Justice Canada Victims Fund 2026: Eligibility, Documents, and How to Apply Before October 26

• Justice Canada is accepting applications from September 14 through October 26, 2026, for projects supporting victims and survivors of sexual offences.
• Eligible applicants include Canadian nonprofit organizations, Indigenous organizations, professional organizations, and educational institutions.
• Applications must be submitted by email no later than noon Pacific Time on October 26, 2026, with projects potentially receiving up to $450,000 over three fiscal years.

What the Justice Canada Victims Fund 2026 call supports

Justice Canada is currently accepting applications for the Funding to Support Victims and Survivors of Sexual Offences – Victims Fund. The application period runs from September 14 through October 26, 2026, and the deadline is noon Pacific Time on October 26.

This is project funding for organizations. It isn’t a direct compensation program for individual victims, and the Victims Fund does not provide criminal injuries compensation. The 2026 call is intended to strengthen services, improve access to justice, build referral networks, and support trauma-informed responses for people affected by sexual offences.

Projects may address sexual offences broadly. Justice Canada says the offence does not need to have been reported to police for a related project to be considered.

Who can apply?

The call is open to several types of Canadian organizations:

• Not-for-profit non-governmental organizations
• First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments, bands, Tribal Councils, and local, regional, or national Indigenous organizations
• Professional organizations
• Canadian educational institutions

The applicant should be able to show that it understands the needs of the community it plans to serve and has the organizational systems needed to manage public funding. That includes practical financial controls, stable governance, project oversight, and reliable reporting.

Organizations don’t need to serve every survivor population or operate nationally. A focused regional or community-based project may be a strong fit if it clearly explains the unmet need, the people who will benefit, and how the proposed work will improve access to support or justice.

What kinds of projects may fit?

Justice Canada is looking for proposals connected to one or more of the call’s objectives. Examples include:

• Trauma-informed services that help survivors participate in the criminal justice system
• Training for criminal justice professionals, first responders, or restorative justice practitioners
• Services that fill gaps at different stages of the justice process
• Support models designed for underserved communities
• Referral networks and coordinated services between agencies
• Projects that improve access for people in rural, remote, or isolated areas
• Services tailored to people with disabilities, newcomers, racialized communities, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities
• Victim-centred restorative justice projects with clear safeguards and voluntary participation

The call also references training on recent legal changes, including the new coercive control offence created through former Bill C-16. Justice Canada says that offence is scheduled to come into force by June 18, 2028.

A proposal should do more than describe a worthy idea. It needs to connect the activities to measurable results: increased organizational capacity, greater awareness of survivor needs, or improved access to services.

Funding amount, project length, and eligible costs

Funding will vary depending on the scope and design of each proposal. The maximum is $450,000 per project over three fiscal years. Funding is limited, so meeting the eligibility rules won’t guarantee approval.

Projects are expected to start as early as April 1, 2027. They may run across a maximum of three fiscal years and must end by March 31, 2030.

Examples of potentially eligible expenses include salaries and benefits, travel, office equipment and supplies, professional fees, evaluation, training, and audits. Administrative costs may be eligible up to the stated 15% limit.

Capital expenses such as land, buildings, and vehicles aren’t eligible. Retroactive costs, activities that have already been delivered, and services already funded through another source are also excluded. Projects focused on independent legal advice or legal representation are outside this particular call.

What to prepare before requesting the application package

The official page says applicants should request the application forms by emailing vf-fv@justice.gc.ca. Because the application information cannot be saved once an online form is started, it’s sensible to prepare the core material before beginning or submitting anything.

1. Define the problem and target population

Write a clear description of the service gap. Explain who is affected, where the gap exists, and why existing services aren’t sufficient. Be specific about geography and population groups, especially if the project serves rural communities, people with disabilities, newcomers, Indigenous communities, or other groups facing additional barriers.

2. Map activities to results

For every major activity, identify the result it is expected to produce. For example, a training program might increase frontline capacity, while a referral network might reduce delays in connecting survivors with counselling, legal information, or community support.

3. Build a realistic budget

Prepare a cost breakdown that matches the work plan. Include staffing time, travel, training materials, evaluation, professional services, and administration where appropriate. Avoid asking for the maximum simply because it is available. A smaller budget that clearly matches the project may be easier to assess.

4. Confirm partnerships

If the project depends on police services, courts, health providers, sexual assault centres, Indigenous organizations, schools, or other agencies, confirm those relationships early. Letters of support or partnership details can help show that the proposal is connected to real community needs.

5. Address the required considerations

Applications should explain how the project will apply:

• Gender-Based Analysis Plus: how age, disability, geography, language, race, economic circumstances, and other factors may affect access or outcomes
• Trauma-informed practice: how the service will promote safety, respect, choice, and empowerment while reducing the risk of further harm
• Official languages: how the project will consider English- and French-language minority communities where relevant

How to apply before the October 26 deadline

The process is handled through the Department of Justice Canada’s Victims Fund team rather than a general grant marketplace.

1. Review the official program priorities and eligibility requirements.
2. Request the application forms by emailing vf-fv@justice.gc.ca.
3. Complete the application, project plan, budget, and any supporting material requested in the package.
4. Submit the completed application by email to vf-fv@justice.gc.ca.
5. Make sure the submission arrives no later than 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time on October 26, 2026.

Don’t leave the submission until the final hour. Organizations working in Eastern or Atlantic time zones should convert the noon Pacific deadline carefully, and the person responsible for sending the application should allow time for attachment, email, and internal approval issues.

What happens after submission?

Justice Canada says applicants should receive an email acknowledging receipt within seven calendar days. If that confirmation doesn’t arrive, the organization should contact the Programs Branch at 613-941-4193.

Funding decisions are expected before April 1, 2027, and will be sent by email to the contacts listed in the application. Because funding is limited, Justice Canada may not approve every eligible proposal.

Approval doesn’t mean the organization can immediately begin spending. A funding agreement must be signed and finalized before project activities start. Justice Canada also requires permission before an approved organization makes a public announcement about the funding.

Common mistakes that can weaken an application

A proposal can lose clarity when it tries to cover too many issues without explaining how the organization will deliver the work. Keep the project focused and make sure the budget, staffing plan, timeline, and expected results all describe the same project.

Another common problem is treating trauma-informed practice or GBA Plus as a short paragraph added at the end. Justice Canada expects these considerations to be built into the activities themselves. Explain how clients will be offered choice, how privacy and safety will be supported, and how barriers affecting different communities will be addressed.

Organizations should also avoid presenting independent legal advice or legal representation as the main service under this call. Those activities are specifically excluded from the listed eligible expenses and project focus.

Your next safe step

Start with a one-page project outline covering the community need, target population, activities, partners, outcomes, timeline, and estimated budget. Then request the official application package from the Victims Fund team and compare your outline with the supplied questions before seeking final board or management approval.

Helpful Links

• Funding to Support Victims and Survivors of Sexual Offences – Victims Fund – Review the 2026 eligibility rules, priorities, funding limits, expenses, assessment criteria, and October 26 deadline.
• Justice Canada Apply for Funding – Review the Department of Justice funding application entry page and available program selections.
• Justice Canada Victims Fund – Browse the broader Victims Fund programs and related funding opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can an individual survivor apply directly for this Justice Canada funding?

A. No. This 2026 call is intended for organizations and institutions, including Canadian nonprofit organizations, Indigenous organizations, professional organizations, and Canadian educational institutions. It is not an individual compensation program.

Q. Does a sexual offence need to be reported to police for a project to qualify?

A. No. Justice Canada states that projects supporting victims and survivors of sexual offences may be considered even when the underlying crimes have not been reported to police.

Q. Can a project include independent legal advice or legal representation?

A. Not as a focus of this call. Justice Canada lists projects focusing on independent legal advice and representation as ineligible for the 2026 Funding to Support Victims and Survivors of Sexual Offences call.

Q. When should applicants expect a funding decision?

A. Justice Canada says funding decisions are expected before April 1, 2027. Approved organizations must sign and finalize a funding agreement before beginning project activities.