and reach of programs in southern Ontario.

IV. Eligible Costs

Direct eligible costs for project activities may include:

Labour and operating expenditures;
 Materials and supplies;
 Consulting and/or professional fees (limited to market rate);
 Outreach and promotion;
 Minor and non-capital acquisitions (e.g., software);
 Travel and meeting costs; and
 Administration (to a maximum of five per cent of the eligible and supported costs).

V. Ineligible Costs

Costs that are deemed unreasonable, not incremental, and/or not directly related to the eligible project activities will be ineligible. Major infrastructure and capital acquisitions such as land, building and related construction are ineligible under the initiative. Costs incurred prior to the date of approval of the project are not eligible. Accommodation costs will not be supported.

FedDev Ontario support is not intended to fund ongoing core operational costs.

Funding

Under the initiative, eligible recipients may receive multi-year non-repayable contributions. Normally, project contributions will be supported up to $2 million over four years.

FedDev Ontario may reimburse up to 100 per cent of total direct eligible costs incurred for the project. FedDev Ontario may adjust contribution levels for projects receiving funding from other levels of government.

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Application Process

To apply to the initiative, applicant organizations must:

Complete and submit a Youth STEM [ http://www.feddevontario.gc.ca/eic/site/723.nsf/eng/00339.html/00334.html ]application
 Complete and submit an [ http://www.feddevontario.gc.ca/eic/site/723.nsf/eng/00339.html/00348.html ]Applicant Declaration on Lobbying;
 Submit a detailed business case as an attachment to the application, including: A description of the project and how it will achieve the initiative's objectives;
 A description of the applicant organization and, if relevant, the collaborating parties engaged in the project;
 A description of the project management, governance and accountability structures;
 Incorporation documents of the applicant organization;
 Financial Statements (3 years);
 A detailed work plan including project activities, milestones, timelines, roles and responsibilities as they relate to: Undertaking defined project activities; and
 Ensuring accountability for public funds and achievement of performance measures; and

 A summary of the expected results of the project, including expected number of potential participants.

 

Applicants may submit only one application to the initiative. However, an organization may participate in more than one application led by another organization involving a shared strategy with other eligible applicants provided the proposed activities do not overlap with those in another application.

Where a proposal is submitted on behalf of a collaboration of stakeholders, letters of support from each collaborating organization must be attached to the application.

Applications for the initiative can be submitted [ http://www.feddevontario.gc.ca/eic/site/723.nsf/eng/00339.html/00334.html ]online or by [ http://www.feddevontario.gc.ca/eic/site/723.nsf/eng/00339.html/00018.html ]mail to FedDev Ontario's Kitchener office.

Note

A complete application package must be submitted to determine your application's eligibility.
 Before completing your application, carefully review these guidelines to ensure your not-for-profit corporation is an eligible recipient and your proposal activities and objectives fit within the initiative's objectives and criteria.

Application Review

FedDev Ontario will review applications as they are received. It is expected that funding decisions will begin to be made within 90 days of the launch of the Initiative.

Applications will be evaluated on their ability to achieve the objectives of the initiative and to meet the following Youth STEM criteria:

Applicant can demonstrate that it has, or in the case of collaborations, all parties to be engaged in program delivery, have an established track record in the delivery of STEM outreach programs with significant scope and impact;
 Applicant (and any collaborating parties, if applicable) has the management, project development and other resources and expertise required to complete the project;
 Project enhances applicant's reach or activities in southern Ontario; and
 All project activities must be completed by March 31, 2014.

An applicant's capacity to deliver will also be assessed based on the following:

In the case of applications submitted on behalf of collaborating parties, applicant represents the key project stakeholders who are working in collaboration;
 Applicant and/or collaboration has a clearly articulated governance structure, including conflict of interest guidelines, and has outlined its decision-making process;
 Accountability mechanisms are in place to ensure due diligence in administering public funds and ability to report on performance measures; and
 Applicant must identify person and position responsible for the initiative delivery.

Multiple Applications for Government Funding

FedDev Ontario will take other government funding into consideration when determining eligibility under this initiative. Contributions under the initiative will be conditional upon total government assistance (as defined in the Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments) being limited to 100 per cent of eligible costs. In no instance will total government assistance be allowed to exceed the eligible costs.

All recipients of financial assistance are required to inform FedDev Ontario before the start and at the end of a project of any other government assistance (federal, provincial/territorial or municipal) received or requested for the eligible costs of the project that are described in the contribution agreement. The contribution agreement also contains a "continuing disclosure" obligation concerning other government assistance and provides for the right of FedDev Ontario to reduce the contribution to the extent of any such assistance or require the recipient to repay the excess to the Crown.

FedDev Ontario reserves the right to modify these guidelines at any time without notice and may waive certain requirements on an exceptional basis.

Reporting Requirements

Recipients must submit to FedDev Ontario reports of project expenditures and completion of deliverables, including achievement of performance indicators identified in contribution agreements. Examples of performance indicators may include number of participants reached, grade levels of participants reached, number of recurring participants in STEM outreach programs, number of participants in STEM outreach programs enrolling in STEM programs in post-secondary studies, geographic location of STEM outreach programs, subject matter of STEM outreach programs, and number of organizations working toward a shared vision.

http://www.feddevontario.gc.ca/eic/site/723.nsf/eng/00339.html