Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund

30 June 2010: Please note that as the funds available for 2010 have all been allocated, the Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund cannot accept new requests until January 2011.
Existing commitments will be honoured.

Thank you for your understanding.


Rio Tinto Alcan believes that a successful business strategy includes investing in the development of the communities where we live and work; helping them become vibrant, livable, prosperous, safe and sustainable.

Through the Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund, Rio Tinto is committed to providing support for community-building initiatives which integrate environmental, economic and social considerations, and which meet the needs of the present while safeguarding our legacy for future generations.  We are looking for projects that demonstrate innovation, collaboration, new learning, and inclusion.  We want to fund ideas that have the potential for measurable progress toward local sustainability.  We want to help make a difference for today and for the future.

Our priorities are projects whose primary purpose is to:

• Advance sustainable development through education, awareness, training, research and practice as a catalyst for change

• Encourage environmental stewardship, and reduce waste and pollution through recycling and other conservation strategies

• Promote the health and safety of the community through the development of innovative programs or services that benefit its population

• Contribute to the quality of life of our host communities in the areas of arts and culture, education, health, sports (except professional sports organizations), environment, and social capacity.

Criteria
All proposals for donations or sponsorships are evaluated according to the degree to which they meet some or all of the following criteria:

• Project addresses one or more of the priority areas selected by the Fund: Sustainable development, environmental stewardship, health and safety of the community and the quality of life of our host communities.

• Project demonstrates important, clear and measurable benefits to the community.

• Project promotes a sustainable approach or has clear environmental benefits.

• Project involves multiple partners in planning or doing the work, including financial contributions, in-kind project support and/or technical expertise.

• Project includes broad involvement or benefits reflecting the diversity of the community.

• Organization demonstrates that it has the mandate, reputation and track record, quality of management and overall resources required to realize the project.

• Organization demonstrates financial accountability and strong financial management skills.

Deadlines
• Deadlines are driven by the quarterly Grants Committee meetings which are scheduled twice a year, usually in June and December.

• Requests must be received one month prior to each meeting to be considered. Requests received less than one month prior to a Grants Committee meeting will be considered for the following review session.

Size and duration of grants
• At the end of any project or agreement of more than two years and $100,000, a hiatus of up to five years will normally be required before a request for additional funding for similar purposes will be considered.

• A typical single year grant will range from $10,000 to $75,000.

Review process
All requests are directed to our staff for review.  If, as a result of that review, the Fund concludes that there is no prospect of support, we will notify you.

• Requests $25,000 and under: review process can take four to six weeks.

• Requests over $25,000: process can take twelve to sixteen weeks. Review may include a meeting, site visit and/or community references.  Final proposals will then be forwarded to the Rio Tinto Alcan Fund Grants Committee for review and may be presented to the Board of Directors for final decision.

What we don't fund
• Projects outside of Canada

• Individuals, other than applicants for Rio Tinto Alcan scholarships

• Religious organizations

• Organizations or programs that make distinctions with respect to race, religious belief, gender or sexual orientation

• Educational institutions that are not part of the Canadian Association of Independent Schools or the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

• Political or governmental organizations

• Activities or attempts to influence specific legislation

• Website development or production of videos or films except where related to a funded project

• Professional sports organizations

• Professional associations or business conferences.
 
Additional exclusions for charitable donations
• In the case of a request for donation, we will only consider funding for organizations that are registered with the government as a charitable organization or as a not-for-profit institution.

How to apply
As the funds available for 2010 have all been allocated, the Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund cannot accept new requests until January 2011. 
Thank you for your understanding.

Main supported programmes
• Rio Tinto Alcan Research Fellowship Programme

• Rio Tinto Alcan Matching Gift Programme (a programme for Rio Tinto Alcan employees and retirees only)

• Grand défi Pierre Lavoie

• Chantal Petitclerc

For inquiries, please contact: fondsrtacanadafund@riotinto.com