Community Partners

Are you a member of a community or not‑for‑profit organization looking to develop and access new research insights or address emerging issues in Canada or abroad? Are you interested in building networks?

Do you wish to work hand‑in‑hand with researchers and students to help generate benefits for communities and society at large?

SSHRC has a long history of facilitating innovative national and international partnerships that connect community partners and post‑secondary institution researchers with common goals on key social challenges. Whether you have participated in such a partnership before or are interested in learning more about potential opportunities to engage with researchers, this information will help get you started.

Research collaboration through SSHRC Partnerships gives you the opportunity to share your expertise while accessing other areas of knowledge, skills and talent to benefit all members of your partnership.

Social sciences and humanities researchers bring important insights on people—our cultures, how we behave and what influences our decision‑making. SSHRC Partnerships offer a chance to work jointly with researchers and with other public, private and not‑for‑profit partners to share and gain knowledge while creating new networks and synergies.

Partnerships in Action

Still video image of David Newhouse and Tricia McGuire‑Adams

David Newhouse &
Tricia McGuire‑Adams


How it Works

  1. In thinking about your core challenges, consider the research questions and/or gaps in talent needs. Ensure that your research meets SSHRC’s subject matter eligibility criteria.
  2. Decide if your organization would like to participate in a partnership application spearheaded by another partner organization or postsecondary institution or, serve as host organization and lead the project. Note: All grants awarded by SSHRC must be administered by an eligible Canadian institution, and your partnership must include at least one postsecondary institution to be eligible.
  3. Find the partners and participants best suited to the needs of your partnership. Explore your own contacts, SSHRC’s awards search engine or connect with university and college research offices to seek out suitable academic researchers for your team.
  4. Meet with researchers to discuss the potential partnership.
  5. Work with your team members and partners to develop and submit a grant application. The application must be submitted on behalf of the partnership by a “project director.” All grants awarded by SSHRC must be administered by an eligible Canadian institution, and the project director must be affiliated with this institution.
  6. After a competitive review process, your partnership may be awarded a grant. See Funding for complete funding opportunity descriptions and upcoming application deadlines.

At any time, contact SSHRC for more information on partnership funding opportunities including Partnership Development Grants and Partnership Grants.


Read the tips in the Partnerships Tool-Kit.