Other Funding Opportunities

Finding and securing funding that is relevant to the needs of your local government can be challenging. In order to better assist you in developing your Healthy Communities 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! Currently, this list is focused on grants available to local governments, but also includes grants for non-profit organizations, schools and other community-focused projects. Click on the "Other" tab for a list of community foundations around BC who may be working in your area. 

Deadlines in April 2021

  • BC Safe Restart Funding - Strengthening Communities' Services: $100 million is being delivered through the Strengthening Communities’ Services Program, which aims to support unsheltered homeless populations and address related community impacts through an application-based program. Local governments and Treaty First Nations are eligible. Next application deadline: April 16, 2021.

Accessibility and Equity

Age-friendly
  • Check back soon or email grants@planh.ca if you know of a grant opportunity not on this list!

Arts and Culture
  • BC Arts Council Expanded Arts & Culture Resilience Supplement: a one-time funding program for B.C. arts and culture organizations facing financial impacts due to COVID-19. Application deadline: January 29, 2021.
  • Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF): Federal grants available to support the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
  • Little Dog Creative Consulting: Provides monthly blog posts on the latest grants and resources available to all disciplines, with an emphasis on arts and culture opportunities.
  • Northern Development Cultural Infrastructure Program: Supports creation or improvement of arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation spaces. Improves the access to, and quality of, professional arts and cultural facilities for residents and tourists alike. Applications accepted on a quartly basis. Next application deadline: February 12, 2021.

Children and Youth
  • Canada Post Signature Grant: Up to three $50,000 grants for national organizations that deliver programs or support to children and youth. Applications open in March 2021.
  • KidSport™: Provides assistance to help children participate in local activities. Local chapters have different opportunities and deadlines for applications.
  • McCreary Youth Action Grants: The YAGs were created to provide BC youth (ages 12-19) from school districts that participated in the 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey the opportunity to deliver a project which aims to improve youth health in their school or community. Special consideration is given to applications within Northern Health area. Applications accepted throughout the year.
  • President's Choice Community Fund: Grants of up to $5,000 to community groups working in healthy school food. Applications accepted throughout the year.
  • Royal Bank of Canada: Grant programs in areas including sports, mental health, and art. One-time donations for registered non-profits are available, as well as sponsorship of other existing programs. Applications accepted throughout the year.
  • SickKids Foundation: Community Conference Grants: Up to $5,000. This program brings together families with researchers and clinicians for medical presentations and family-oriented discussions. It helps ensure knowledge exchange with families so that they are able to access the most up-to-date information about their children's health. Three application deadlines each fiscal year: May 31, September 30 and January 31.

Chronic Disease Prevention

Community Development, Infrastructure 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.
  • Canada Post Community-based Support Projects: Up to $25,000 for projects that increase the capacity of an organization. Such projects create or expand services rather than maintaining existing services. Applications open March 2021.
  • 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.
  • Canada Healthy Communities Initiative: $5,000 to $250,000 for projects that transform public spaces in response to COVID-19, including creating safe and vibrant spaces, improving mobility options, and creating digital solutions. Application deadline: February 9, 2021 - March 9, 2021 at 5:00 PM PST.
  • 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.
  • Community Gaming Grants: Supports direct services to broader community. Throughout the year, supports arts and culture, sport, PACs, public safety, environment, and human and social services.
  • Community Living BC Emergency Advance Funding: Available to service providers responding to COVID-19. Updated as of May 6, 2020.
  • 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. Next application deadline: March 15, 2021.
  • Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) COVID-19 Community Response Fund for Vulnerable Populations: Funding available directly to cities and municipalities for COVID-19 response aimed at supporting vulnerable populations. $10 million available nationally. Apply immediately via the link in the grant name.
  • Government of Canada Universal Broadband Fund: The federal Universal Broadband Fund supports broadband infrastructure projects bringing high-speed Internet to rural and remote households in areas that lack service of at least 50/10 Mbps. Next application deadline: February 15, 2021.
  • Hamber Foundation: Funds charities and educational institutions in BC making grants available for arts, athletics, health care and medicine, education, youth groups, and welfare. Application deadlines are March 15 and September 15 annually.
  • 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.
  • Integrated Cadastral Information Society: Funding available ($1,000) to improve the accuracy of submitted address data, towards having accurate information for utilities, parcel delivery, first responders etc. Applications accepted throughout the year.
  • Infrastructure Planning Grant Program: The BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing offers grants up to $10,000 to help local government plan, design and manage sustainable infrastructure. Next application deadline: January 13, 2021.
  • 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 intended for community use. Applications accepted throughout the year.
  • McConnell Foundation: Engages Canadians in building a more innovative, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient society, with a goal of funding projects resulting in systems change. Funding available to federally registered charities and municipalities. Applications accepted throughout the year.
  • Max Bell Foundation Project and Development Grants: Support for projects with potential to inform public policy in the areas of Health & Wellness, Environment and Education. Applications accepted throughout the year.
  • Municipal Natural Asset Initiative (MNAI): MNAI is pursuing several funding opportunities that would subsidize multiple local governments across Canada to develop their natural asset inventories starting Fall 2020. Expressions of Interest can be mailed to  INFO.MNAI@GMAIL.COM after filling out the form linked in the grant name.
  • Northern Development Community Foundation Matching Grant Program: Provides all municipalities or regional district electoral areas with funding to assist with the establishment of a dedicated endowment within a registered community foundation. Applications accepted on a quartly basis. Next application deadline: February 12, 2021.
  • Northern Development Community Places Program: Supports the creation, restoration or enhancement of community spaces that will improve amenities and enhance overall quality of life. Projects must be community oriented and accessible to all members of the community (not limited to a private membership). Applications accepted on a quartly basis. Next application deadline: February 12, 2021.
  • Northern Development Initiative Trust Connecting British Columbia: Funds are available to help internet service providers and regional and local governments connect people in rural and Indigenous communities with high-speed internet. Deadlines depend on funding stream, outlined below:
  • Province of BC Small Community Grants: Unconditional grants for municipalities to assist them in providing basic services. Available to municipalities with populations up to approximately 19,000. Applications accepted throughout the year.
  • Province of BC Poverty Reduction Planning & Action Program: Round two of this fundign stream is now open to continue supporting TogetherBC, the province's poverty reduction strategy. Support is available through UBCM and Tamarack's Cities Reducing Poverty team. Interested communities should reach out to jill@tamarackcommunity.ca to discuss your application. Next upcoming deadline: March 5, 2021.
  • Vancity: Supports social justice and financial inclusion, the environment, and organizations working with marginalized people. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
  • 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.
  • UBCM Emergency Operations Centre Funding: The intent of this funding stream is to support 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 26, 2021.
  • UBCM FireSmart Economic Recovery Fund: This fund supports immediate job creation in order to build local wildfire resiliency and assist communities in recovering from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Next upcoming deadline: March 19, 2021.

COVID-19 Support

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, 2020.
  • BC Hydro Community and Energy Efficiency Plan support: May fund up to 50% of creation of Community Energy Efficiency Plan for communities to plan for long-term energy efficiency. Apply for the QuickStart program throughout the year.
  • BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP): Local governments 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.
  • Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative: The Fund will help to create jobs and support coastal communities as they recover from the COVID-19 economic downturn and loss of tourism. The Fund also supports BC’s work on addressing marine debris, as recommended in the 2020 What We Heard on Marine Debris in BC report, and the 2019 CleanBC Plastics Action Plan. Next application deadline: February 15, 2021.
  • 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.
  • 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. Fund opens May 15, 2020.
  • Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Sustainable Affordable Housing: Funding available towards retrofitting existing affordable housing units or constructing new energy efficient builds to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 
  • Habitat Conservation Trust Fund: Enhancement & Restoration grants are available to anyone who has a good idea that benefits fish, wildlife and habitat in British Columbia. Next application opens Fall 2021.
  • Max Bell Foundation Project and Development Grants: Support for projects with potential to inform public policy in the areas of Health & Wellness, Environment and Education. Applications accepted throughout the year.
  • 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 the year.
  • 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.
  • Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) Water Conservation and Quality Improvement (WCQI): Applicants that meet the program criteria can receive between $3,000 and $30,000 for projects which occur within the Okanagan Basin. Next application deadline: February 26, 2021.
  • Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC) Community Grant Program: A project that uses BC recycled rubber and is fully public and wheelchair accessible. Projects include but are not limited to, pour in place or rubber tile surfacing for playgrounds, water parks or fitness areas, walkways, running tracks, or playing fields. Next application deadline: March 31, 2021.

Food Security and Agriculture

Mental Health and Well-being
  • Max Bell Foundation Project and Development Grants: Support for projects with potential to inform public policy in the areas of Health & Wellness, Environment and Education. Applications accepted throughout the year.
  • Telus Friendly Future Foundation - Community Grants: One-time regional grants of up to $20,000 for innovative local public health and technology programs. Due to COVID-19, funding focused on critically important community-based health programs, including mental health and well-being programs, supporting at-risk populations. Multiple deadlines throughout the year.

Health Research
  • Collaboration for Health Research in Northern BC: Enables researchers and knowledge users at PHSA, NH and UNBC to work in partnership and initiate new research projects that focus on improving the quality of health services and improving population health in northern BC.
  • Fraser Health: Several grant streams that provide funding for initial startup research or for research that addresses one of Fraser Health's strategic priorities and supports the development of new collaborations and partnerships.
  • Telus Friendly Future Foundation - National and Provincial Grants: Grants from $20,000 - $200,000 for single and multi-year programs that focus on public health and technology for vulnerable populations. Application deadlines: May 1, 2021 and September 1, 2021.
  • Telus Friendly Future Foundation - Community Grants: One-time regional grants of up to $20,000 for innovative local public health and technology programs. Due to COVID-19, funding focused on critically important community-based health programs, including mental health and well-being programs, supporting at-risk populations. Multiple deadlines throughout the year.

Housing
  • BC Housing Community Housing Fund: BC Housing is accepting proposals for new affordable housing projected for the second intake of this fund. This is an RFP process which will remain open via BC Bid until January 2021.
  • BC Safe Restart Funding - Strengthening Communities' Services: $100 million is being delivered through the Strengthening Communities’ Services Program, which aims to support unsheltered homeless populations and address related community impacts through an application-based program. Local governments and Treaty First Nations are eligible. Next application deadline: April 16, 2021.
  • 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.

Indigenous Communities
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Food Waste Reduction Challenge: National competition supporting development of concepts for reducing/diverting food waste which can be fast-tracked and quickly scaled up. While aimed particularly at developing business models, the Challenge is open to groups of individuals including Indigenous communities. Next application deadline: January 18, 2021.
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Indigenous Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative: The objective of this initiative is to build Indigenous People's capacity to participate in the agriculture sector; funding to multi-projects is possible, and projects will not normally exceed $500,000 per project. Project must benefit and take place in an Indigenous community. Proposals will be accepted until September 30, 2022.
  • BC Ministry of Agriculture Indigenous Agriculture Development Fund: Provides 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 open May 2020 // DELAYED.
  • Coast Funds: Variety of economic development and conservation funds for First Nations communities around B.C. Visit the overall info page via the link in the grant name and scroll down for updated opportunities.
  • Community Foundations of Canada Indigenous People's Resilience Fund: The Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund (IPRF) is an Indigenous-led effort to respond to urgent community needs while taking a long-term view on building community resilience. It is governmed by an Indigenous Advisory Council that approves governance and decisions. Any Indigenous-led organization or Indigenous-serving organization working to foster resilience in Inuit, Metis and First Nations communities anywhere in Canada can apply for resiliency funds ranging from $5,000 to $30,000. As of July 10, 2020, applications are open and ongoing.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Indigenous Climate Health Action Program: ICHAP funds climate action projects that are community driven and focus on health and wellness outcomes. ICHAP funding is available up to $100,000 per year per project, but a higher amount will be considefor larger sub-regional partnerships. Some examples of focus areas are: Food security and food sovereignty, access to the land, mental health, traditional medicine, traditional harvesting and water quality and quantity. Projects of any duration lasting until March 31, 2022 are being considered.
  • 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.
  • First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Winter Wellness Grants: Funding to support community-led, collaborative virtual celebrations in honour of Winter Solstice. These celebrations are intended to promote culture, resilience and community while maintaining physical distancing. Grants are up to $1,000 each. Application deadline: February 15, 2021.
  • 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.
  • First Nations Well Being Fund: Funding to First Nations and Tribal Councils to support projects related to community well-being and poverty reduction. Offered through two streams: community projects and planning. Application deadline: May 30, 2021.
  • Indigenous Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada): Supporting Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs to launch agriculture and food systems projects. Proposals accepted until September 30, 2022. Interested applicants should contact iafsi-isaaa@canada.ca prior to applying.
  • Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (ISPARC) Equipment Grant: Funding available for equipment to run physical activity and/or sport programming. Grant applications can range for requests from $500 up to $3,000. Application extended until February 5, 2021 at 5 pm.
  • Swift Foundation: Grants directly supporting Indigenous communities are available at different times of the year, particularly around ecosystem and enviornmental justice work. Applications invited quarterly.
  • 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.
  • Vancity Community Sustainability Initiatives enviroFund: Supports initiatives that are local, encourage behaviour change, and respond to a need in your community. First Nations and Indigenous governments are elegible. Must be within Vancity's operating area.

Physical Activity and Recreation
  • BC Ferries Sport Experience: Ferry vouchers for eligible sports organizations. Application must be received 12 days before travel date.
  • 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.
  • ICBC Community Grants: These grants cover projects supporting road safety and injury recover. Call for applications open January each year.
  • Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (ISPARC) Equipment Grant: Funding available for equipment to run physical activity and/or sport programming. Grant applications can range for requests from $500 up to $3,000. Application extended until February 5, 2021 at 5 pm.
  • KidSport™: Provides assistance to help children participate in local activities. Local chapters have different opportunities and deadlines for applications.
  • ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge: Micro-grants between $250 - $1,000 to support community organizations delivering essential physical activity programming and helping stimulate safe re-engagement. Applications accepted from January 25 – February 26, 2021.

Other

Grant Writing 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 1 of each year and no later than January 31 of the year applied for.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.