The Government of Canada, through a collaboration between Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), has launched a new funding initiative under the 2025–26 Partnering for Impact – Catalyst Grant. This research-focused funding opportunity targets school food programs and aims to ensure that the National School Food Program is grounded in solid evidence and real community needs.
The initiative will support research that addresses key data and knowledge gaps related to school food programming across the country. The overarching goal is to build an evidence-based framework that strengthens the effectiveness of school food programs in improving children’s health, learning outcomes, and access to nutritious meals. This is part of a broader government effort to provide every generation with the necessary support to thrive.
ESDC will provide up to $1 million to support research teams that co-produce studies on the impact of school food programs across Canada. CIHR will contribute an additional $300,000, specifically to fund research focused on Northern communities. Grants of up to $150,000 per project will be awarded for a one-year period. These research teams will work to identify critical gaps in school food data, examine the impacts on children’s health and well-being—especially those facing systemic barriers—and analyze how programs are implemented and governed across jurisdictions.
Applications for the grants will be accepted until October 23, 2025, and successful applicants are expected to be announced by spring 2026. Interested parties can find application details on the CIHR’s ResearchNet platform.
Leaders from both departments emphasized the importance of evidence-based approaches. Secretary of State for Children and Youth, Anna Gainey, stated that informed decision-making will ensure lasting impact, while CIHR President Dr. Paul Hébert highlighted the value of partnerships in advancing meaningful research in this field.
This initiative aligns with the Government of Canada’s broader $1 billion investment over five years in the National School Food Program, which has already secured bilateral agreements with all provinces and territories as of March 2025. The program is jointly managed by ESDC, Indigenous Services Canada, and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.
The CIHR, as part of the federal Health Portfolio, is contributing its expertise through several of its institutes and strategic research centers to support this effort. The new funding opportunity is expected to strengthen school food policy by fostering collaboration among researchers, communities, and policymakers.
