CAPACOA: Presenters Capacity Building Program

Deadline: September 18, 2026

Program Summary:

Since its creation in 2013, the PCBP has supported 159 projects, 94 of these coming from CAPACOA members.

Professional development is key to helping presenters improve their audience outreach efforts, build capacity and manage change. In order to help best support those efforts, RIDEAU and CAPACOA are pleased to announce the renewal of the: Presenters Capacity Building Program (PCBP), a funding program that provides the presenting community with access to better professional development tools.

Program Objectives:

• Promote the sharing of expertise within networks
• Provide support to presenting organizations for targeted capacity building projects, professional development and change management
• Contribute to the professionalization of the presenting sector
• Help presenting organizations achieve their goals more effectively
• Assist in managing contextual changes (e.g. demographic, technological, financial)
• Encourage the exploration of various organizational structures and the implementation of new management practices.

Program Description:

The program gives presenting organizations access to resource persons who can build capacity. It is divided into three components::

1. Organizational consultation – Organizations can apply for funds to hire consultants or specialists to assist them in capacity building research and planning activities. This may take the form of coaching. This component can be done online or in person, depending on the recommendations.
2. Mentoring – Organizations can apply for funds to enroll their managers in a mentorship with a presenting organization manager. It is recommended, if possible, that the mentorship is to be conducted within the mentor’s organization.
3. Professional development – Organizations can submit an application to attend professional development workshops or seminars directly related to the organization’s specific capacity building needs. This is primarily intended for senior officials of presenting organizations. These training sessions can also be done online.

Priority will be given to projects that can demonstrate their impact on the community and audiences.

Organizations can also submit joint applications in collaboration with others (two or more). Presenter support organizations (presenting networks) are eligible as part of a collaboration in partnership with presenting organizations. Each applicant in a joint application must be a member of CAPACOA and/or RIDEAU.

Eligible Projects:

Components I and II:

You may apply for assistance for research, planning or professional development activities, or for a mentorship, relating to one of the following fields:

• Diagnosis, strategic planning
• Administration, management
• Governance
• Show presentation
• Crisis management
• Human resources
• Digital discoverability development and analysis
• Marketing
• Audience development
• Cultural mediation
• Leadership
• New management practices
• Social media strategy
• Communications

Planning activities are eligible, but not their implementation.

Component III:

Organizations can submit an application under this component for representatives to attend professional development workshops or seminars in Canada or abroad – in person or online.

College and university courses at all levels, workshops at annual general meetings of associations, or at events and festivals, are not eligible.

Grant Amount:

The maximum grant amounts under each component are as follows:

Component I:
Consultant’s fees and travel expenses*: $10,000
Joint application: Consultant’s fees and travel expenses*: $15,000
*If travel is necessary, a maximum of $2000 may be redirected from consultant/specialist fees into travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses for individual application, and $5000 for a joint application.

Component II:
$3,500

Component III:
$2,500

The grant awarded may be less than the total amount initially applied for by the organization.

Eligible Applicants:

In order to be eligible, your presenting organization must be a member of RIDEAU or CAPACOA for 2 years (ie: the current membership year and the membership year prior).

Organizations that received financial assistance under the 2025-2026 Presenters Capacity Building Program are not eligible.

Criteria Specific to Each Component:

Component I:

Joint applications from several presenting organizations or professionals are eligible.

Component II:

Eligibility for assistance requires that trainees meet the following additional criteria:

• Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
• Be performing management duties within an eligible organization at the time of the application.

Component III:

Organizations may apply under this component for assistance to enable their representatives to attend professional development workshops or seminars in Canada or abroad – in person or online.

Regular college and university courses (all levels), workshops held at association annual general meetings, or at other events or festivals are not eligible.