Apply for funding to recruit and retain healthcare professionals: OHPR Community Fund

The Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment (OHPR) Community Fund provides funding to help communities recruit, welcome and retain healthcare professionals. You can apply until 16 July 2026.

Apply for funding from the OHPR Community Fund to support community-led recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.

You need to use the funding for community projects like:

planning, recruitment and retention efforts of healthcare professionals
helping reduce social and cultural barriers that may impact recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals
creating a welcoming environment for healthcare professionals

Priority is given to projects that:

address social and cultural needs of healthcare workers
include community orientation and settlement support (like making it easier for new healthcare workers to find housing, transportation, schooling, childcare and community connection)
support communities with the greatest need for recruitment of Internationally educated Healthcare Professionals (IEHPs)

Sign up for an online information session to learn more about the OHPR Community Fund. Information sessions are 16 June 2026 and 22 June 2026 from 10am to 11am. Contact [email protected] to sign up.

Funding amount

The OHPR Community Fund may fund up to $25,000 of eligible costs for each organization’s projects. The applicant or other sources need to fund the remaining balance of the projects.

Ineligible project costs

Ineligible project costs include:

recruitment incentives and bonuses
construction or maintenance of facilities
debts incurred outside the project agreement start and end date
excessive travel accommodations (outside Nova Scotia) and hospitality requests (like luxury services)
excessive administrative costs (should not exceed 15% of the total request for funding)
rental accommodations (including hotel rooms)
furniture
gifts (including gift cards) and swag (like pens, t-shirts, hats and mugs)
staff salaries

Reporting requirements

If you receive funding from the OHPR Community Fund, you need to submit financial and progress reporting throughout the project. You also need to submit a Final Project Report and a Statement of Funding Expenditures within 60 days of completing the project and confirm that you met the project outcomes.

The final reporting process needs to include project metrics to measure success, impacts of the project and the value that project outcomes create from the perspective of your community partners.

Eligibility

Non-profits, municipalities and other community organizations can apply for funding.

Organizations should demonstrate some of the following:

they have support from other funding sources
they complement or add value to existing healthcare recruitment and retention work
they have an established relationship with community partners
equity groups have led or been engaged and included in the creation of the application
current collaboration with healthcare recruitment authorities (for example, Nova Scotia Health Authority Recruitment or Health Association of Nova Scotia) that align with ongoing recruitment efforts

Ineligible groups

Organizations that are ineligible for funding (and can’t apply) include:

public and private schools or colleges
organizations located outside of Nova Scotia
businesses, industry associations and sole proprietorships
individuals
non-profits and community organizations that are not registered with Registry of Joint Stock Companies

You need to apply for funding by 16 July 2026. Expenses are not eligible for funding if you paid for them before the project was approved.

How to apply

Review detailed program criteria in the OHPR Community Fund Guidelines.
Review roles, responsibilities, payment conditions and communication requirements in the OHPR Community Fund Appendix.
Contact the OHPR Community Fund to discuss your project idea and confirm your eligibility.
Complete the Budget Template and funding application.
Check the application for details on all required supporting documents.
Send your completed application and supporting documents by email or mail.

How long it takes

It should take 6 to 8 weeks for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment to review your funding application and let you know if it is approved. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your application has not been filled in correctly. It can also take longer if the project is complex.

Cost

There is no cost to apply.

Before you start

Make sure you:

review program criteria in the OHPR Community Fund Guidelines
review roles, responsibilities, payment conditions and communication requirements in the OHPR Community Fund Appendix
complete the Budget Form
have a cover letter that describes your organization and your goals
have a project proposal
have a financial statement for the organization’s previous fiscal year