Boating Safety Contribution Program – Funding application template

Use this outline to prepare your proposal for the Boating Safety Contribution Program. You can also download copies of the project proposal and budget templates.

On this page

• Cover page
• 1 Title of project and executive summary
• 2 Applicant’s information
  • 2.1 Proper legal name of the applicant organization
  • 2.2 Name and position of the primary contact(s) for applicant organization
  • 2.3 Mailing address for all correspondence
  • 2.4 Communication links
• 3 Organizational profile
  • 3.1 Type of organization
  • 3.2 Organizational structure and governance
  • 3.3 History of the organization
  • 3.4 Mandate of the organization
  • 3.5 Organizational activities
• 4 Project management personnel
• 5 Declarations
  • 5.1 Conflict of interest
  • 5.2 Declarations
• 6 Project profile
  • 6.1 Project objectives and goals
  • 6.2 Location of project delivery
  • 6.3 Proposed start and completion dates
  • 6.4 Major activities for the project
  • 6.5 Project work plan
  • 6.6 Partners and contributions
  • 6.7 Risk assessment/mitigation measures
• 7 Performance measurement strategy
  • 7.1 Output/outcome monitoring
  • 7.2 Methodology of measurement
• 8 Communication plan
• 9 Project budget
  • Table A - Breakdown of total eligible project expenditures
  • Table B - Sources of funding and total funding for the project
  • In-kind contributions
• 10 Letters of financial support
• 11 Legal documentation of applicant organization
• Annexes

Cover page

Project proposal submitted to Transport Canada
Boating Safety Contribution Program

Title of project

Location of project

Submitted by:

Applicant organization name
Organization address

Date Submitted: DD-MM-YYYY

1 Title of project and executive summary

The project title should be reflective of the applicable Boating Safety Contribution Program (BSCP) objective of the project.

The executive summary should address the major elements contained in the project proposal, such as:

• the title of the project and where it will take place
• a short description of the project
• an abbreviated outline of the scope of work, the major activities involved in the scope of work, the total projected project cost and when it will take place
• the project objectives, activities and key boating safety areas and how they align with those identified in the BSCP eligibility assessment criteria
• major partners who are contributing to the project

2 Applicant’s information

2.1 Proper legal name of the applicant organization

2.2 Name and position of the primary contact(s) for applicant organization

Such as president, treasurer, project manager, etc.

2.3 Mailing address for all correspondence

2.4 Communication links

Communication links such as office phone numbers, email/internet addresses, etc.

3 Organizational profile

3.1 Type of organization

Type of organization in accordance with the listing identified in the eligible recipients section of the applicant’s guide.

3.2 Organizational structure and governance

Short explanation of the organizational structure and governance.

3.3 History of the organization

History of the organization.

3.4 Mandate of the organization

A presentation of the organization’s charter, mandate, strategic plans, etc. as they pertain to the objectives of the BSCP.

3.5 Organizational activities

A brief description of what the normal spectrum of activities is for the organization. If the organization has had prior experience with similar government funding programs, it should be added to this section.

4 Project management personnel

4.1 Each project must have a designated Project Manager, with all the necessary contact information if it is different from that of the applicant organization.

4.2 Evidence to support the Project Manager has relevant qualifications and experience to undertake, manage and carry out the project on behalf of the applicant organization. (Evidence can be included as Annex A of the project proposal application.)

5 Declarations

5.1 Conflict of interest

5.2 Declarations

I/we, the undersigned, hereby certify that: all information provided to Transport Canada in support of this request for funding is true and complete; if funding requested in this application is approved, the funds will be spent solely for the project and activities described in this application; and I/we provide consent to Transport Canada to make necessary credit and other enquiries in support of this application.
Name	Title
Signature	Date
Name	Title
Signature	Date

6 Project profile

6.1 Project objectives and goals

This section of the project proposal should provide a clear and precise description of the project’s objectives and how they align with the program’s objectives. It should also identify any key boating safety priority areas outlined in this call for proposals and explain how the project addresses them and how they will be implemented.

6.2 Location of project delivery

The location of the project delivery must clearly identify the areas/locations to be covered by the project activities, whether on a national, regional, provincial or local basis. The location is not usually the head office of the applicant organization unless the project concerns strictly quantitative/statistical analysis. If the project is considered a national project, please include information on how it will reach Canadians from each province and territories.

6.3 Proposed start and completion dates

The start and completion dates for the project are inclusive of all preparatory work, material production, the actual project delivery and any follow-up activities such as information analysis and reporting.

6.4 Major activities for the project

The project should be presented in terms of major eligible activities and include a clear illustration of how these activities will contribute to the overall project accomplishment.

Please list your major eligible activities under this section. In addition, please ensure that you indicate how each component of the activity aligns with the eligible expenditures as listed in the project budget. (see budget and cash flow Excel template which forms part of this proposal).

6.5 Project work plan

The project work plan must clearly outline the planned schedule with key activities timelines.

The project work plan can be presented using project management software such as MS Project, MS Excel spreadsheets or the equivalent, or simply in tabular format. The key requirement is to present all required information as clearly and accurately as possible.

Example: Planned schedule

Serial	Stage/phases and major activities	Description	Start date	End date
1	Stage 1	Planning and preparation
1.1
1.2
1.3
2	Stage 2	Project delivery
2.1
2.2
2.3

6.6 Partners and contributions

It is essential to provide a detailed description of all partner organizations involved in the proposed project, including their specific contributions and how each partnership will support meaningful project delivery. For every partner, the description should include the organization’s legal name, address, and point of contact. You must also clearly outline what the partner is contributing whether financial support of in-kind resources and ensure these contributions are reflected in the project budget (see Proposal Budget and Cash Flow Excel template).

To be considered for prioritization, applications must clearly demonstrate:

• how the project will incorporate partnerships/collaboration to support meaningful delivery and outreach to broaden the impact of the collaboration on the project and results
• a distribution or engagement plan that uses partners to extend reach and tailor messaging to local needs
• confirmed partnerships from organizations, such as letters of support, collaboration agreements, or documented distribution commitments

6.7 Risk assessment and mitigation measures

This section must highlight any potential risks (external and internal) that could jeopardize the project’s delivery and how these risks will be managed.

Example: Risk assessment and mitigation measures

Risk	Risk Level	Mitigation Measures
Provide a statement that summarizes the risk	low, medium, high	Mitigation measures are deliberate project planning activities that will be undertaken in the course of the project to ensure that the risk is avoided, and the consequences or the impact on the project are reduced.

7 Performance measurement strategy

Transport Canada aims to support projects that not only deliver results but also demonstrate and report those results to Canadians. The BSCP Selection Review Committee will assess the project elements that applicants intend to measure, the expected outcomes of those activities, their alignment with BSCP objectives, and the overall reach of the project.

7.1 Output/outcome monitoring

For each expected project outcome or output, identify the indicators, target, data sources and data collection frequency.

Example: Expected project outcome/output

Outcome/output	Performance indicator	Performance target	Source of data	Data collection frequency

7.2 Methodology of measurement

Please describe the methods to be used to measure the achievements of the goals and objectives of the project as well as the project’s potential reach.

8 Communication plan

Any project application that falls under the program category “Promotional Awareness / Public Education Campaigns” requires a detailed communication plan with the following details, where applicable:

1. method of information dissemination (e.g. internet, mail-outs, newspaper advertisement workshops, etc.)
2. if the internet is the main method for sharing information, how the website will be promoted and maintained
3. expected target audience
4. expected outreach (e.g. number of website users, recipients of mail-out materials, number of participants at a workshop, etc.)

9 Project budget

Table A - Breakdown of total eligible project expenditures

Include an expenditure breakdown for the project delivery for each fiscal year of the project. The project budget should provide sufficient detail to accurately reflect all work required for project implementation.

Eligible expenditure amounts must be itemized in the budget in accordance with the Program’s eligible expenditure categories (e.g., salaries, professional services, administrative costs).

Example: Table A (Eligible expenditures)

A. Eligible expenditures	Total	Fiscal year 2027-2028	Fiscal year 2028-2029	Fiscal year 2029-2030
Staff salaries and benefits for staff working full time on the Project	$0	$0	$0	$0
Professional fees	$0	$0	$0	$0
Travel costs	$0	$0	$0	$0
Rental/use of equipment, office materials, office and /or meeting space costs	$0	$0	$0	$0
Public outreach and communication materials and associated activities costs	$0	$0	$0	$0
Translation costs	$0	$0	$0	$0
Insurance costs	$0	$0	$0	$0
Administrative expenditures paid (postage, office supplies, external printing, external photocopying, long distance phone, etc.)	$0	$0	$0	$0
Total eligible expenditures	$0	$0	$0	$0

Table B - Sources of funding and total funding for the project

This table provides the breakdown of the sources of funding for the total project costs. The total in Table B must match the total shown in Table A (Total eligible expenditures).

Recipients must disclose all relevant information regarding expected or confirmed funding sources and must inform the project officer if additional funding becomes available during the term of the funding agreement.

A letter of funding from all other contributors, confirming the amount committed to the project, must be included in the project proposal package. The budget must also identify the legal name of each contributing entity and the corresponding amount to be provided under B.2 – Other Contributors.

Example: Table B.1 (Sources of funding – Recipient)

B.1 Recipient	Total	Fiscal year 2027-2028	Fiscal year 2028-2029	Fiscal year 2029-2030
Cash	$0	$0	$0	$0
In-kind	$0	$0	$0	$0
Staff salaries and benefits for staff not working full time on the Project (indicate percentage of time and daily rate, and document using time sheets)	$0	$0	$0	$0
In-kind provision of Recipient assets (space, equipment, goods or other assets)	$0	$0	$0	$0
Administrative costs charged using a formula (percentage of Project costs charged for: office supplies, office equipment rental, internal photocopying, phone and internet lines and equipment, etc.)	$0	$0	$0	$0
Subtotal B.1: Recipient funding	$0	$0	$0	$0

Example: Table B.2 (Sources of funding – Donations)

B.2 Donator 1	Total	Fiscal year 2027-2028	Fiscal year 2028-2029	Fiscal year 2029-2030
Cash	$0	$0	$0	$0
In-kind	$0	$0	$0	$0
Staff salaries and benefits	$0	$0	$0	$0
Professional fees	$0	$0	$0	$0
Rental/use of equipment, office materials, office and /or meeting space costs	$0	$0	$0	$0
Public outreach and communication materials and associated activities costs	$0	$0	$0	$0
Other activity-related project costs	$0	$0	$0	$0
Subtotal B.2: Total donations	$0	$0	$0	$0

Example: Table B.3 (Maximum Transport Canada contribution) and total funding for project

B. Sources of funding	Total	Fiscal year 2027-2028	Fiscal year 2028-2029	Fiscal year 2029-2030
Subtotal B.3 Maximum Transport Canada contribution	$0	$0	$0	$0
Total B: Total funding for project	$0	$0	$0	$0

In-kind contributions

In-kind contributions are non-monetary contributions of goods, services, or other support provided by or to a recipient (including donations), for which a fair value is assigned but no payment is made.

Where applicable, the Department requires that applications for funding include details of any in-kind contributions within the proposed project budget and proposal. These contributions must be essential to the project and must be reasonable in nature.

Eligible expenditures associated with in-kind contributions must be included in the project budget, where applicable, so that they are reflected in the calculation of Total Eligible Project Expenditures.

To be considered eligible, in-kind expenditures must:

1. be eligible under the program’s terms and conditions
2. be essential to the success of the project
3. represent expenditures that would otherwise have been purchased and paid for by the recipient as necessary to meet obligations defined in the funding agreement

10 Letters of financial support

The financial support of partner organizations must be confirmed in writing and appropriate substantiating documentation attached.

11 Legal documentation of applicant organization

All applicants must provide copies of legal documentation establishing or constituting the Applicant organization as an entity. (i.e. Letters Patent, Articles and Certificate of incorporation, or other legal instruments).

Annexes

The following appendices must be included with your proposal:

• Annex A – Evidence to support project manager
• Annex B – Letters of financial support
• Annex C – Letters patent, articles and certificate of incorporation, or other legal instrument, etc.
• Annex D – Project budget and cash flow