NRC Outreach Initiative Grants and Contributions Program

NRC Outreach Initiative

Funds Canadian non-profits running STEM conferences, workshops, and science outreach activities.

The NRC Outreach Initiative is a semi-annual grants and contributions programme administered by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) that provides funding to non-profit organisations and charities for science- or innovation-based public engagement activities. Eligible activities include conferences, workshops, symposia, and other outreach events aimed at promoting STEM literacy, engaging under-represented groups, and building awareness of Canadian science and innovation capacity. Applications are assessed on four criteria: commitment to advancing science literacy, alignment with NRC research priorities or technology innovation support, impact of the proposed activity, and inclusion of under-represented groups or talent development.

The Fall 2026 intake deadline is 10 October 2026, for events starting no later than 31 March 2027. A companion Spring intake runs to 10 February annually for events beginning 1 April or later. Only non-profit organisations and registered charities are eligible; for-profit companies and individuals are excluded. The application form is not publicly posted — applicants must contact the NRC Stakeholder Relations group by email (NRC.StakeholderRelations-Relationsavecintervenants.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca) to receive the form and application guide. Award amounts and total programme pool are not disclosed publicly. A dedicated Indigenous outreach stream exists within the same schedule and criteria, targeting events that build relationships with Indigenous researchers and communities, advance reconciliation, bridge knowledge systems, and increase Indigenous participation in STEM; First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples are the intended beneficiaries of this stream.

Successful applicants enter a funding agreement with the NRC, administer the awarded funds independently, and submit a single end-of-project report to enable NRC performance measurement. In exceptional cases the NRC may accept urgent applications outside the semi-annual cycle, evaluated on the same criteria. Consideration may be given to applicants that have not previously received Outreach Initiative funding and to initiatives that benefit wide-reaching events across Canada aligned with current NRC priorities.