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
  • BC Rehab: The intent of the BC Rehab Project Grant program is to create opportunities for the full participation of people with physical disabilities. BC Rehab is committed to equal opportunities and improving community accessibility throughout the province. Next application deadline: August 23, 2019.  http://www.bcrehab.com/content/project-grant-programs
  • Government of Canada Social Development Partnerships Program - Disability: Funds projects intended to improve the participation and increase the social inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society. Next application deadline: October 31, 2019. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/...
  • Vancity Shared Success Program: Supports social justice and finical inclusion; the environment; organizations working with marginalized people. Applications accepted throughout the year. www.vancity.com/AboutVancity/InvestingInCommunities/Grants/

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 TBD. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/new-hori...
  • Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Age-friendly Communities: The Age-friendly Communities program assists communities in BC to support aging populations by developing and implementing policies and plans, undertaking projects that enable seniors to age in place and facilitating the creation of age-friendly communities. Next application deadline: 2020 TBD. https://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/lgps/age-friendly-communities.html
  • United Way Community Based Seniors Services Grants: These grants provide funding to community-based seniors services programs which provide exceptional quality-of-life benefits to seniors. The goal of the grants is to help seniors to remain active and engaged in their communities. Next application deadline: January 2020. https://www.uwlm.ca/what-we-do/healthyaging/

Children and Youth

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...
  • The BC Rural Dividend is providing funds to assist rural communities with a population of 25,000 or less to reinvigorate and diversify their local economies. Next application deadline: August 15, 2019. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/economic-developm...
  • 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-...
  • 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....
  • 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
  • Real Estate Foundation of BC: Funds non-profit organizations connected to fresh water, sustainable food systems and well-planned built environments. Next application deadline: September 5, 2019. www.refbc.com/grants/
  • Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) FireSmart Community Funding: This is a provincial program intended to reduce the risk and impact of wildfire to communities in BC through community funding, supports and priority fuel management activities on provincial Crown land. Next application deadline: October 18, 2019. https://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/lgps/community-resiliency-investment...
  • UBCM Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF): Funding programs intended to enhance the resiliency of local governments, First Nations and communities in responding to emergencies. Addresses the following areas: structural flood mitigation projects, fire department training, Indigenous cultural safety and cultural humility training, flood risk assessment, evacuation route mapping, and other emergency service preparedness. Ongoing operational costs are not eligible. The maximum eligible funding is $750,000. Next application deadline (Structural Flood Mitigation): October 25, 2019. 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/

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 Fall 2019. 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 May 7, 2019. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry...
  • BC Ministry of Agriculture Hazelnut Renewal Program: Funding to remove infected trees to mitigate the spread of Eastern Filbert Blight and to incentivize the planting of new disease-resistant hazelnut trees in British Columbia. Extended application deadline: August 31, 2019. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs...
  • 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-...
  • Community Gaming Grants: Funds existing programs in: arts and culture, sport, environment, public safety, human and social services, or parent advisory councils. Next application deadline: August 31, 2019. http://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/grants/community-gaming.htm
  • 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...
  • 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
  • Real Estate Foundation of BC: Funds non-profit organizations connected to fresh water, sustainable food systems and well-planned built environments. Next application deadline: September 5, 2019. www.refbc.com/grants/
  • TD Bank Friends of the Environment Foundation: Supports activities associated with the environment, with a primary focus on environmental education and green space programs. Next application deadline: September, 2019. https://www.td.com/corporate-responsibility/fef-grant.jsp?tdtab=2

Food Security
  • City of Vancouvver 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 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
  • Real Estate Foundation of BC: Funds non-profit organizations connected to fresh water, sustainable food systems and well-planned built environments. Next application deadline: September 5, 2019. www.refbc.com/grants/ 

Mental Health and Well-being
  • Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Pan-Canadian Suicide Prevention Service: Funding to support the implementation and sustainability of a pan-Canadian suicide prevention service that will provide people in Canada with access to 24/7/365 bilingual crisis support from trained responders via voice, text or chat capabilities. This initiative will leverage and build on existing services and experiences of partners dedicated to suicide prevention. Next application deadline: September 5, 2019. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/funding-opportunities/gr...
  • PHAC Enhanced Surveillance for Chronic Disease Program: Grants and contribution of funding to organizations to enhance their capacity for public health chronic disease and injury surveillance activities. Potential projects would explore the use of new technologies, tools and/or approaches to collect, use and/or disseminate data for public health action. Next application deadline: September 25, 2019. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/funding-opportunities/gr...
  • PHAC Supporting Pathways to Care for People Who Use Drugs: Funding for projects that catalyze system-level change to enhance pathways to care for people who use drugs. Next application deadline: August 30, 2019. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/funding-opportunities/gr...

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 Fall 2019. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environment...
  • 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 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 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/
  • Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Community to Community Forum: The goal of a Regional C2C Forum is increased understanding and improved overall relations between First Nations and local governments. Forum events are intended to provide a time and place for dialogue to build on opportunities, support reconciliation efforts, resolve issues of common responsibility, interest or concern, and/or to advance tangible outcomes. Next application deadline: September 13, 2019. https://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/lgps/community-to-community-forum.html
  • UBCM Indigenous Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training: This funding stream is to support eligible applicants to provide emergency management personnel with cultural safety and humility training in order to more effectively partner with and provide assistance to Indigenous communities during times of emergency. Next application deadline: December 13, 2019. https://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/lgps/community-emergency-preparednes...

Physical Activity and Recreation

Other 

Grantwriting Resources
  • 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...