About the Program

Canada Basketball views the sport of basketball as a powerful tool that can unify Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

In reflection of Canada Basketball’s UNIFIED 2024 commitments, the CBF prioritizes the support of nonprofit programs and initiatives that help keep Canadian sport spaces a safe one, which welcome all generations, ethnicities, religions, identities, and abilities.

The CBF supports groups whose priorities, include developing inclusive and equitable opportunities for youth through sport, with a focus on increasing access for underserved, under-represented or historically racialized communities such as, but not limited to;

  • Youth facing socio-economic barriers
  • First Nations, Inuit, and Metis youth
  • Newcomers and Refugee youth
  • Girl-Identified youth (in the case of gender-specific programming)
  • 2SLGBTQ+ Identified youth
  • Youth who identify as having a disability (visible and/or invisible)
  • Other racialized youth groups

In addition to aligning with CB’s UNIFIED 2024 foundational values, project proposals, programs and initiatives applying for UNIFIED Assist Program support, must align with minimum one (1) of the following three (3) CBF priorities:

  • Officiating and Coaching Development
  • Youth Sport Leadership Development
  • Youth Basketball Development

Read more about CBF’s development pathways below, or by downloading our Canada Basketball UNIFIED Assist Program Application Handbook.

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Development Pathways

Removing Barriers to Entry & Progress

The CBF provides support to the guardians of our game; the coaches, officials and community leaders who are demonstrating and teaching the positive values of sport to youth across the nation.

Canada Basketball collaborates with our provincial/territorial basketball organizations and grassroots programs to grow the sport of basketball at all levels. CBF provides support to programs for development, such as continued education and training for coaches and officials, through;

  • NCCP training and certification
  • NOCP training and certification
  • Safe Sport Training
  • Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Training

Growing Capacity & Fostering Opportunity

The CBF acknowledges that the world of sport is wide-reaching far beyond the lines of the courts, fields, and gymnasiums where games are played.

The CBF aims to support programs and initiatives which aim to pave new pathways for our youth to engage with sport off the playing field, through social participation, culture, and the business of sport. These programs for sport leadership development include, but are not limited to:

  • Creative design
  • Photography and videography
  • Sport management
  • Youth mentorship
  • Music
  • Fashion
  • Technology
  • Social Justice
  • Entrepreneurship

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Starting Line-Up

The CBF provides support to programs and initiatives who are helping to instill a #madlove(CA) for the game in tomorrow’s starting line-up. 

CBF seeks to invest and support those who empower the next generation through delivery of high quality, sustainable and inclusive basketball programming, and basketball-centered experiences for youth. Specifically, the CBF prioritizes supporting programs in underserved regions across Canada, and those which aim to welcome, serve, and empower more girls and women in basketball. These programs for youth basketball development refer to, but are not limited to;

  • Provincial/Territory Club teams
  • House league programs
  • Skill development clinics
  • Summer camps

Eligibility

We fund organizations and programs who are:

  • A registered charity
  • A registered nonprofit or not-for-profit organization, program or initiative
  • Registered provincial housing corporations
  • Registered Municipalities
  • Metis, Inuit or First Nation community/band

If you are an eligible organization or program, apply HERE.

Application Details & Timelines

Applying
Applications for grants will only be accepted ONLINE.  

Potential applicants who meet the UNIFIED Application Program criteria and have a program running between JUNE 1 2023 - MAY 31 2024, are eligible to apply to become a UNIFIED Program through the CBF Application Portal HERE.

Funding Timelines
Applications should be submitted within the corresponding application windows.

MARCH 19, 2023, at 11:59PM ET: Deadline for UNIFIED Program Expression of Interest Applications.

APRIL 16th, 2023, at 11:59PM: Deadline for UNIFIED Program Full Applications (if contacted)

MAY 2023: UNIFIED Application Program Decisions Issued

JULY 2023: UNIFIED Application Programs Publicly Announced

Disbursement
Selected program and program applications will be contacted by a CBF staff member upon approval. Funds will be disbursed in two intervals for selected approved grants

  • 70% upon acceptance and completion of Safe Sport Training, prior to program start date
  • 30% upon submission of Grant Impact Summary Report and enrollment in Canada Basketball’s Verification Program

*Exceptions to this rule may be made at the discretion of Canada Basketball where/when necessary*

Application Process

Confirm organization is eligible through review of our grant guidelines and criteria HERE or in the downloadable CBF Application Handbook.

Follow the prompts in our CBF application portal to submit a UNIFIED Program expression of interest application before the application deadline on March 19th, 2023 at 11:59PM ET.

**Please review grant guidelines and criteria while filling out applications. If you find yourself having questions, please contact CBFoundation@basketball.ca for additional information.

Once submitted, a diverse CBF Selection Team will review, evaluate and score each application using a framework developed with input from industry experts.

All applications will be evaluated and prioritized using an equity, diversity, and inclusion scorecard based on the applications efforts to address systemic barriers to sport, specifically basketball, for marginalized, under-represented or historically racialized communities such as, but not limited to:

  • Youth facing socio-economic barriers
  • Black youth
  • First Nations, Inuit and Metis youth
  • Newcomers and Refugee youth
  • Girl-Identified youth (in the case of gender-specific programming)
  • 2SLGBTQ+ Identified youth
  • Youth who identify as having a disability (intellectual or physical)

Short-listed applicants will be contacted by a CBF staff member March 20th, 2023 to complete a Full Application, which is due by April 16th, 2023 at 11:59PM ET.

Full applications will be evaluated and scored by a CBF Selection Team and the CB Foundation Board of Directors. Approved applicants will be contacted directly by a CBF staff member. 

Organizations who are not selected for a grant are still subject to exclusive opportunities such as access to CB alignment programs, unmatched experiences, and potential support. All applicants may schedule a feedback call after June 1st, 2023 to improve their application for next year.