PME MTL - Fonds de développement de l'économie sociale (FDÉS)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Supports social economy projects in Montréal, from the planning stage to growth, with a focus on innovative projects that explore new sectors or approaches.
Eligibility Requirements
- Social economy enterprise or non-profit organization headquartered in Montréal
- Self-generated revenue from goods or services must represent at least 20% of annual income
- Applicant must invest at least 20% of total project cost from own resources
- Project must advance social economy objectives or explore new sectors/approaches
- Must be based on the island of Montréal
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $5,000 - $50,000
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Municipal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 80% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win PME MTL - Fonds de développement de l'écon... — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 9 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 9-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 6-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for this program? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe innovation requirement ('explore new sectors or new approaches') is the sharpest filter — projects that replicate existing social services without a distinctive angle are routinely declined. Lead with what is genuinely new: a new market, a new population served, or a new delivery model. Also, confirm your 20% earned-revenue threshold before applying; organizations primarily funded by donations that have not yet built market-facing revenue are ineligible. Book an advisor meeting at your local PME MTL hub first — they can flag eligibility gaps and connect you to Chantier, Filaction, or RISQ if FDÉS is not the right fit yet.
Rejection Pitfalls 9
- Self-generated revenue below 20% of annual income
- Project insufficiently innovative — replicates existing services without new approach or sector
- Self-investment below 20% of total project cost
Success Profile
A cooperative or NPO with a hybrid revenue model (at least 20% from goods/services sales), headquartered in Montréal, proposing an innovative social economy project in a new sector or with a new approach. Strong board of directors with sector expertise. Community support documented. Project creates or maintains at least one Montreal job.
Evaluation Criteria
CIC evaluates: innovation level (new sector or new approach — the sharpest filter), 20% earned-revenue threshold compliance, 20% self-financing capacity, employment creation or maintenance, project viability and organizational capacity, board of directors experience, and community support documentation.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 9
Eligible Expenses 6
- Technology, software, and patent acquisitions
- Working capital for project execution
- Professional fees (legal, accounting, consulting directly related to project)
- Capital expenditures (land, buildings, equipment)
- Incorporation costs for new social economy entities
- Project management and coordination costs
Ineligible Expenses 6
- Charitable or purely donation-funded projects with no commercial activity
- Organizations with self-generated revenue below 20% of annual income
- Projects replicating existing services without innovation
- Expenses incurred before CIC approval
- Operating deficit coverage or retroactive expenses
- Projects primarily serving areas outside Montreal Island
Intake Periods
Rolling — applications accepted year-round. CIC meets periodically (typically monthly) at each hub. Submission timing relative to the next CIC meeting determines wait time.
Deadline Notes
Rolling intake with no deadline. Applications reviewed by the joint investment committee (CIC) at each Montreal territorial hub on a periodic basis (typically monthly). Contact your local PME MTL hub to confirm the next CIC date.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- For-profit businesses
- Pure charities with no commercial activity (revenue from goods/services below 20%)
- Organizations headquartered outside Montreal Island
- Organizations that advocate for religion or a political party
- Organizations with outstanding financial obligations to public funders
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium Riskmedium — Clawback provisions standard in PME MTL funding agreements. Risk triggers include: non-delivery of employment commitments, relocation outside Montreal, use of funds for ineligible expenses, or failure to maintain minimum earned-revenue ratio post-award.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about PME MTL - Fonds de développement de l'écon...