Other Funding Opportunities

Finding and securing funding that is relevant to the needs of your community can be challenging. In order to better assist you in developing your healthy community projects and/or programs, we have compiled a list of funding opportunities that might be worth knowing about, along with guides and resources to support your grant writing activities. Explore and let us know if you hear of other opportunities! Click on the "Other" tab for a list of community foundations around BC who may be working in your area. 

 

Accessibility and Equity

Age Friendly
  • New Horizon for Seniors Program: This federal program provides funding for projects that encourage seniors to play an important role in their communities by volunteering, participating in and leading community activities, as well as organizations to make necessary modifications or repairs to their existing facilities, or to purchase/replace equipment and furnishings to enable programs and activities for seniors. Closed for 2019. Next application deadline: 2020 Summer TBD. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/new-hori...

Children and Youth

Chronic Disease Prevention
  • Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Multi-sectoral Partnerships to Promote Healthy Living and Prevent Chronic Disease: Supports multi-sectoral approaches to addressing coplex social issues suc as childhood obesity and other chronic disease. Letters of Intent currently PAUSED as of January 6, 2020. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/funding-opportunities/mu...

Community Development and Resiliency
  • Bank of Montreal (BMO): Supports capacity building for a wide variety of projects. Giving priorities centre around collaboration, innovation, and learning. Applications accepted throughout the year. http://www.bmo.com/home/about/banking/corporate-responsibility/community...
  • Renewed BC Gas Tax Agreement Community Works Fund (CWF): Available to all local governments through a direct allocation to support a variety of local priorities. CWF is delivered twice annually. https://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/renewed-gas-tax-agreement/community-...
  • Columbia Basin Trust: Provides funding to support efforts of Basin residents to address community challenges and opportunities in the Columbia Basin Trust region. Other local opportunities available on their website. Applications accepted throughout the year. https://ourtrust.org/grants-and-programs-directory/basin-plays-training-...
  • Community Gaming Grants: Supports direct services to broader community. Throughout the yea supports arts and culture, sport, PACs, public safety, environment, and human and social services.  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/gambling-fundraising/g...
  • Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Municipal Asset Management Program: The Municipal Asset Management Program enables municipalities to access the data needed to plan effectively. Note that FCM offers partner grants to non-municipal organizations that help FCM implement programs, create resources, or offer training or information-sharing activities related to asset management. https://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/grants?grantid=774
  • Home Depot Foundation Community Grants: Provides registered Canadian charities with funding for affordable housing and community based improvement projects that benefit Canadians in need. Preference will be given to repair, renovation and/or improvement projects to housing and/or other support facilities (i.e. employment services) for homeless youth given the Foundation’s primary focus on preventing and ending youth homelessness. Applications accepted throughout the year. hhttps://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/corporate-information/our-community/the...
  • Legacy Fund Buildling Communities through Arts and Heritage: Funding available from the Government of Canada to support community-initiated capital project to restore or transform existing buildings and structures intedent for community use. Applications accepted throughout the year. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/building-com...
  • McConnell Foundation: Engages Canadians in building a more innovative, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient society, with a goal of funding projects resulting in sytems change. Funding available to federally registered charities and municipalities. Applications accepted throughout the year. http://mcconnellfoundation.ca/en/granting
  • Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) TogetherBC Poverty Reduction Strategy: The intent of the Poverty Reduction Planning & Action program is to support local governments in reducing poverty at the local level and to support BC's poverty reduction strategy. Next application deadline: February 28, 2020. https://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/grants?grantid=852
  • UBCM Emergency Support Service: The intent of this funding stream is to build local capacity to provide emergency support services through training, volunteer recruitment and retention, and the purchase of equipment. Next application deadine: February 14, 2020. https://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/lgps/community-emergency-preparednes...
  • UBCM Emergency Operations Centres & Training: This program supports the purchase of equipment and supplies required to maintain or improve Emergency Operations Centres (EOC) and to enhance EOC capacity through training and exercises.  The maximum available funding is $25,000. Next application deadline: March 13, 2020. https://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/lgps/community-emergency-preparednes...
  • UBCM Evacuation Route Planning: This is a planning (not construction/capital project) stream to support communities to develop Evacuation Route Plans for communities that would otherwise be challenged to successfully undertake an evacuation operation during an emergency. Next application deadline: April 17, 2020. https://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/lgps/community-emergency-preparednes...
  • Vancity: Supports social justice and finical inclusion; the environment; organizations working with marginalized people. Applications are accepted throughout the year. www.vancity.com/AboutVancity/InvestingInCommunities/Grants/
  • Victoria Foundation Collaboration Grants: If your organiation is working across sectors related to regional change in more than one Vital Signs Issue Area, contact grants@victoriafoundation.bc.ca or 250.381.5532. Funding variable and applications accepted throughout the year. https://victoriafoundation.bc.ca/grants-funding/grants/how-to-apply/ 

Environment
  • Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk: This fund supports Indigenous organizations and communities across Canada in building their ability to participate in the protection and recovery of species at risk, preventing species from becoming a conservation concern, and recovering and protecting important habitat on Indigenous lands and waters.The next calls for proposals will be early 2020. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environment...
  • BC Clean Energy Projects: This document is an overview of funding opportunities for energy efficiency and clean energy projects for Local Governments and First Nations in British Columbia. It is up to date as of November, 2019. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry...
  • BC Hydro Community and Energy Efficiency Plan support: May fund up to 50% of creation of Community Energy Efficiency Plan for communities to to plan for long-term energy efficiency. Apply for the QuickStart program throughout the year: https://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/business/programs/sustainable-communi...
  • BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP): Local government who have already signed the BC Climate Action Charter are eligible for funding equal to 100 percent of the carbon taxes they pay directly to support local government operations. Claims processed throughout the year. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/grants-...
  • Environment Canada Environmental Damages Fund: The EDF provides a mechanism for directing funds received as a result of fines, court orders, and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit our natural environment, following the Polluter Pays Principle. Awards are used to fund projects that focus on environmental restoration, environmental quality improvement, research and development, and education and awareness. Applications accepted throughout the year. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environment...
  • Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program: Grants to help municipalities and partners working on climate change initiatives. Applications accepted throughout the year until 2022. https://fcm.ca/en/programs/municipalities-climate-innovation-program.
  • First Nations Health Authority Our Community, Our Water Grant: To help protect and celebrate the importance of water, particularly drinking water, this funding is for a community water awareness day event. Applications accepted on a rolling basis; the event must take place before March 31, 2020. http://www.fnha.ca/newsContent/Documents/FNHA-Our-Community-Our-Water-Gr...
  • Habitat Conservation Trust Fund: Enhancement & Restoration grants are available to anyone who has who has a good idea that benefits fish, wildlife and habitat in British Columbia. Next application opens Fall 2020. https://hctf.ca/grants/enhancement-grants/#overview
  • Infrastructure Canada’s Funding Program: A variety of funds available for infrastructure to support public transit, clean water, climate innovations, municipal assets, etc. Applications accepted throughout  http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/programs-infc-summary-eng.html
  • Investors Group Community Investment Program: Supports the following: arts and culture; education and youth; environment; health; social services; and amateur sport. Applications accepted throughout the year. http://www.investorsgroup.com/en/who-we-are/in-the-community/requesting-...
  • Mountain Equipment Co-op Community Grants: Administers a number of grants relating to reducing barriers to outdoor activity and teaching responsible outdoor recreation practices and environmental stewardship.
    Next application deadline: September 4, 2019. https://www.mec.ca/en/explore/spring-and-fall-grants

Food Security
  • City of Vancouver Sustainable Food Systems Grant: Funding Vancouver-city based food sustainability projects. 3-year awards. Next application deadline: Fall 2020. https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/sustainable-food-systems-grants.aspx
  • Investment Agrictultural Foundation Bee BC Program: Available to First Nations communities, as well as regional beekeeper organziations; up to $5,000 per project. Next application deadilne: March 20, 2020. https://iafbc.ca/bee-bc/  
  • Investment Agricultural Foundation livestock Waste Tissue Initiative: Funding available for communities to develop have emergency management plans for the disposal of all livestock carcasses in case of an emergency situation, i.e., disease outbreak, in British Columbia. Applications accepted throughout the year. https://iafbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/LWTI-guide.pdf

Mental Health and Well-being
  • Community Action Initiative Service Innovation Grants: CAI grants are open for application to support the implementation of a proposed service innovation project from a successful CAI convening grant. Next application deadline: December 2019. Funding ranges from $15,000 to $50,000 per community. https://communityactioninitiative.ca/grants-training/funded-projects/ser...

Health Research

Housing
  • Home Depot Foundation: Provides Community Grants to registered Canadian charities with funding for affordable housing and community based improvement projects that benefit Canadians in need and encourage hands-on service through volunteer engagement. https://corporate.homedepot.com/community/home-depot-foundation-grants
  • UBCM: The Housing Needs Reports program supports local governments in undertaking housing needs reports in order to meet provincial requirements. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing (MMAH) has confirmed $5 million over three years for this program; total funding request for each regional project cannot exceed $150,000. All local governments in BC (municipalities, regional districts, and the Islands Trust) are eligible to apply. Next application deadline: November 29, 2019. https://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/lgps/housing-needs-report-program.html

Indigenous Communities
  • Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk: This fund supports Indigenous organizations and communities across Canada in building their ability to participate in the protection and recovery of species at risk, preventing species from becoming a conservation concern, and recovering and protecting important habitat on Indigenous lands and waters. The next calls for proposals will be early 2020. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environment...
  • BC Arts Council Youth Engagement Program: First Nations Governments and Indigenous Friendship/Cultural Centres are eligible for support to take innovative and inspiring approaches to actively engage young people in arts and culture as participants, makers, or audiences. Next application deadline: January 15, 2020. https://www.bcartscouncil.ca/program/youth-engagement-program/
  • BC Ministry of Agriculture Indigenous Agriculture Development Fund: Provides up funding for a Qualified Business Consultant(s) to complete a feasibility assessment of agriculture, agri-food development options, and/or specialized agri-business planning functions. Technical workshops are also eligible. Applications accepted throughout the year. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs...
  • BC Ministry of Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources Community Clean Energy Branch: This guide is a living document with funding opportunities for clean energy projects led by First Nations. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry...
  • BC Government Knowledge Transfer Program: Indigenous governments, communities and groups are eligible for up to $5,000 for events which facilitate knowledge and technical transfer to strategically support B.C.’s foodproducers and processors to innovate and adapt to changing environmental, production, and market conditions. Applications accepted throughout the year. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs...
  • Dreamcatcher Charitable Foundation: Supplies grants to individuals and small groups with a goal of developing youth as future community leaders in the First Nation community through sport and cultural activities. Applications accepted throughout the year. www.dcfund.ca/
  • First Citizens Fund - Friendship Centre program. This funding is to assist with each Friendship Centres’ range of social, recreational and cultural programming delivered to Indigenous people living in urban areas. Up to $20,160 is available for each Friendship Centre to meet these goals. Next funding application deadline will be in 2020. https://bcaafc.com/member-services/provincial-capacity-funding/
  • First Nations Adapt Program: This federal program supports First Nation communities to assess and respond to climate change impacts on community infrastructure and emergency management.  It prioritizes communities most impacted by sea level rise, flooding, forest fires, and winter road failures. Applications are accepted throughout the year. https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1481305681144/1481305709311
  • First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Mental Health and Wellness Fund: Funding supports Nations and aggregations of First Nations to come together to plan, design and deliver a full continuum of culture and strength-based mental health and wellness services, including prevention and early intervention, over two years. Applications accepted throughout the year. http://www.fnha.ca/about/work-with-us/funding-opportunities
  • FNHA Our Community, Our Water Grant: To help protect and celebrate the importance of water, particularly drinking water, in your community, the First Nations Health Authority Drinking Water Safety Program would like to invite First Nations communities in BC to submit a proposal for a community water awareness day event. Applications accepted on a rolling basis; the event must take place before March 31, 2020. http://www.fnha.ca/newsContent/Documents/FNHA-Our-Community-Our-Water-Gr...
  • First Nation-Municipal Collaboration Program: Cando (the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) are partnering to offer the First Nations-Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI). CEDI supports First Nations and adjacent municipalities in the development and implementation of joint community economic development or land use initiatives while building a resilient, sustainable partnership. https://fcm.ca/en/news-media/announcement/call-applications-first-nation...
  • Tale’awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation Business Equity and New Relationship Trust Programs: Funding available to develop Indigenous community and individually owned businesses. Applications accepted throughout the year. http://tacc.ca/funding/

Physical Activity and Recreation
  • BC Ferries Sport Experience: Ferry vouchers for eligible sports organizations. Application must be received 12 days before travel date. https://www.viasport.ca/grant/bc-ferries-sport-experience-program
  • BC Ministry of Transportation Active Transportation Grants: This cost sharing grant program provides funding for network planning (up to $50,000) and infrastructure development (up to $500,000) for communities with preference to Indigenous communities and small population centres. These grants are replacing the BikeBC program. Next application deadline: February 20, 2020. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/funding-engagement-per...
  • BC Sports, Recreation, Arts & Culture ORV Trail Fund: $200,00 total available to develop trails for ATVs, Off-Road Motorcycles, and Snowmobiles. Next application deadline: February 28th, 2020. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/recreation/camping-hik...
  • Columbia Basin Trust: Provides funding for organizations to either host or to send members to an accredited training course to become a certified coach or official or enhance coach or official development. Other local funding opportunities available on their website. Applications accepted throughout the year. https://ourtrust.org/grants-and-programs-directory/basin-plays-training-...
  • KidSport™: Provides assistance to help children participate in local activities. Local chapters have different opportunities and deadlines for applications. http://kidsportcanada.ca/index.php?
  • Northern Health Choose to Move: Funding up to $10,000 is available to local governments and communities in the Northern Health region to deliver Choose to Move programs between 2020-2022. Information webinars will be hosted January 29 and January 30th: https://flex.redcap.ubc.ca/surveys/?s=NMP3HYNFDL
  • ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge: Organizations can register events and programs and apply for a grant between $250 - $1,000 to help them promote physical activity. Communities which log the most Physical Activity minutes are eligible to win title of "Canada's Most Active Community" and further funding. Next application deadline (for Micro-grants) February 28, 2020. https://www.principals.ca/en/opc-resources/resources/Documents/Grant-Pro...
  • Physical Literacy for Communities - BC Initiative: Supporting up to 27 communities to improve the development of physical literacy in British Columbia, which leads to increased physical activity, positively impacting health and well-being. Provides targeted funding of up to $50,000 for two years; see pre-application webinar for more information. Next application deadline: January 31, 2020. http://physicalliteracy.ca/physical-literacy-for-communities-british-col...

Other 

Grantwriting Resources
  • BC Grant Writing Support program: This program provides up to $8,000 in rebate funding annually to support the employment of a locally-based grant writer (cover up to 76% of wages). Applicants should apply for the following year’s funding starting November 1st of each year and no later than January 31st of the year applied for. For more information: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/economic-developm...
  • Greater Victoria Community Funders’ Network Grant Writing Handbook: This Handbook is intended to provide information that you may find useful as you prepare grant applications. There are many other grant and proposal writing tips that could be shared, but the goal in creating this Handbook is to respond to some common questions asked by grant writers and to provide basic examples of application questions, answers, and budgets. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/careers/about-the-bc-public-service/co...
  • First Peoples' Grant Writting Handbook: Information and ‘quick tips’have been compiled to support First Nations Communities in applying for grants. The goal in creating this handbook is to respond to some common questions and to get you started by showing you some basic grant writing examples. http://www.fpcc.ca/files/PDF/grant-writing-handbook.pdf
  • Northern Development Grant Writing Support: The Grant Writing Support program provides annual grant funding to support a grant writing position in a local government or First Nation band within the Trust’s service region https://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/funding-programs/capacity-building...