Are you working in the nonprofit sector and concerned about the digital divide in Canada? Would funding for an internet project benefit your community? CIRA Net Good Grants is accepting applications until April 10, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET. More than $1,000,000 in funding is available! 

What is the digital divide? 

In today’s world, fast, safe and accessible internet is a necessity. And yet, it’s not a given. The digital divide is a serious gap in internet service experienced by communities across Canada, especially in Indigenous communities and rural or Northern areas. Without access to high-quality, resilient internet, or the knowledge to stay safe online, many people remain isolated and at risk. Furthermore, funding for internet projects is scarce and can be difficult for community groups and organizations to access. 

That’s what drives CIRA to invest millions of dollars through our Net Good Grants program to support communities, projects and policies that make Canada’s internet a better place. Each year we award funding of up to $100,000 per grant for community-led internet projects. If you work with a charitable organization, nonprofit or Indigenous community, a grant from CIRA can help address challenges with digital equity.  

“CIRA’s grant program is literally changing the digital landscape in Canada for the better,” states Chelsea Lumiere, Grants & Philanthropy Manager at Digital Moment, a 2023 grant recipient for an online safety training program for K-12 students in Quebec. 

Now in our eleventh year, CIRA is proud to have funded 217 projects across Canada with $11.7 million. 

What kinds of projects does CIRA fund? 

Our three funding areas are infrastructure, online safety and policy engagement. Examples of projects we’ve funded include: 

You can learn more about the types of projects we fund on our website and see the full list of funded projects for more examples. 

What’s new for Net Good Grants in 2024 

In case you’re familiar with CIRA’s grants or have applied before, here are some important changes to keep in mind. 

Community support 

This year, applicants are required to include three letters of community support with their application to demonstrate they are engaged with the community partners and/or participants intended to benefit from the project. Each letter should communicate the relationship with the applicant, their involvement with the project (current or future) and what direct or indirect benefits they expect to see. These letters show us the applicant has developed relationships that will help their project succeed. 

Community members that could provide a letter might include: 

  • Teachers and/or parents of students who will benefit from tools and training around online safety. 
  • Residents or business associations in a community that will benefit from infrastructure upgrades to high-speed internet. 
  • Partner organizations that will be involved in project delivery. 

Letters from the applicant organization (e.g., staff, board members) are not eligible.  

Evaluation and scoring 

Applications are reviewed by CIRA’s Grants evaluation panel and receive a score out of one hundred across five criteria:  

  • Beneficiaries: 20% 
  • Project plan: 25% 
  • Community support: 25% 
  • Outcomes and sustainability: 10% 
  • Budget: 20% 

A clear project plan and demonstrated community support are keys to a successful project. When preparing your application, we recommend reviewing the detailed scoring criteria found here to understand how your application will be evaluated.    

Interested in applying? 

  • CIRA’s call for applications will close on April 10, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET.  
  • Applications are reviewed for eligibility on an ongoing basis until the deadline, so apply early!  
  • If you have any questions, reach out to grants@cira.ca or visit our website. 

Caitlin Sears is Grants Coordinator at CIRA, the national not-for-profit best known for managing the .CA domain on behalf of all Canadians. As a leader in Canada’s internet ecosystem, CIRA offers a wide range of products, programs and services designed to make the internet a secure and accessible space for all.