Canadian Aid and Action Fund
The Canadian Aid and Action Fund (CAAF) program is facilitated by the Royal College Foundation (RCF). The program supports a selected number of projects led by Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College) Fellows that align with the RCF’s funding priorities of leadership, learning and community. The RCF’s goal, through initiatives like the CAAF program, is to address issues impacting the Canadian medical community such as wellness, the environment and/or underserved populations.
Note that the RCF does not accept emailed or mailed applications; all applications must be completed through the online application form. CAAF funding cannot be used to fund expenses related to payment of labour (e.g., honoraria, stipends, per diems, etc.), nor can it be used to fund research projects.
Funding opportunity
Through the CAAF program, the RCF will support projects led by Fellows that involve the following activities in Canada:
- postgraduate medical education and specialty residency training program development and expansion (i.e., capacity building);
- lifelong learning for health professionals in the areas of leadership, diversity and inclusion, wellness and community building;
- faculty development (workshops/courses) aimed at upskilling faculty and resident trainee competencies (both clinical and non-clinical);
- physician and trainee wellness initiatives;
- improving access to care for underserved and/or marginalized populations; and
- train-the-trainer initiatives that address the areas above.
Eligibility criteria
Prior to applying, please ensure the following eligibility criteria have been met in full:
- may only be submitted by Fellows of the Royal College with an active membership;
- must be aligned with the mandate and mission of the Royal College and the RCF, and must demonstrate impact and sustainability;
- project support cannot exceed three years’ duration and will not exceed CAD (Canadian dollar) $15,000 annually in funding requests;
- applicants must have a demonstrable collaboration with credible partners within the host province in Canada; and
- applicants must demonstrate how their project will build local capacity.
Additional criteria considered to be an asset include:
- financial partnership and/or support from an external partner; and
- applications that demonstrate partnerships with one or more organizations in Canada (e.g., Faculty of Medicine, university, registered charitable organization, national specialty society, specialty committee, or government program).
Note that meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee an application’s approval for funding support. Not adhering to the criteria will result in the application being denied.
Frequently asked questions
We welcome ideas for additional frequently asked questions that would be helpful to you. Please email your suggestions to CAAF@royalcollege.ca.
General Information
What is the Canadian Aid and Action Fund (CAAF) program?
The CAAF is a program facilitated by the Royal College Foundation (RCF). The program supports a selected number of projects led by Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College) Fellows that align with the RCF’s funding priorities of leadership, learning, and community. The RCF’s goal, through initiatives like the CAAF program, is to address issues impacting the Canadian medical community such as wellness, the environment and/or underserved populations.
What projects led by Fellows does the RCF support through the CAAF funding program?
Through the CAAF program, the RCF will support projects led by Fellows that involve the following activities in Canada:
- postgraduate medical education and specialty residency training program development and expansion (i.e., capacity building);
- lifelong learning for health professionals in the areas of leadership, diversity and inclusion, wellness and community building;
- faculty development (workshops/courses) aimed at upskilling faculty and resident trainee competencies (both clinical and non-clinical);
- physician and trainee wellness initiatives;
- improving access to care for underserved and/or marginalized populations; and
- train-the-trainer initiatives that address the areas above.
Do CAAF calls for applications open on an annual basis?
The current plan is to open one call annually; however, a call for applications may be delayed or postponed due to funding limitations and/or unforeseen circumstances. Note that the first CAAF call for applications is now closed.
Where can Fellows find information on CAAF projects that are currently being supported?
This is the grant’s first year and call for applications. Grant recipients will be announced via the Royal College Newsroom, and their projects will be profiled at a future date following the announcement.
Application Process
Who is eligible to apply for the CAAF?
Fellows with an active membership with the Royal College and involved in projects that meet the CAAF program’s eligibility criteria.
What are the CAAF program’s eligibility criteria?
Prior to applying, please ensure the following eligibility criteria have been met in full:
- may only be submitted by Fellows of the Royal College with an active membership;
- must be aligned with the mandate and mission of the Royal College and the RCF, and must demonstrate impact and sustainability;
- project support cannot exceed three years’ duration and will not exceed CAD (Canadian dollar) $15,000 annually in funding requests;
- applicants must have a demonstrable collaboration with credible partners within the host province or provinces; and
- applicants must demonstrate how their project will build local capacity.
Additional criteria considered to be an asset include:
- financial partnership and/or support from an external partner; and
- applications that demonstrate partnerships with one or more organizations in Canada (e.g., Faculty of Medicine, university, registered charitable organization, national specialty society, specialty committee, or government program).
Note that meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee an application’s approval for funding support. Not adhering to the criteria will result in the application being denied.
How do Fellows apply?
If interested in the program, Fellows are required to complete an online application form.
Note that the first CAAF call for applications is now closed. The RCF does not accept emailed or mailed applications; all applications must be completed through the online application form. CAAF funding cannot be used to fund expenses related to payment of labour (e.g., honoraria, stipends, per diems, etc.), nor can it be used to fund research projects.
Where can Fellows access the application form?
The application form can be accessed directly online.
The online application form involves assigning a Project Lead. Who is the Project Lead?
The Project Lead is the assigned leader and representative of the associated project, with whom the RCF will communicate throughout the application, funding and reporting process. The assigned Project Lead must be a Royal College Fellow with an active Royal College membership.
Can there be more than one Project Lead assigned per project?
No. Only one Project Lead can be assigned per project for all communication purposes with the RCF. If more than one Fellow is involved in the project, Project Leads will have the option to list Fellows individually in the online application form.
Are supported or additional documents accepted with applications?
No. Supported or additional documents are not accepted with applications (e.g., reference letters).
How will applicants know if applications have been received?
When finished completing and submitting the online application form, an acknowledgement of receipt message will then appear to confirm receipt of the application. Applicants do not need to contact the RCF or the CAAF teams to confirm receipt.
How will applicants know if applications are incomplete?
The online application form includes mandatory fields to complete. If a mandatory field is not complete, the applicant will not be able to submit the application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all answers to questions – both for fields that are mandatory and not mandatory – are complete before submitting the application.
How will an applicant know if their project meets the program’s eligibility criteria?
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the associated project meets the program’s eligibility criteria. Please consult the eligibility criteria, the CAAF landing page and this FAQ page in full before applying.
Assessment process
When will CAAF applications be assessed – how long will it take?
All CAAF applications will be assessed between the application deadline of March 31, 2023, 8:00 a.m. (EDT), and beginning of May 2023.
What will the assessment process involve?
The process will involve the RCF and the CAAF evaluation teams assessing applications for completeness and alignment with the program’s eligibility criteria and the RCF’s mandate. Applications will also be assessed based on the project’s sustainability and anticipated impact.
Decision, notification and next step
When will a decision be made on which projects have been selected?
The decision will be made after the assessment process is complete, approximately beginning of May 2023.
When and how will Project Leads be informed of their application’s status – i.e., approved or not approved for funding support?
Project Leads will be informed of the decision soon after the assessment process is complete, which should be approximately by the beginning of May 2023. Project Leads will be informed by email no later than May 15, 2023.
For approved projects, when will funding support begin?
Funding support will begin soon after May 15, 2023, conditional to signing a formal CAAF project agreement with the RCF.
If a project is approved for funding support, what will be the next step?
The Project Lead associated with the project will be asked to sign a formal CAAF project agreement with the RCF. In the agreement, further details and instructions will be included.
If a project is not approved for funding support, can the Project Lead apply again in the next call for applications?
Yes. In fact, repeat applications are encouraged as only a certain number of projects can be supported and accommodated per year.
For projects that are not selected, is feedback provided for future applications?
Feedback can be provided upon request.
Reporting process
Note that this section of the FAQ is only applicable to projects that are receiving funding support through the CAAF program.
If a project is approved for CAAF funding support, is the Project Lead associated with the project expected to complete reports during the funding period?
Yes. The Project Lead will be asked to complete reports on an annual or semi-annual basis. Additional details will be included in the formal CAAF project agreement with the RCF.
Is the reporting process done online?
Yes. When requested to complete a report, the RCF will share a link with the Project Lead to complete an online report form. Note that the RCF does not accept emailed or mailed reports; all reports must be completed through the online report form.
Will the online report form involve tracking project financial details?
Yes. The online report form will ask the Project Lead to track the project’s financial details in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, which must then be uploaded to the online report form before submitting the report. The RCF will share a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet template when the Project Lead is requested to complete a report.
Other information and questions
Where can Fellows find more information on the CAAF program?
Additional information pertaining to the CAAF program, including this FAQ, can be found on this web page. This web page will be updated annually before calls for applications open.
I have other questions regarding the CAAF program. Whom should I contact?
Contact the CAAF team at CAAF@royalcollege.ca.
