Request for Applications: PHE Empowerment Grants (Canada)

The PHE Empowerment Grants Program is an annual funding program that provides financial support to the PHE Community to advance physical and health education and healthy schools across Canada.

Grant Streams

• The PHE Empowerment Grants have two streams:
  • Stream 1: Healthy, Active School Programming:
    • The Healthy, Active School Programming Grant stream provides financial support to schools for projects that initiate, enhance, and/or increase access to meaningful physical and health education programming and/or healthy school initiatives.
    • Funding opportunities include, but are not limited to, school projects and initiatives that support such topics as physical and health education programming, non-curricular physical activity programming, healthy eating, mental health, and substance use awareness and prevention. This stream aims to provide additional funding to ensure that quality physical and health education programs and healthy school initiatives are accessible and supported.
  • Stream 2: Professional Development:
    • The Professional Development (PD) Grant stream provides financial support to in-service physical and health education teachers and healthy school champions looking to enhance their knowledge, skills, and capacity through professional development opportunities.

Funding Information

• Stream 1: Healthy, Active School Programming: Grants typically range from $500 to $2,500.
• Stream 2: Professional Development: Grants typically range from $50 to $500.

Eligible Activities

• Stream 1: Healthy, Active School Programming:
  • Registration fees (e.g., expeditions, swimming pool access passes, recreation facility or gym passes, etc.)
  • Instructor costs (e.g., Yoga instructor, mindfulness practitioner, nutritionist, wellness coach, private trainer, etc.)
  • Purchase of equipment
  • Rental of space
  • Transportation to the rental venue/activity location
  • Speaker fees (guest speakers, coaching, mentoring)
  • Incidental project planning and meeting costs (e.g., meals/snacks, parking)
  • Other expenses as deemed appropriate to advance/deliver the proposed project
• Stream 2: Professional Development:
  • In-person workshops
  • Professional development event registrations
  • Online training and certification courses

Ineligible Activities

• Stream 1: Healthy, Active School Programming:
  • Entertainment costs (e.g., gifts, celebrations, thank yous)
  • Prize monies/awards
  • Investments and fund developments
  • Substitute teacher fees
  • School administrative costs (e.g., rent, phone/internet access, office expenses, etc.)
• Stream 2: Professional Development:
  • Travel and accommodations
  • Substitute teacher fees
  • School administrative costs (e.g., rent, phone/internet access, office expenses, etc.)

Eligibility Criteria

• Stream 1: Healthy, Active School Programming:
  • School community members are encouraged to apply for the PHE Empowerment Grants Program on behalf of their school. Applications from under-represented groups are encouraged.
  • Examples of eligible applicants include:
    • In-service teachers
    • School administrators and school board (e.g. principals, curriculum leads, superintendents, etc.)
    • Student leaders (with staff sponsor)
    • Guidance counsellors
• Stream 2: Professional Development:
  • In-service educators are encouraged to apply for the PHE Empowerment Grants Program Professional Development funding, however, the professional development opportunity identified must be related to physical and health education and/or healthy schools. Applications from under-represented groups are encouraged.
  • Examples of eligible applicants include:
    • In-service teachers
    • School administrators and school board (e.g. principals, curriculum leads, superintendents, etc.)

Selection Criteria

• Stream 1: Healthy, Active School Programming:
  • The information provided in the application form and supporting documents must demonstrate that:
    • There is a great need for this initiative and the applicant is in a key position to meet that need.
    • The initiative will make a real difference in the community/field and positively impact the health and well-being of students and/or school staff, in particular those underserved and/or experiencing barriers, and this impact has the ability to be sustained into the future.
    • The initiative is a new initiative, an enhancement to a current initiative, and/or increases access to a current program/service and is not replacement funding for an already funded initiative. The project is developed by/with the people it is intended to impact.
    • The initiative presents a solid strategy for achieving its goals and has well-thought-out activities and timelines.
    • The application presents a detailed, realistic, and cost-effective budget and the initiative is likely sustainable.
• Stream 2: Professional Development:
  • The information provided in the application form and supporting documents must demonstrate that:
    • The opportunity identified will make a real difference in the applicant’s physical and health education and/or healthy school programming and practice, and build capacity in the school community.
    • The amount requested is cost-effective and realistic, and the applicant has not received other grants for the same PD opportunity.

Evaluation Criteria

• Each application will undergo a thorough evaluation process. An application that clearly articulates and aligns with the criteria specified in the Selection Criteria significantly enhances its likelihood of being awarded a grant.

For more information, visit PHE Canada.