Federal figures show that working-age Canadians with disabilities are employed at a rate of about 68 percent, compared with 78 percent for those without disabilities. Part of that gap is built into our buildings: a front step with no ramp, a washroom no one in a wheelchair can use, a meeting room with no hearing loop. The Enabling Accessibility Fund exists to pay for fixing exactly those things, and since 2007 it has funded more than 8,100 projects across Canada. Yet many community organizations only hear about it after a call for proposals has already closed.
This guide explains how the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) works, the difference between its project streams, what it will and will not pay for, and how to be ready when the next call opens.
What the Enabling Accessibility Fund Pays For
The EAF is run by Employment and Social Development Canada. It funds projects that make communities and workplaces more accessible for persons with disabilities, so they can take part in community programs and services and find or keep employment. In practice, funded work falls into three categories:
- Construction, renovation and retrofits, such as ramps, automatic door openers, accessible washrooms, widened doorways, elevators and lifts, and accessible parking and pathways.
- Accessible equipment and devices that serve multiple people, such as adjustable workstations or assistive listening systems.
- Information and communication technology that helps persons with disabilities access programs and services or gain and keep employment.
The underlying test is benefit: the improvement must remove a real barrier for persons with disabilities in a space where they work, could work, or access programs and services.
The EAF Streams: Small Projects vs. Mid-Sized Projects
The EAF does not run the same call every year. Different components open in different years, and the size, focus and rules change between them. The two you are most likely to encounter:
| Small projects component | Mid-sized projects (2026 call) | |
|---|---|---|
| Funding | Up to $125,000 per project (most recent call) | $500,000 to $1,000,000 per project |
| Duration | Up to 2 years | Up to 24 months |
| Focus | Workplace accessibility and community accessibility streams | Workplace accessibility, plus projects in Indigenous workplaces and communities |
| Most recent call | Closed in July 2024 | January 16 to March 16, 2026 |
Small projects
The small projects component is the one most community nonprofits use. In its most recent call it offered up to $125,000 per project and had two streams. The workplace accessibility stream funded improvements in facilities where persons with disabilities work or could work in the future. The community accessibility stream funded improvements in community spaces where persons with disabilities access programs or services, which is the natural fit for a community hall, a sport club's clubhouse or a drop-in centre. Only one application was accepted per CRA business number.
Mid-sized projects
The 2026 call was a mid-sized call. It offered $500,000 to $1 million per project for up to 24 months, with a focus on helping persons with disabilities access and maintain employment and on removing barriers in Indigenous workplaces and communities. The government described it as $12 million over three years, with about $2 million set aside for Indigenous projects, and expected to fund roughly 12 to 24 projects. That is a small number of large awards, and very different odds from the small projects stream.
Some past rounds have also included a youth component that invited young people to identify accessibility barriers in their community and partner with an organization to fix them. Whether a given year includes one depends on the call.
Who Can Apply
Recent calls have been open to not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations (some calls set business size limits), Indigenous organizations, and municipal and territorial governments. Each call publishes its own eligibility details, so read the applicant guide for the specific call rather than relying on last round's rules.
The EAF rewards organizations that are ready the day the call opens. Calls are announced with little warning and close within weeks, and the quotes, drawings and landlord letters you need cannot be produced in that time.
How to Prepare Before the Next Call
The timing of the next small projects call has not been announced. Because of that, the smart move is to do the preparation now so you can apply in days rather than weeks. Here is a practical checklist:
- Get an accessibility assessment. A professional audit, or at minimum a documented walk-through with people who have lived experience of disability, identifies which barriers matter most and gives your application credibility.
- Prioritize and scope one project. Pick the improvements that remove the biggest barriers for the most people, and keep the scope inside the funding limit of the stream you expect to target.
- Collect contractor quotes. Detailed written quotes support your budget and show reviewers the numbers are real. Build in a contingency, since construction costs move.
- Confirm property rights. If you lease, get written permission from the landlord for the work and confirm your lease runs long enough to justify the investment.
- Line up partners and letters. Letters from disability organizations, program participants and community partners show the need is real. Our guide on letters of support explains how to get useful ones.
- Set up your portal access. EAF applications go through the Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) portal. Create or update your organization's account now.
- Watch for information sessions. The 2026 call ran virtual information sessions in English and French during the intake. They are worth attending for the questions other applicants ask.
Common Mistakes With EAF Applications
- Starting work early. Costs incurred before a funding agreement is signed are not reimbursed. Do not begin construction on the expectation of approval.
- Vague benefit statements. "This will make our building more accessible" says nothing. Describe who is currently excluded, what they cannot do, and what changes after the project. Our post on demonstrating community need with data applies directly.
- Budget without backup. Numbers that are not supported by quotes invite doubt. See our list of budgeting mistakes that kill grant applications.
- Choosing the wrong stream. A community space project in a workplace-only call, or a $40,000 retrofit pitched into a call designed for $500,000 projects, will not succeed however well written.
A Hypothetical Example
Consider a curling club in a small Saskatchewan town whose lounge and washrooms sit up a flight of stairs. Members who use mobility aids cannot watch games or attend the club's community events. With an accessibility walk-through, two contractor quotes for a platform lift and an accessible washroom, a letter from a local disability association, and confirmation that the town, which owns the building, supports the work, the club is ready to apply the week the next small projects call opens. Pairing an EAF request with provincial or municipal facility funding can cover the rest. We describe how we handle multi-funder projects like this on our how it works page.
Program details change from call to call. Always confirm current guidelines on the funder's website before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding can I get from the Enabling Accessibility Fund?
It depends on the component. The most recent small projects call offered up to $125,000 per project, while the 2026 mid-sized call offered $500,000 to $1,000,000 per project. Amounts are set in each call for proposals.
When is the next Enabling Accessibility Fund call for proposals?
The 2026 mid-sized call ran from January 16 to March 16, 2026. The timing of the next small projects call has not been announced, so watch the Employment and Social Development Canada funding pages and prepare in advance.
Who is eligible for the Enabling Accessibility Fund?
Recent calls have been open to not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations within size limits, Indigenous organizations, and municipal and territorial governments. Each call publishes its own eligibility rules.
Can I start construction before my EAF application is approved?
No. Expenses incurred before a funding agreement is signed are not reimbursed, so wait for an approved agreement before starting work.
If your space has barriers you want to remove, Alpine Grants can help you scope the project, gather the right documents and be ready the moment the next call opens. Book a 10-minute discovery call.