What is a Swim to Survive+ School Program grant?
A Swim to Survive+ grant may only be used to help provide a minimum of 3 in-water Swim to Survive+ lessons to Grade 7 children within an elementary school program, during school hours. Grant funds may be used to help defray the costs of:
- transporting students between school and pool
- instructor costs
- aquatic facility rental costs
The Lifesaving Society aims to reach as many Ontario Grade 7 students as possible with Swim to Survive+ training. Because grant funds are limited, the Society is relying upon the generosity of participating school boards and their partners to support this program with matching service and in-kind sponsorship.
Who may apply for a grant?
Any Ontario school board with its own aquatic facilities is eligible to apply. So too is a partnership of school boards or schools with others like regional governments, municipalities, and aquatic facilities.
We encourage all Ontario school boards to apply. The Lifesaving Society will accept applications from individual elementary schools in districts where the school board is not participating.
How are grants approved?
Effort will be made to allocate grants within each region to both rural and urban locations, separate and public school boards, English and French school boards.
Evaluation criteria
The Lifesaving Society will only fund applicants who have the capacity to execute the Swim to Survive+ School Program successfully. Priority will be given to:
- incorporated organizations such as school boards, schools, municipalities, YMCAs
- boards and schools with confirmed access to aquatic facilities
- applicants with additional cash or in-kind support for transportation, facility and instructional staff costs in addition to the Lifesaving Society grant
In reviewing applications, the Lifesaving Society will evaluate:
- community support including volunteer time, contributions from other organizations, cash or in-kind support from corporate sponsors or individual donors
- grant-per-student ratio. Because the Society aims to deliver survival training to as many students as possible, the grant-per-student becomes an important factor in maximizing the impact of the available funds.
- ability to provide proof of insurance coverage for participants during transportation and during in-water lessons
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When may I apply?
The Lifesaving Society will accept applications one time per year. We will confirm approval in writing within six weeks of receipt of the applications and post the names of successful applicants on our website.
Application Deadline: June 30, 2024
Notification Deadline: TBD
To access an online application, send full details including name, contact email, address of the school, school board, or pool that would like to apply to Janina Branscombe (see contact information at the end of this page).
When is grant money paid?
The Lifesaving Society releases grant funds only after completion of the Swim to Survive+ Program and once the Society has received the required final reports: Listed below are the reports that are required for reimbursement:
- Results completed for each school that participated in the program.
- Submission of reimbursement including final costs and program sponsorship.
The Society also looks for completion of the online surveys from the school teacher(s), participants and their parents.
Approved grants will be revoked if the Grant Reimbursement Report and Results are not received by the Lifesaving Society within the timeline specified in the approval notification letter.
Note: The Society's Swim to Survive Schools Program is supported with public funds and may be audited by the Government of Ontario. All Swim to Survive grant applications are public documents that may be reviewed by auditors of boards of education, municipalities or viewed by media. Parters are encouraged to maintain copies of their documentation.
Questions?
If you have questions about the program or application, email the Lifesaving Society Public Education Coordinator.
(Phone) 416-490-8844
(Fax) 416-490-8766.