Project themes

All projects supported through the fund have to fit into one of our four themes and include an active educational component:

Supporting steelworker families

We want to help Steelworker families learn about the union and the struggles of working people here and around the world and support members with family responsibilities so they can participate more fully in union activities.

The fund could support activities such as:

  • Providing child care for members while attending union events.
  • Camps for kids with a union or social-justice focus.
  • Pre-retirement planning courses for members and spouses.
  • Cross-district exchanges to learn a second language and more about our union.

Promoting USW in the community

USW has a long history of being active in the communities where we live and work. We want to continue the tradition of sponsoring community events and working in solidarity with community groups to advance equality throughout the country.

The fund could support activities such as:

  • Building partnerships with community groups that advocate for unemployed workers, injured workers, workers newly arrived from other countries and so on.
  • Courses for community members on topics ranging from first aid to local history.
  • Community activities that build support for striking or locked-out workers or for bargaining campaigns.

Supporting and engaging young activists

The USW understands the crucial importance of identifying and supporting young activists within our union.

The fund could support activities such as:

  • NextGen programming at the district and national levels.
  • “Union advantage” presentations in high schools to promote the benefits of joining a union and of working safely.

Supporting and engaging new activists

We want to grow our union by engaging new activists from within our current membership, including new hires or long-time members with more free time now that their children are older. Engaging and mentoring new activists is one way to broaden and diversify our staff and leadership.

The fund could support activities such as:

  • Projects led by a local union women’s committee or human rights committee.
  • Mentorship programs or support for additional activities as part of existing mentorship programs.
  • Scholarships for first-time attendance at a union course, conference or other union event.

An advisory committee, made up of members and staff appointed by the Canadian directors, is responsible for reviewing the state of the Fund, as well as approving and evaluating projects.

Adding an education component

Get reimbursed for family care costs like child care incurred while attending authorized union events.

Learn More & Download the Form

Project ideas

Not sure where to start? Check out sample project ideas and helpful information for making your project a great event.

explore project ideas

Helpful tips & documents

Use these resources to help you write your application, make a budget and report on your project.

  • Reach out before you start – chat with the Fund Coordinator or the Education Coordinator in your district before you begin to confirm your project idea meets the Fund’s themes and has an educational component
  • Speak with leadership – discuss your project idea with your local union leadership and/or servicing staff representative to gain application support
  • Involve your target audience – make sure your proposal is of interest to who you’re developing it for by speaking to your target audience before beginning your application, e.g. speak with members with teenagers before you start planning a USW teen event
  • Create your educational component – projects must have an educational element that engages your participants actively and is not just handing out pamphlets, e.g. an activity-based workshop
  • Make time – give yourself time to come up with your idea, get buy-in from colleagues, and draft your proposal well before the application deadline/your event
  • Show ‘fit’ – clearly connect your proposal to at least one of the Fund’s themes, e.g. “This project supports Steelworker families because it X, Y, Z”
  • Show ‘why’ – be obvious about why your proposal idea is important to show reviewers its significance, e.g. “We want to do this union orientation workshop because we want more new and young members of our local getting involved in union issues and developing a sense of shared ownership of our local”
  • Ask for help – the Fund Coordinator or Education Coordinator in your district can assist you with all things Fund-related just as your colleagues can assist with coming up with project ideas and drafting applications
  • It may be helpful for your planning to create a more detailed budget as you plan your project. If so, this budget template may help you. The first two lines are example entries:
    Item Description Period Cost
    Member book-offs 16 members X $36/hr X 2 hrs1x/week for 3 weeks January 2025 $1152.00 X 3= $3456.00
    Crayons 50 packs for youth participants Labour Day 2025 $3.19 X 50= $159.50
    Total:
  • Download our sample application

Sample application

Applications for FCEF funding don’t have to be long! Download this sample application to see a strong – and short – project submission.

Download the Sample Application

Request this file in a different format

Apply for funding