Why?

• Funders increasingly require cash contributions for applications to be competitive
• Most nonprofits have limited reserves to commit to market development
• Funding uncertainty and non-competitive salaries are barriers to attracting and retaining skilled staff
• Earned income provides discretionary funds and helps increase the capacity, resilience and self-reliance of nonprofits

Who?

The objective of the Earning Capacity is to have each participant organization secure at least one new earned income contract over the course of the Project. Up to 30 organizations will be assisted in adopting strategic commitments to enterprise development. Representatives from diverse, nonprofit community service agencies across Ontario (i.e. organizations focused on: employment & training, arts & culture, children & youth, community development, education, environmental, agriculture, health, First Nations organizations, immigrant (settlement) services, recreation, and social services) who fit the project applicant profile are invited to apply.

How Will You Benefit?

Focused resources provided through the Earning Capacity project will assist committed nonprofits to:

• Identify opportunities to capitalize on existing organizational assets
• Advance their organizational earning capacity
• Develop their earned income streams via service contracts with other nonprofits and businesses

The Earning Capacity Project is:

Presented by ONESTEP in partnership with the Canadian CED Network and Job Skills.

Funded by the Trillium Foundation of Ontario.

How to Apply

ATTENTION! – DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS ARE DUE JANUARY 29TH, 2016.

To be considered for this program we ask you to submit the following documents:

1. A completed Application Form with organizational information - Click here to download
2. A Social Enterprise Readiness Assessment Checklist completed by each of up to 3 organizational representatives who will participate in the Earning Capacity Institute and coaching/mentoring supports - Click here to download
3. Your most recent Annual Report
4. Your current Strategic Plan
5. A letter from the Board approving your commitment to the full (8 months) enterprise development opportunity and confirming the team’s availability for the scheduled enterprise institute in your region.
6. All documents should be compressed into a zipped file, with the naming convention: organization_name.zip and uploaded via the form below.

How do I create a ZIP file?

Ensure that all your required files are located on your desktop. Highlight all the required files and right click > Send to > Compressed (Zipped) folder. This will automatically create a ZIP file for you and place it on the desktop, which stores all files together.

Once accepted you will be required to send a cheque in the amount of $300.00 made out to ONESTEP with the memo notation “Earning Capacity Project”. This fee will assist with the development costs for an enterprise clearinghouse facility.

Limited travel subsidy funds may be allotted on request.

Selection criteria include:

• Clear evidence of organizational commitment to and resourcing of enterprise development
• A business concept focusing on income generation through the sale of administrative capacities or other goods/services ideas
• Stable finances to support enterprise start-up or scaling up
• A Social Enterprise Readiness Assessment that demonstrates conditions and capacities for the applicant organization to benefit from participation in the project

File Upload: NOTE: Please ZIP (.zip) the required files prior to uploading and ensure the filename is the name of the organization/agency. Maximum file size: 20MB. If the file is larger than 20MB, or if you are having issues/concerns with uploading to DropBox, please click here to send us an email.

Click here to upload your ZIP file!

5:30pm to 7:30pm
Community First Credit Union
289 Bay St.

Have you ever thought about starting your own business while benefiting the local community?

Money & support available through the SENO Costarter for Change program! 

Come down to Community First Credit Union located at 289 Bay St., Monday December 14th from 5:30-7:30 to learn about the Co-opeartive model and how it can benefit any start-up social enterprise! Facilitating the discussion will be Erin Russion & Wendy Gennings from Community First Credit Union. The co-operative model is seen as one of if not the most sustainable of business models, so come out and learn why!

The workshop is FREE, but registration is required as space is limited. Light refreshments will be provided. Register online today!

Register for Understanding the Co-operative Model & How It Can Benefit Your Start-up

About Social Enterprise Northern Ontario (SENO)​

SENO is a dynamic collaborative of organizations, First Nations, communities and businesses committed to the purpose of igniting innovation, securing investment, providing education for and financing Social Enterprise and Social Entrepreneurship in Northern Ontario. Social enterprises are organizations both for-profit and non-profit that use business strategies to maximize their social or environmental impact. In other words, they are organizations with a triple bottom line; people, planet, and profit.