Apply for funding to recruit and retain healthcare professionals: OHPR Community Fund

You need to use the funding for community projects like:

• planning, recruitment and retention efforts of healthcare professionals
• helping reduce social and cultural barriers that may impact recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals
• creating a welcoming environment for healthcare professionals

The OHPR Community Fund has 2 different funding streams: Community Identified Projects and Community Readiness Supports. Applicants can apply for funding from either or both funding streams.

Priority is given to projects that:

• address social and cultural needs of internationally educated health professionals
• provide community orientation and settlement support (like making it easier for new healthcare workers to find housing, transportation, schooling, childcare and community connection)
• support areas with the greatest need for recruitment
• include collaborating with multiple community partners
• support under-represented communities
• are led by equity-deserving groups

Funding amount

The Community Identified Projects Stream may fund up to $75,000 of eligible costs for each organization’s projects. The Community Readiness Supports Stream may fund up to $25,000 of eligible costs for each organization’s projects. The applicant or other sources need to fund the remaining balance of the projects.

Community Identified Projects Stream

The Community Identified Projects Stream helps grow and support your organization’s projects that increase your impact. This can mean a larger project plan with multiple activities, or a smaller project plan focused on a specific goal or outcome.

Small projects may include hosting a series of retention and community events, participating in in-province recruitment events and organizing a community event series.

Large projects may include collaborating with OHPR in the development of marketing tools and materials (like storytelling projects, video projects and community welcome guides).

Community Readiness Supports Stream

The Community Readiness Supports helps develop the capacity of your community group to be successful in the attraction and retention of healthcare professionals. This stream is best for groups who need funding with research or outreach.

Community readiness supports may include development of mandate and organizational structure, development of an internal evaluation plan and support from a consultant for any activity that advances capacity of groups looking to support healthcare attraction and retention.

Ineligible project costs

Ineligible project costs include:

• recruitment incentives
• construction or maintenance of facilities
• excessive travel accommodations and hospitality requests (like travel outside the province and luxury services)
• excessive administrative costs (should not exceed 15% of the total request for funding)
• rental accommodations
• staff salaries

Reporting requirements

If you receive funding from the OHPR Community Fund, you need to submit financial and progress reporting throughout the project. You also need to submit a Final Project Report and a Statement of Funding Expenditures within 60 days of completing the project and confirm that you met the project outcomes.

The final reporting process needs to include the impacts of the project and the value that project outcomes create from the perspective of your community partners.

Eligibility

Non-profits, municipalities and other community organizations can apply for funding.

Organizations should demonstrate some of the following:

• they have support from other funding sources
• they complement or add value to existing healthcare recruitment and retention work
• they have an established relationship with community partners
• equity groups have led or been engaged and included in the creation of the application
• current collaboration with healthcare recruitment authorities (for example, Nova Scotia Health Authority Recruitment or Health Association of Nova Scotia) that align with ongoing recruitment efforts

Ineligible groups

Organizations that are ineligible for funding (and can’t apply) include:

• public and private schools or colleges
• organizations located outside of Nova Scotia
• businesses, industry associations and sole proprietorships
• individuals
• non-profits and community organizations that are not registered with Registry of Joint Stock Companies

You need to apply for funding by 21 February 2025. Expenses are not eligible for funding if you paid for them before the project was approved.

How to apply

1. Review detailed program criteria in the OHPR Community Fund Guidelines.
2. Review roles, responsibilities, payment conditions and communication requirements in the OHPR Community Fund Appendix.
3. Contact the OHPR Community Fund to discuss your project idea and confirm your eligibility.
4. Complete the Budget Template and funding application.
5. Check the application for details on all required supporting documents.
6. Send your completed application and supporting documents by email or mail.

How long it takes

It should take 6 to 8 weeks for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment to review your funding application and let you know if it is approved. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your application has not been filled in correctly. It can also take longer if the project is complex.

Cost

There is no cost to apply.

Before you start

Make sure you:

• review program criteria in the OHPR Community Fund Guidelines
• review roles, responsibilities, payment conditions and communication requirements in the OHPR Community Fund Appendix
• complete the Budget Form
• have a cover letter that describes your organization and your goals
• have a project proposal
• have a financial statement for the organization’s previous fiscal year

Application form

OHPR Community Fund Application Form (PDF 648 kB)