Deaf and Hard of Hearing Grants

1. PURPOSE
To provide financial assistance to deaf and hard of hearing athletes to excel in sport at their desired level of competition.

Desired Outcomes:

• To fulfill the athlete’s competition potential at the highest level.
• Increase access to training and competition opportunities.
• To reduce barriers for sport participation.
• To work with Saskatchewan Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and the Canadian Deaf Sports Association to identify deaf and hard of hearing athletes and connect them to the Provincial Sport Organization of their desired sport.

2. SOURCE OF FUNDING
The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Athlete Assistance Grant is funded through the Sport Section of the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund (SLTF).

3. ELIGIBILITY
Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) and Multi-Sport Organizations (MSOs) who are on the Minister’s Eligibility List of the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund are eligible to apply on behalf of the athlete.

Athletes are eligible provided they meet the following criteria:

• Athlete must be a member in good standing with their Provincial Sport Organization or Multi-Sport Organization.
•  Athlete must be training in Saskatchewan, exceptions will be made if the athlete can prove one of the following:
  • They are training out of province as part of a formal National Sport Organization- (NSO) or Canadian Deaf Sports Association-sanctioned training program.
  • They cannot receive the required level of training in Saskatchewan and as a result have relocated out of the province (Ex. due to lack of facilities, coaching, competition, national team requirements).
  • They are attending an out-of-province university or college.
  • Other special reasons that require the athlete to be out of province.
• Athlete must not be under a Canadian Anti-Doping Policy discipline that prohibits competition.
  • If athlete has in the past or is currently under discipline, an explanation must be given about the terms.

4. AVAILABLE FUNDING
The Athlete Assistance grant will provide up to a maximum of $2,000 per athlete per year. The amount of funding given to each individual athlete will be determined by:

• the level and location of the competition or training opportunity
• how the funding will be used

Approved grants may vary depending upon the number of applications received and the amount of funding available. Funding for the athlete assistance grant is dependant on funding levels available from the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund.

5. APPLICATION PROCEDURES
There are two application deadlines each year for the athlete and PSO/MSO:

Athlete:
The athlete is required to submit the completed application to their PSO or MSO for approval by March 22 and/or September 22 yearly.

If an athlete is not currently connected to a PSO/MSO, the athlete can work with the Sask Sport Adaptive Sport Coordinator and/or Saskatchewan Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services (SDHHS) to create a connection.

Provincial Sport Organization/ Multi-Sport Organization:
The PSO/ MSO must review, sign and submit the application to the SLTF by April 1 and/or October 1 yearly.

6. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS & CONDITIONS

• Grants are not allowed for sport activity in the past. Applications should be submitted as soon as the athlete is aware of their need for funding. Funding requests outside of the above deadlines may be considered but must be submitted at least one month prior to the sport activity.
• All athletes must be involved in sports that are led by a qualified coach/instructor.
• Generally accepted sport activities are those recognized and/or sanctioned by the member organizations of Sask Sport. A full listing of Sask Sport member organizations.
• Consideration should be given to support individuals from rural/remote areas to access city programming if the opportunity for participation at the community level is not possible.
• Athletes receiving financial support will be required to sign an agreement confirming their commitment to all conditions.
• This grant is made possible by Sask Lotteries, the main fundraiser for 12,000+ sport, culture and recreation groups in the province. As such, individual grant recipients are asked to recognize Sask Lotteries where possible, including on social media, websites and sponsorship listings. The Sask Lotteries logo, brand guidelines, key messages and promotional materials are available at
  www.sasklotteries.ca/about-us/fundingrecognition.htm
• Each application must include the following:
  • A completed application form signed by the athlete and the PSO or MSO
  • A detailed list of projected expenses

7. ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURES

• Costs from competitions (Ex. entry fees, on-continent travel costs, hotel accommodations)
• Costs from attending training camps (Ex. entry fees, on continent travel costs, hotel accommodations)
• Costs directly from training (Ex. coaching expenses, sport science, facility rental fees, other athlete services)
• Costs directly from sport participation for an athlete who is deaf or hard of hearing (Ex. sign language interpreters, assistive technology, etc.)

8. INELIGIBLE EXPENSES

• Expenditures such as construction, renovations or upgrading facilities.
• Funding received cannot be used to pay the same portion of an expense, whether the grant comes from the Trust Fund or any other funding sources (Ex. If you receive $500 from the Athlete Assistance grant and $500 from a different funding source, you must have a minimum of $1,000 in expenses.
• Cash prizes
• Off-continent travel
• Alcoholic beverages
• Food
• Debt repayment
• Payment of money returns owed to the SLTF
• Living expenses (rent, mortgage, groceries, etc.)
• Tuition expenses
• Other expenses that the SLTF may deem inappropriate

9. ASSESSMENT PROCESS
The Adaptive Sport Advisory Committee is responsible for handling the grant review process and providing recommendations to the Sport Funding Committee.

PSOs/MSOs will be notified of the status of their application approximately eight to 12 weeks after the application deadline. The PSO/MSO is then responsible to notify the athlete.

10. PAYMENT PROCEDURES
Full payment of the grant will be forwarded to the PSO/MSO once the application has been approved and the signed terms and conditions agreement has been received.

The PSO/MSO is responsible for forwarding the full payment of grant support to the athlete.

Grant payments will be withheld if the PSO/MSO has any outstanding Trust grant requirements.

11. FOLLOW-UP PROCEDURES
Athlete:
The athlete is required to submit a follow-up report and financial receipts to their PSO/MSO by the date noted in the terms and agreement form.

Provincial Sport Organization:
The PSO/MSO is required to review, sign and submit the completed follow-up report and financial receipts to the SLTF by no later than 90 days after the date noted in the terms and agreement form.

Any unused funds, or funds that are used for purposes that do not adhere to these guidelines, will be required to be returned to the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund.

12. FOLLOW-UP REQUIREMENTS
Each Follow-up Report must include the following:

• A completed follow-up form signed by the athlete and the PSO/MSO.
• A copy of the financial receipts to verify the eligible expenses. Financial receipts should at a minimum include:
  • Name of recipient (person or business) of the funds
  • Describe goods or services provided for payment
  • Disclose the amount of the payment
  • Include the date that the goods/ services were purchased (must be within the grant period)
  • Include third-party verification (supplier logo on an invoice, signature of a recipient on an expense claim, or in the rare instance where there is no other documentation, a copy of the cheque with the bank-clearing stamp on the back).
    NOTE: Legible copies of documents for financial accountability (Ex. receipts, cancelled cheques, invoices, expense claims, etc.) are acceptable. Original documents are not necessary for submission to the SLTF but should be maintained by the athlete submitting the grant follow-up report.
• The follow-up must be supported by the PSOs/MSOs audited financial statement when it becomes available. Revenues (SLTF revenue) and expenditures (categorical grants) for this grant program must be clearly identified either in the body of the statement, or in the schedules or notes to the statements.

1. PURPOSE
To provide financial assistance to eligible Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) in support of sport programming for Saskatchewan’s deaf and hard of hearing community. Programs may be integrated or specific to the deaf and hard of hearing community.

Desired Outcomes:
To support athletes, coaches and officials who are deaf or hard of hearing:

• To participate at their desired level of development
• Through enhanced training and competitive opportunities
• By reducing barriers for sport participation

2. SOURCE OF FUNDING
The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Sport Accessibility Grant is funded through the Sport Section of the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund (SLTF).

3. ELIGIBILITY
PSOs who are on the Minster’s Eligibility List of the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund are eligible to apply.

A local club/community organization is not eligible to apply directly but is able to access funding support through their applicable PSO. The local club/community must be a member in good standing of the PSO.

4. AVAILABLE FUNDING
Applicants are eligible to receive up to a maximum of $5,000 per initiative.
Approved amounts may vary depending upon the number of applications received and the level of funding available. Funding is subject to the sustainability of funding levels from the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund.

5. APPLICATION PROCEDURES
There are two application deadlines:

Local Clubs/ Community Organization (if applicable)
The local club/ community organization must submit the completed application to the respective PSO for endorsement no later than March 22 and/or September 22 annually (if applicable).

Provincial Sport Organizations
The PSO must review, sign, and submit the application to the SLTF by April 1 and/or October 1 annually.

6. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS & CONDITIONS

• Retroactive funding is not permitted. Therefore, applications must be submitted to and approved by the SLTF before the start date of the program or activity
• All programs must be led by a qualified coach or instructor
• Generally accepted sport activities are those recognized and/or sanctioned by the member organizations of Sask Sport. A full listing of Sask Sport member organizations
• Consideration should be given to support the participation of individuals from rural/remote communities in centralized programming if the opportunity for participation at the community level is not possible
• Partnerships or joint venture applications are encouraged
• This grant is made possible by Sask Lotteries, the main fundraiser for 12,000+ sport, culture and recreation groups in the province. As such, grant recipients are required to recognize Sask Lotteries in your communications vehicles and promotional materials. The Sask Lotteries logo, brand guidelines, key messages and promotional materials are available at www.sasklotteries.ca/about-us/fundingrecognition.htm
• Each application must include the following:
  • A completed application form signed by the PSO and local club/community organization (if applicable)
  • A detailed and balanced budget

7. ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURES
Funds can be used to offset regular costs related to program delivery. The following expenditures are eligible for support:

• Sign Language Interpreter services
• Assistive Technology Equipment
• Facility Rental
• Insurance
• Marketing and Promotions
• Communications
• Coaching
• Officiating
• Education on engaging deaf and hard of hearing athletes/coaches/officials
• On continent travel

8. INELIGIBLE EXPENDITURES

• Capital expenditures – no support is available for construction, renovations, upgrading, maintenance or operating costs of facilities
• Multiple revenue/grant sources cannot be used to pay the same dollar of expense, whether the grant comes from the Trust Fund or any other granting agency (Ex. Source 1 = $500, Source 2 = $500 and Source 3 = $500; there must be a minimum of $1500 in expenses)
• Cash prizes
• Off continent travel
• Alcoholic beverages
• Food expenditures – the intent of Trust funds is not to support food-related expenditures
• Debt repayment
• Payment of money returns owed to the SLTF
• Other expenses that the SLTF may deem inappropriate

9. ASSESSMENT PROCESS
The Adaptive Sport Advisory Committee is responsible for administering the grant review process and providing grant recommendations to the Sport Funding Committee.

PSOs will be notified of the status of their application approximately eight to 12 weeks after the application deadline.

10. PAYMENT PROCEDURES
Full payment of the grant will be forwarded to the PSO once the application has been approved and the signed terms and conditions agreement form has been received.

The PSO is responsible for forwarding the full payment of grant support to the local club/community organization (if applicable).

Grant payments will be withheld if the PSO has any outstanding Trust grant requirements.

11. FOLLOW-UP PROCEDURES
Local Club/Community Organization (if applicable):

The local club/community organization is required to submit the completed follow-up report and financial documentation (receipts) to the PSO for endorsement by no later than the grant period in which the grant was approved (as noted in the terms and agreement form).

Provincial Sport Organization:
The PSO is required to review, sign, and submit the completed follow-up report and financial documentation (receipts) to the SLTF by no later than 90 days after the grant period in which the grant was approved (as noted in the terms and agreement form).

Any unused funds, or funds that are used for purposes that do not adhere to these guidelines, will be required to be returned, by the local club/community organization (if applicable), to the appropriate PSO who will then be responsible to return the funds to the SLTF.

12. FOLLOW-UP REQUIREMENTS
Each Follow-Up Report must include the following:

• A completed follow-up form signed by the PSO and local club/community organization (if applicable)
• A copy of the financial documentation to verify the eligible expenditures
  Financial documentation (receipts) to verify expenditures can take various forms but should at a minimum:
  • Indicate name of recipient (person or business) of the funds
  • Describe goods or services provided for payment
  • Disclose the amount of the payment
  • Include the date that the goods/services were purchased (must be within the grant period)
  • Include third party verification (supplier logo on an invoice, signature of the recipient on an expense claim, or in the rare case where there is no other backup documentation, a copy of the cheque, with the bank clearing stamp on the back)
    NOTE: Legible copies of documents for financial accountability (Ex. receipts, cancelled cheques, invoices, expense claims, etc.) are acceptable. Original documents are not necessary for submission to the SLTF but should be maintained by the local club/community organization submitting the grant follow-up report.
• The follow-up must be substantiated by the PSOs audited financial statement when it becomes available. Revenues (SLTF revenue) and expenditures (Categorical Grants) for this grant program must be clearly identified either in the body of the statement, or in the schedules or notes to the statements