The goal of CRFC is to provide the not-for-profit community broadcasting sector with the resources needed to continue providing local programming and community access, as well as for the development and enrichment of this vital component of the Canadian broadcasting system. It will assist community broadcasting to reach its full potential as a well-resourced, independent, diverse, vibrant, and accessible Canadian media sector.

Support from the CRFC will focus on areas that are both essential and often difficult to fund from other sources. The fund will ensure that support for the sector is well-targeted, used efficiently, and delivered in a cost effective manner. Applications for funding will be judged on a combination of individual need and merit. The needs of community radio stations will change over time; what follows are examples of current needs.

1. Sustainability and Capacity-Building: Skills and knowledge central to the ability of community radio stations to effectively serve their local communities

• Station staff education, and assistance to stations in crisis, in areas of core competency including governance, management, programming, volunteer support, community relations, technical infrastructure, and development.
• Assistance to national community radio associations to provide key support services and resources to local stations.
• Development of community radio in areas underserved by existing media, particularly rural areas.

2. Local Community News and Access: Local news, public affairs, arts, and community access and outreach programming, including training and production.

• Support for production of local news and community affairs programs, and assistance to community news production staff at the local level.
• Assistance to stations to digitize and distribute spoken word and news programming to other with campus and community radio stations.

3. Community Music and Expression: Programming and projects that highlight and promote local and emerging music and musicians of all genres, and community expression of all types.

• Support to stations for local artist outreach, music acquisition, and music libraries.
• Assistance to stations to record, digitize, and distribute recordings from local artists to other with campus and community radio stations.
• Support for programming focusing on local music, including live events, and sharing of this programming with other community radio stations.

4. Emerging Distribution Technologies: Planning and implementation of systems to support new program delivery technologies, including digital, satellite, Internet, and wireless network distribution.

• Study of digital distribution techniques appropriate for community radio content.
• Support for essential station computer technology and connectivity.