Capacity Fund
Building our partners' capacity
SHIFT will support our partners in hiring consultants, trainers, or organizations that contribute to building capacity, knowledge and sustainability for a team or organization.
Please note: this fund is only for those who have received SHIFT funding since September 2023. This year, priority will be given to those who did not receive Capacity Fund in 2024-2025, though all eligible partners are welcome to apply.
Program overview
SHIFT believes that social transformation is not possible unless teams and organizations are well supported and equipped with the resources, skills, and capacity to implement or leverage their work.
Over the past years, we have provided in-kind support to our funded project teams on a case-by-case basis. We supported teams by facilitating their access to training, covering the costs of consultants, and catered to other organizational needs.
To improve the clarity and availability of this offer, we are initiating the Capacity Fund, a program that will allow our project teams to make requests throughout the year.
First deadline for Capacity Fund 2025-2026: September 30th at 9:00am. Other deadlines will be in February and April.
Please note: for urgent requests (ex: mediation for active conflict), please submit the form and send an email to Richenda at richenda.grazette@concordia.ca
Supporting stronger teams
The Capacity Fund is for you if:
- You are already part of the SHIFT Learning Community through a previously funded project, and are still aligned with SHIFT’s values and mission.
- You are seeking support with accessing training or consultants to support your team’s or organization’s sustainability.
- You are open to the possibility of shared learning with other SHIFT Learning Community members, as part of our goal of connecting our teams to one another towards a stronger social transformation ecosystem.
NEW this year!
As part of SHIFT's expanded offerings to our existing partners in 2025-2026, we're offering in-kind (free!) consulting or coaching support in the following areas:
- Policy-writing
- Internal evaluations
- Governance and Board trainings
- Creating alternative governance structures and decision-making systems
- Fundraising tools building and grant-writing trainings
We'll work directly with your team to create materials or provide multi-session trainings to set your organization up for increased sustainability and success through access to our network, expertise, and resources.
If you receive this support from the SHIFT team, you are still eligible to apply for the Capacity Fund for another area of your work.
If you're interested in getting free support in any of these areas, get in touch with Richenda at richenda.grazette@concordia.ca
Program details
All the information you need to apply to the In-Kind Capacity Fund.
The total amount of funding available is $22,500. Project teams may request up to $2,500 per year.
This fund is not intended for use in individual coaching or supervision, attending conferences, or for events. Training and workshops must be provided to the whole team or benefit the whole organization, to support the capacity of the team in working towards social transformation.
The Capacity Fund can be used to pay for consultants and access training around:
- Fundraising
- Governance (including Board of Directors training)
- Registering an organization
- Evaluation
- Leadership Coaching
- Financial management
- Accessibility
- Anti-Oppression
- Mediation
- Other necessary professional development
Please note: SHIFT requires receipt of a signed contract between the service provider and our partner in order to process payment
In cases of emergencies or fast turnarounds, other arrangements can be made with SHIFT’s team. In such cases, contact Richenda.
- Your team or group has previously received funding from SHIFT in the last two years (since September 2023), and has remained active since (you have taken interns, received further funding, collaborated with SHIFT staff, used the space for events, etc.).
- Your work is still aligned with SHIFT’s mission, values, and basic criteria.
NOTE: projects that have received Deep Investment funding are not eligible to apply to the Capacity Fund.
To submit a request, fill out this form. We encourage potential applicants to reach out to their SHIFT point person before completing an application.
- There is no specific deadline for the Capacity Fund. You are free to submit anytime throughout the year, but applications will only be evaluated every three months by our Fund Disbursement Hub: in November, February, May, and August.
- The next deadline is September 30th at 9:00am!
- For urgent requests (ex: mediation for active conflict), please submit the form and send an email to Richenda to flag your request and discuss possibilities for payment structures and faster evaluation.
