Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Contributions Program 2023-24

Sponsor

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC)

Program

Contributions Program

Description

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) has issued a call for proposals under its 2022-2023 Contributions Program, which funds independent privacy research and knowledge translation initiatives.

The program’s objectives are to:

1. Strengthen existing privacy research capacity in academic and not-for-profit sectors.
2. Generate new knowledge and support the development of expertise in selected areas of privacy and data protection.
3. Increase awareness and understanding among individuals and organizations across Canada of their privacy rights and obligations.
4. Promote uptake and application of research results by relevant stakeholders.

Eligibility

Eligible projects: The Contributions Program is administered under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), which governs the collection, use or disclosure of personal information by organizations in the course of commercial activities. Accordingly, only research or public awareness proposals that address privacy issues in the private sector will be considered. Proposals that touch on issues falling within the federal public sector can be submitted, provided that the primary focus of the proposal deals with the private sector.

Eligible applicants: Only not-for-profit organizations—including consumer, voluntary and advocacy organizations, educational institutions, and industry & trade associations—are eligible for funding.

Funding Availability

The budget for the OPC's Contributions Program is $500,000 annually. Please note that the program’s budget may be cancelled, reduced or increased if funding levels are changed by Parliament.

Maximum Project Value

OPC will award up to $50,000 to any single project and a maximum of $100,000 per recipient organization. 

Indirect Costs

15%

Project Duration

The program is structured to provide funding for eligible expenses that are incurred within the fiscal year during which the funding has been awarded; that is, between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. Incurred expenses must have been paid by the funding recipient before they are invoiced to the OPC.

Exceptionally, the OPC may fund projects that extend beyond the end of a fiscal year (that is, March 31, 2024) if the proposal persuasively demonstrates why the project requires more time to be completed and should be funded beyond the typical one-year period. For multi-year proposals, applicants are requested to submit work plans that cover the entire duration of the project.

How to Apply

For complete program details and how to apply, please review the Contributions Program Applicant Guide.