There is a continued and ongoing demand for VAC funding from organizations to support initiatives targeting Veterans and their families well-being. Prior to the creation of the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund, the department had no formal mechanisms in place to provide this financial support to organizations seeking funds in support of research or innovative services aimed at supporting the health and well-being of Veterans and their families. Annual application levels have been relatively steady, with the department receiving 98 to 155 applications annually over four years. To date, VAC has been able to award funding to10% of requests for assistance. The need for funding is expected to continue, with approximately 90% of funded projects delivered through not-for-profit organizations.
Each year there is a continued effort to approve project applications relating to a diverse array of topics and multiple Veteran sub-populations (e.g., mental health, homelessness and Indigenous Veterans). In addition to funding diverse projects, the Fund strives to employ a GBA+ lens when providing funding to organizations by taking into account factors such as geography and language.
The program aligns at a high level with the government’s desire to support projects that make a difference in the well-being of Veterans and their families. The objectives and eligibilities of the Fund are broad, providing flexibility and inclusivity for projects and applicants. This breadth also provides some challenges in assessing a wide variety of project scopes and sizes, and in interpreting the intent of the Fund. In addition, the interpretation of eligible expenses relating to operating expenditures could be addressing a need, while leading away from the original intent of the Fund, and creating reliance on funding in some instances.
The Fund has a Performance Information Profile in place with outcomes identified. Information in support of the performance indicators and outputs is being reported to some extent. The evaluation team identifies that there are opportunities to enhance the Fund’s performance measurement reporting, through internal reporting efficiencies and documentation as well as working with applicants/recipients to further develop project outcomes and the level of supporting information captured on file.
Overall, there was a relatively small number of completed funding projects available for review during the evaluation scope. With a limited number of projects considered completed, and the Fund having only completed four application rounds, there is limited information available to make broad statements regarding the success of the Fund. The Fund has continually spent its full budget allotment, has had significant uptake in applications, provides positive visibility to the department as well as an opportunity to support Veteran projects/organizations.
In response to findings from the 2021 VAC audit, the Fund has made adjustments to enhance the rigour of the application assessment process and monitoring of ongoing projects. As the Fund continues to grow and evolve, there are additional areas to consider enhancing in terms of guidance documents, internal reporting and project reporting protocols.
The core level funding for the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund is $3 million dollars. The Fund has only operated one year within its core funding, and each year afterwards has been temporarily supplemented with funds from within the department or through Budget 2021 ($15 million from 2021-22 through 2023-24). The Fund has continually spent the full budget allotment each year, and committed funds to future budgets. How the Fund plans to address future demand is unclear, with no specific funding plans following the end of the temporary Budget 2021 funding in 2023-24.
The evaluation team makes the following recommendations based on the findings from the evaluation:
Recommendation #1
It is recommended that the Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance determine if changes are needed to the intent and objectives of the Fund to align with its evolution and departmental priorities. Where appropriate, take the necessary steps to:
- Modify the stated objectives of the Fund; and
- Seek opportunities to increase core funding levels and/or staffing complement to address the Fund objectives and maintain the cumulative workload.
Management Response: Veterans Affairs Canada agrees with the recommendation.
| Action and rationale | Expected completion/Implementation date | ADM accountable for action |
|---|---|---|
| The Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund was originally established with the intent to fill a gap in supporting innovation and research in Veteran health and well-being. There have now been a number of application rounds, providing an additional baseline of information relating to the types of projects funded, as well as the needs from organizations focusing on Veteran and family well-being. In an effort to ensure continued alignment with departmental priorities and needs, VAC will assess if modifications to the intent and the objectives of the Fund are required, and take any subsequent steps to seek necessary approvals to modify program documents and associated resource requests. | June 30, 2024 | Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance |
Recommendation #2:
It is recommended that the Director General Policy and Research share guidance with funding applicants/recipients regarding:
- the development of measurable project outcomes; and
- suggested information that would be beneficial to support progress towards achieving project outcomes.
Management Response: Veterans Affairs Canada agrees with the recommendation.
| Action and rationale | Expected completion/Implementation date | ADM accountable for action |
|---|---|---|
| The Policy and Research Division (PRD) has begun a review of the current Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund (VFWF) application form and is identifying options to incorporate an additional project management component in the upcoming 2023-24 funding cycle. To ensure applicants have sufficient project planning guidance to develop measurable project outcomes, VAC will include a more structured project planning section in the application as well as an enhanced application guide to support the application. The applicant guide will expand on project planning components including project objectives, activities, planned outcomes, and outcome measures. PRD will also provide VFWF staff with project support tools to ensure recipients are equipped to measure and achieve intended project outcomes. | November 1, 2023 | Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance |
Recommendation #3:
It is recommended that the Director General Policy and Research enhance Fund data tracking with the intention to maximize internal reporting efficiencies, and support performance measurement and program decision making.
Management Response: Veterans Affairs Canada agrees with the recommendation.
| Action and rationale | Expected completion/Implementation date | ADM accountable for action |
|---|---|---|
| Since its inception in 2018, the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund has made continuous improvements to application assessment processes and project reporting requirements. As the Fund continues to mature, VAC will place additional focus on enhancing the Fund’s internal reporting capacity to ensure that the necessary information is available to support performance measurement, internal reporting requirements, and program decision making. | January 31, 2024 | Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance |