Application form questions
Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF)

Before you start your application, look at the questions in advance to help you prepare your responses.

This page is an accessible version of the content contained in the application form: Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF) - General application form for funding (opens in a new browser tab). You must complete the online application form to submit your application.

Privacy statement

The application form includes a privacy statement. You will need to confirm:

Your organization will be ineligible for funding if you do not confirm.

Section 1: Verify your eligibility

Are you willing to report on your project to the Government of Canada

Indicate yes or no.

Should you be awarded funding, you will be required to report project data in a template provided by Public Safety Canada.

Note: You must be willing to report on the project to the Government of Canada in order to be awarded funding.

By selecting "No", your organization is not eligible for funding.

Have you secured a minimum commitment of 5% of the total cost of this project through other sources of funding

Indicate yes or no.

Applicants must have a confirmed commitment of funding from sources other than Public Safety Canada to contribute to the total cost of the project. The in-kind and/or cash contribution from other sources must represent a minimum of 5% of the total project cost.

If you have not identified a source(s) to cover 5% of the total project funds, your application will be deemed ineligible.

How is your organization legally constituted

Provide information about the legal set-up of your organization.

If your organization was created under an Act, indicate which one (for example, Indian Act, University Act). Some organizations are created under an Act but also have a certificate of incorporation or registration. If this applies to your organization, you must upload your organization's certificate.

If your organization is incorporated, you must upload your organization's certificate of incorporation. It displays your organization's incorporation number.

If your organization is registered, you must upload your organization's certificate of registration ("certificat d'attestation/lettres patentes" in Quebec). It is issued from the provincial or territorial registrar. It displays your organization's registration number.

Organization type

Select your organization's type. If your organization does not fit into one of these types, it is not eligible for funding.

Section 2: Applying organization and contact information

Organization's legal name

State the legal name of your organization. You can find it on your certificate of incorporation or on a document from the Canada Revenue Agency. If it is an acronym, give the full legal name.

If the legal name is the same as your operating name, state the operating name of your organization

Operating name

State the operating or common name of your organization if it is different from the legal name. The operating name is the most used name of your organization. If it is an acronym, give the full operating name.

Address

Provide the street address, city, province or territory, and postal code of your organization.

Telephone and email

Provide the telephone number and email address of the organization.

Website address

Provide your organization's website address, if applicable.

Please note that organizations based in Quebec and Alberta may need to provide additional information prior to signing a funding agreement to ensure compliance with the requirements of Act M30 (QC) and Bill 18 (AB). For Quebec, please refer to the Act Respecting the Ministère du Conseil Exécutif found on the Secrétariat du Québec aux relations canadiennes site. For Alberta, please refer to the Provincial Priorities Act.

Please briefly describe the mandate of your organization

Indicate your organization's mandate as it appears in your governing documents and website, if applicable. (maximum 2000 characters)

Indicate the scope of your organization as it currently appears in your mandate

Indicate the scope of your organization as it currently appears in your mandate:

Please provide your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business or registration number, GST/HST number, federal and provincial tax rebate percentage

Fill in the required information noted above, if applicable.

Primary and secondary contact persons

The primary contact person is who the department may communicate with about this application. This person must know the details of the proposed project. Give the primary contact person's name, title, phone number and email. We will send all correspondence to the primary contact person's email.

The secondary contact person is who we will contact in the absence of the primary contact person. This person must also know the details of the proposed project. Give the secondary contact person's name, title, phone number and email.

Does this person have legal signing authority on behalf of the organization? Indicate yes or no. Signing authority is the power granted to an individual to sign official documents, contracts, agreements, or other legal instruments on behalf of the organization. At least one contact must have legal signing authority within the organization.

Has your organization received funding from the Government of Canada (grants or contributions) within the past 5 years

Indicate whether your organization has received funds from any Government of Canada department or agency, including Public Safety Canada, within the past 5 years

If yes, complete the following for each project

Include the name of the government department (from any federal department or agency, including Public Safety Canada) and program from which your organization received funding within the past 5 years.

Does your organization owe any monies to the Government of Canada

Indicate if your organization owes any amount to the Government of Canada.

If your organization owes an amount, add the name of the department or agency, the amount owing and the nature of the debt. Include details on whether a payment plan is in place.

Please note that owing an amount to another government department or agency will not impact the assessment of your application.

Section 3: Project overview

Project title

Provide a brief and descriptive project title. (maximum 10 words)

Anticipated start date

Indicate the anticipated start date of the project. Projects should start no earlier than November 2026 and may start later or in another fiscal year. The earliest start date will be November 1, 2026.

Only costs incurred after the signature of a contribution agreement will be eligible for reimbursement.

Anticipated end date

Indicate the anticipated end date of the project. Projects may have a maximum length of 36 months. Projects do not have to end at the end of a government fiscal year (March). For example, if you have a 12-month project that starts in November 2026, then it would end in October 2027.

Duration (months)

Indicate the duration of the project in months. The maximum duration is 36 months. Enter only the number, for example 9, 12, 22 or 34.

Total project cost

Indicate the total dollar amount of the project. Enter only the numbers.

Total amount requested from Public Safety Canada

Indicate the requested Public Safety Canada funding. Enter only the numbers.

Is your start date flexible? Would your project (and partners) be able to start in a future fiscal year, for example after April 2027 or later

Indicate yes or no.

If yes, indicate your latest possible start date

Not all projects need to start in fiscal year 2026-2027 (November 2026 to March 2027). Your project could start sometime in fiscal year 2027-2028 (April 2027 to March 2028).

Which SAR NIF annual priority will your project support

Select only one of the options listed.

Priority 1 – Enhancing collaboration, coordination, and operational readiness

SAR NIF seeks to support stronger regional, Indigenous and inter-agency partnerships, with the aim of making it easier for search and rescue teams to work together and be more effective.

This priority highlights projects that help develop:

Priority 2 – Advancing innovation and technology integration

SAR NIF aims to speed up the use of new ideas in SAR prevention and response. The goal is to lessen the frequency of search and rescue operations, shorten response times, and decrease the severity of SAR incidents.

This priority highlights projects that help:

Priority 3 – Promoting mental health, resilience, and volunteer wellness

SAR NIF funding will enhance mental health supports to help SAR volunteers become more resilient.

This priority highlights projects that make mental health and wellness supports a sustainable element to help SAR volunteers and responders stay ready to respond in an emergency.

Describe how your project meets the requirements of the annual priority you selected

The application must demonstrate how the project will address the annual priority selected. Describe the nature and extent of the priority issue to be addressed by the project. (Maximum 3500 characters)

Which program objective does your project primarily support

Select one:

Overall description of the project

Write a description of your project, what you are trying to achieve and how you will achieve it. Include a short description of the key activities, target population and list who will be involved (high level overview). (Maximum 5000 characters)

Describe how your project addresses a need in the SAR community

Using the best available evidence, establish a clear need for the project. You must include the sources of evidence that you used. (Maximum 3500 characters)

Indicate project reach

If the reach is national, indicate which Public Safety Canada regions will be impacted (minimum of 4 must be selected to qualify for national scope)

Using the SAR NIF objectives listed as guides, describe the expected outcomes of your project activities (short-term, medium-term and long-term)

(Maximum 3000 characters per each expected outcome.)

The overall program objectives of the SAR NIF program are to:

Your expected outcome:

The intent of the SAR NIF program is to fund new initiatives. Is this request for funding to undertake a new initiative(s) or is this the next phase of a previous project

Indicate if this is a new project or if this is the next phase of a previously funded project:

If your project is a continuation or the next phase of a previous project, please explain how this next phase is a new initiative

Only applicable if this is the next phase of a previously funded project. Please provide a brief description and any links associated with the previous project. (Maximum 3500 characters)

Describe any potential project risks and mitigation strategies (i.e., potential challenges in delivering the project and proposed solutions to overcome those challenges)

Complete the table. Identify potential risks that could affect the successful delivery of the project. For each risk, describe the possible impact on the project and provide specific strategies to mitigate those impacts. Be clear and proactive in demonstrating how you will minimize disruptions to project goals. (Maximum 2000 characters per space)

Identify the key project deliverables

Refer to the project work plan, and the evidence from the demonstrated need provided, to describe the key deliverables that will indicate project success. (Maximum 3500 characters)

Please explain how outcomes/deliverables of the project will be sustained following the end of the project

Describe how the project will be maintained and have a long-lasting impact once SAR NIF funding support has ended. (Maximum 3500 characters)

Explain the communication strategy that will be used to share the results and best practices of the project

Indicate how the project's progress and result will be communicated to the SAR community and identify the mechanism that will be used to accomplish this. (Maximum 3500 characters)

Describe the strategies and measures that will be implemented to ensure cost effectiveness

Identify measures that will be implemented to ensure best value for money. Note that cost effectiveness is the relationship between monetary inputs and the desired outcomes. (Maximum 3500 characters)

Please identify potential opportunities to use Canadian suppliers, services, and materials and explain how these may be integrated into your project

(Maximum 3500 Characters)

Section 4: Project target population

Target group: Provide information about the target population for the proposal. A target group is a specified group of individuals who are intended to access, receive or benefit from the services and/or products identified in the project proposal. Examples of a target group can include individuals from specific demographic groups, educational institutions, industry sectors, geographical areas, etc.

What is the primary target group for this project

In particular, list the group(s) that this proposal is primarily designed to benefit.

Specific regions

Please select all that apply in regard to specific regions that your project will target:

A particular demographic group (please identify up to four (4) demographic categories)

Please select up to four (4) demographic groups your project will target. Consider whether some groups may be disproportionately impacted, or whether other groups may receive a benefit from this project.

*If your project brings forward initiatives aimed at helping women specifically and/or advancing gender equality more broadly, please select Women on the list.

Exceptionally, if none of the options above can adequately reflect the intended group of the proposal, please provide further details. (Maximum 2000 characters).

Section 5: Organization information regarding the proposed project

Describe the expertise, resources, skills, experience and knowledge that qualify your organization to deliver this project

Describe the above. Focus on specialized knowledge, staff expertise, and how your organization has the capacity to successfully deliver the project. (Maximum 5000 characters)

Have you sought the endorsement and/or support of a SAR NIF partner

Indicate yes or no.

Refer to Reach out to a SAR NIF partner and SAR NIF partners contact list

If yes, please attach signed letter(s) of support in Section 6.

If no, or if the SAR NIF partner declined to support your project, please explain the reason. (Maximum 2000 characters)

Will your organization be working with partners to implement the project

Indicate yes or no.

If yes, please identify your partners

Please identify the organization name of your partner.

Have you already engaged your partner to work on this project?

Partners are defined as those who actively contribute to the project and have a vested interest in its success. Contributions can include expertise, resources, or funding, but financial support is not required. Contractors or vendors with minimal involvement or stake in project outcomes should not be listed as partners.

If no is selected for any of the partners, when and how will you engage with these partners in project activities

If a partner is not yet involved, outline a clear plan for involving them in the project. Specify timeline for outreach, methods of engagement and how their roles will align with project activities. (Maximum 5000 characters)

Please describe the state of readiness of your proposed partners to support your project, as well as their roles and responsibilities

Indicate if your partners are ready to support this project and if so, to what degree. Include their roles and responsibilities in project activities. (Maximum 5000 characters)

Will your project include target population(s)

Indicate yes or no

See section 4.

If yes, how will you (and partners, if applicable) work together to engage and/or select target population(s)

Describe how your organization and your partners will work together to engage and involve the target population(s). (Maximum 5000 characters)

How will you (and partners, if applicable) work together to provide services that are responsive to the needs of the target population(s)

Describe how your organization and partners will address the needs of the target population(s). (Maximum 5000 characters)

Section 6: Budget, work plan and other attachments

Upload your templates. Each file is limited to 50MB.

For more details, see the sections on:

Upload your signed letter(s) of commitment. For more information, see the section on

Upload your SAR NIF partner letter(s) of support. For more information, see sections:

Section 7: Official languages and disclosure

Will the project have an impact on official language minority communities (OLMCs)

Indicate yes or no.

If yes, please describe how the needs of the official language group (anglophone/francophone) will be addressed. If there are none to be considered, provide a rationale as to why.

Official language minority communities (OLMCs) are groups of people whose maternal or chosen official language is not the majority language in their province or territory – in other words, Anglophones in Québec and Francophones outside of Québec. OLMC individuals, groups and organizations are those who self-identify as belonging to one of these groups.

Public Safety Canada is committed to enhancing the vitality of official language minority communities by supporting and assisting their development and promoting the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society. (Maximum 5000 characters)

For additional information, see the Official Languages Act.

Does the project offer an opportunity to foster the full recognition and use of English and French in Canadian society

Indicate yes or no.

Please provide a rationale.

Describe how the needs of the official language group will be addressed. A statement on how the initiative will target both linguistic communities must be included in the application. Please also account for related costs (e.g., translation) in your project budget.

If there are none to be considered, provide a rationale as to why. Public Safety Canada officials may want to validate and/or discuss this information with the applicant in order to determine if linguistic commitments should be included. (Maximum 3000 characters)

Canada's official languages are English and French.

Will this project include the services of a former public servant either as an employee or as a member of the Board of Directors who left the Federal Government in the last twelve months?

Indicate yes or no.

If yes, please describe their role and provide assurance that the public servant (or former public servant) is in compliance with the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector, and the Conflict of Interest Act (S.C. 2006, c.9) or the Parliament of Canada Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. P-1.01). (Maximum 3000 characters)

Will this project include the services of a lobbyist?

Indicate yes or no.

If yes, please provide assurance that, where lobbyists are used, they are registered in accordance with the Lobbying Act (R.S.C., 1985, c.44 (4th supp.)) and that no commissions or contingency fees have or will be paid directly or indirectly to any person for negotiating or securing this request for funding. (Maximum 3000 characters)

Section 8: Declaration and signature

As a representative of the organization, I declare that:

And understand that:

Declaration

Select the 'I acknowledge…' line.

If you do not agree with the statements, your application will not be considered for funding.

A person with signing authority for the organization must sign the application electronically. The application will be considered signed electronically when the name and title of the signatory is filled out. By signing the application, the representative confirms that they have:

Section 9: Feedback

Would you like to provide any feedback with regards to this application tool (e.g., technology, questions, length, etc.)

Indicate yes or no.

Feedback is optional and will not impact the assessment of your application.

Feedback is helpful to assist Public Safety Canada in improving its products for future use.

If yes, thank you for assisting Public Safety Canada in improving its products. Please provide feedback regarding this on-line application for funding tool (technology, questions, length, etc.). (Maximum 3500 characters)

Is there anything else you would like to share / special consideration we should take into account with respect to the application process

Please provide any feedback regarding the application process. (Maximum 3500 characters)

Would you like to sign up for the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF) mailing list in order for you to receive future information and notification regarding SAR NIF

Indicate yes or no.

If yes, please provide the email address to which you would like to receive notifications.

Checklist

Applicants are encouraged to use this Checklist to ensure that their application package is complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.

Application for funding

Budget

Budget template (Excel 137 KB)

Work plan

Work plan template (Word 37 KB)

After submitting your application, download a copy to retain for your own records.

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