CIF Call for Community Project Proposals in Canada

Deadline: 14-Oct-2026

The Consumer Initiative Fund provides grants to individuals with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use to design and lead grassroots community projects. Applicants can request up to $4,000 for a six-month project or up to $8,000 for a 12-month project, with the current application deadline set for 14 October 2026.

About the Consumer Initiative Fund

The Consumer Initiative Fund, commonly known as CIF, supports grassroots initiatives developed and delivered by people with lived experience. The program recognizes that individuals who have personally navigated mental health or substance use challenges possess valuable knowledge about community needs, barriers, recovery, inclusion, and peer connection. Funding is awarded to individual project leaders rather than organizations. Purpose of the Fund

The Consumer Initiative Fund aims to:

- Support peer-led community initiatives. - Value lived experience as a form of expertise. - Respond to specific community needs. - Reduce isolation. - Build meaningful connections. - Create safe and welcoming spaces. - Empower people in their recovery journeys. - Increase community participation. - Develop leadership and facilitation skills. - Strengthen local recovery-support capacity. - Remove cost and referral barriers to participation. Funding Information Applicants can choose between two project durations:

Additional details include:

- Current application deadline: 14 October 2026.

- Application frequency: The call opens twice per year.

- Eligible lead applicant: An individual with relevant lived experience.

- Participant cost: All project activities must be free.

- Referral requirement: Participants must not need a referral to join.

Applicants should select the duration that best reflects the project’s scope, activities, and delivery capacity. Six-Month Projects Applicants may request up to $4,000 for a project lasting six months. A six-month project may be appropriate for: - Testing a new peer-led idea. - Delivering a short series of activities. - Responding to a specific community need. - Piloting a support or connection model. - Organizing regular workshops or gatherings. - Developing a small peer network. - Building an initial community resource. The proposed activities and budget should be achievable within the six-month period. Twelve-Month Projects Applicants may request up to $8,000 for a project lasting 12 months. A 12-month project may be suitable for: - Year-round peer activities. - A longer series of workshops. - Ongoing community gatherings. - Multi-stage initiatives. - Projects requiring sustained relationship-building. - Development of a long-term peer network. - Activities that build community capacity over time. Applicants should explain why a full year is necessary and how participation will be maintained. Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must:

- Apply as individuals rather than organizations. - Self-identify as having lived experience of mental health and/or substance use. - Be able to plan and organize the proposed project. - Facilitate activities. - Create a safe and welcoming environment. - Manage participant registration where needed. - Purchase and organize supplies. - Communicate with participants. - Manage the project budget responsibly. - Complete the project within the selected period. - Meet all geographic or administrative requirements in the official call. Because the available summary does not specify a geographic area, applicants should check the official guidelines to confirm location and residency eligibility. Lived-Experience Leadership Lived experience means direct personal experience of mental health or substance use challenges, recovery, support systems, or related barriers. The program treats this experience as valuable knowledge that can inform: - Project design. - Community outreach. - Peer support. - Accessibility. - Safety. - Trust-building. - Facilitation. - Recovery-oriented activities. - Identification of unmet needs. Applicants are expected to lead from their own experience while respecting that other participants may have different identities, needs, and recovery journeys. Why Individuals Apply Instead of Organizations The Consumer Initiative Fund is specifically intended to support grassroots leadership by individuals.

Projects must not be led by:

- Registered charities. - Non-profit organizations. - Government bodies. - Businesses. - Agencies applying through staff members as organizational representatives. An applicant may collaborate with community spaces, service providers, or informal partners where permitted, but the funded project must remain led by the eligible individual. The official guidelines should be checked for rules governing partnerships and organizational support. Eligible Project Characteristics

An eligible project should:

- Respond to a clearly identified community need. - Be designed and led by a person with lived experience. - Encourage connection. - Empower participants. - Build individual or community capacity. - Support recovery. - Be grassroots and community-based. - Provide free activities. - Require no referral for participation. - Be welcoming and accessible. - Have realistic goals, activities, and costs. A project should do more than offer a one-time event unless that event creates a clear and meaningful community benefit. Potential Project Ideas Subject to the official guidelines, potential initiatives may include: - Peer connection groups. - Creative arts activities. - Community meals and discussions. - Wellness workshops. - Recovery-focused social activities. - Walking or recreation groups. - Peer-led skill-building sessions. - Storytelling activities. - Community gardening. - Cultural activities. - Substance-free social events. - Workshops reducing stigma. - Mutual-support networks. - Community resource development. - Activities supporting social in