The internet is more than a tool—it’s a lifeline. From education and healthcare to jobs and community connections, fast and accessible internet is essential. But for many Canadians, especially those in rural, northern and Indigenous communities, using the internet reliably or safely can still be out of reach.
That’s where CIRA’s Net Good Grants come in. Starting March 3, our annual call for applications to fund community-led internet projects will open! Apply by 2:00 p.m. ET on April 9 to be considered.
CIRA’s Net Good Grants have helped communities from coast to coast to coast improve their internet infrastructure, navigate the internet safely and confidently and strengthen Canada’s internet policy environment. CIRA is one of the few non-government grant-makers in the digital space, and we’re proud to have funded 232 projects across the country with a total of $12.95 million.
What kinds of projects does CIRA’s Net Good Grants fund?
- Deploying upgraded wireless infrastructure providing access to low earth orbit technology in five remote communities in Nunavut
- Curriculum to educate and empower young people with sight loss to access the internet and participate in online community spaces safely and equitably.
- A youth internet governance forum convened to provide a platform for young Canadians to discuss internet public policy and connectivity issues.
Never ever before the CIRA Grant could we have had 60 people in one room connect to the WiFi at the same time. You just heard ‘wow’ in the crowd. It was so amazing. – Jennifer Lane, Acting Chief Information Officer, Nunavut Arctic College
Could your project be next? You might be eligible for up to $100,000 in funding if:
- You’re applying on behalf of a non-profit, registered charity, Indigenous community or college or university
- Your project addresses a clear need in infrastructure, policy engagement or online safety
- Your project benefits Northern, Indigenous and rural communities or students (K-12 and post-secondary)
If you’re familiar with CIRA’s Net Good Grants or have applied before, this year we’re using a new application platform called SmartSimple. It’s easy to use—just follow the steps below.
Access https://cira.smartsimple.ca/. You may choose your preferred language from the dropdown. Click Register to sign up.
Choose the applicable type of organization and provide the required information including your organization and contact details.
If you are applying as a registered charity, you can search for your organization’s information using your charitable registration number.
After completing registration, you will receive a welcome email inviting you to set your password. Once your password is set, you are ready to log in and apply for a grant!
Once you’ve registered, you can log in to your applicant portal. Here you can view and update your organization profile or click Apply Now to apply for a grant.
Applications that are drafts or require revisions are found under Action Items. Submitted applications are found under Completed Items.
Click on Apply Now and on the next page click on Complete your application form to start filling out your application.
The application form consists of a series of sections organized into seven tabs. You may complete the sections in any order. Important tip: start by hitting Save Draft and save your work frequently! If you don’t save, you risk losing your progress.
The most important step: when you’ve completed the application form, click on the big red Submit button at the bottom to ensure your application reaches CIRA before 2 p.m. ET on April 9.
Tips for applying
- Review the sample application and gather your supporting documentation in advance. Examples of project plans, budgets and community support letters are linked on the sample application page to help guide your submission
- Apply early! Submit your application as early as possible to ensure sufficient time for your application to be reviewed
- Don’t forget the deadline! Your application must be complete and all your supporting documentation must be submitted by April 9 at 2 p.m. ET to advance to the next step. Make sure you check what 2 p.m. ET is in your time zone!
CIRA was highly flexible. We dealt with tons of delays, inflation, COVID—and CIRA was always there to aid us in making those changes in our project. – Dan Pasmans, Director of Information Systems and Technology, Malahat Nation, BC
Important info for applicants
- Applications open on March 3
- The deadline is April 9 at 2 p.m. ET. Make sure to apply early! Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis until the deadline.
- Interested in applying and want more information? Register for our webinar on March 4 at 1 p.m. ET!
- Check out our website for everything you need to know about CIRA’s Net Good Grants.
- If you have any questions, reach out to [email protected]
Caitlin is part of CIRA’s Net Good team as Grants Specialist. Her background is in the charitable sector, and she is passionate about funding digital equity.
