Capacity Building Grants

Neighbourhood Small Grants is a program that was started by the Vancouver Foundation, and has now spread throughout British Columbia in collaboration with other Community Foundations and community organizations. It provides up to $500 to individuals or informal groups to do local projects together that focus on building community and making their communities better places to live. The program is based on a simple but powerful idea—that everyone is a valuable member of the community and that we all have something to share.

These grants are meant for groups of people who live in the same community and the projects are meant to take place in the area where they live. Neighbourhood Small Grants are about building community after all!

A group of volunteers who also live in our community decide which applications will get funding and distributes the funds between those projects. They are called the Neighbourhood Grant Committee.

An individual can be a main applicant on one Neighborhood Small Grant application per year.

Lots of different ideas can get funded, with a focus on those that build connections. In the past the program has funded block parties; emergency preparedness workshops; art making projects and art shows; community garden projects; book exchange boxes; music, harvest and lantern festivals; cultural celebrations; sports days; and much more! Preference will be given to new projects or those that have been funded for less than three consecutive years.

• Applicants must live in the participating community they apply to and do the project in that community.
• Projects must be free, accessible and welcoming to all. They may not charge entrance fees request donations, or fundraise for other projects and/or organizations.
• Except for community gardens, projects involving infrastructure building or upgrading or purchasing of large equipment such as computers are not eligible.
• Projects involving therapy and counselling support are not eligible.
• Applicants may not profit financially from the project.
• Registered organizations and businesses are not eligible to apply. These grants are specifically for individuals and small volunteer-based neighbourhood/community groups.
• A portion of the grant money may be used to pay people for services (also called honoraria) to help with the project. An example may be a carpenter or face painter. Total honoraria may not be more than $100 per project.
• Festival-style events are expected to focus on a specific neighbourhood or community with a range of 100 to 300 attendees. Projects that are part of festivals must demonstrate an activity within the event that helps neighbours to develop or strengthen relationships.
• If a project is going to take place on neighbourhood streets or public spaces/parks, applicants will need to follow municipal by-laws and obtain appropriate permits and liability insurance prior to their project start date.

Although organizations cannot apply for these grants, we encourage them to spread the word to the members of their programs! When members of programs at an organization are funded, applicants are encouraged to do their projects outside of regular program activities and to open them up to people not already linked to the program. Staff can provide support and mentorship for a project, but the applicants are encouraged to plan, implement and take leadership in their projects.

Applications will be open on April 1 and the deadline for applying is November 30 providing funding is still available. Retroactive funding is not available, so projects can start once the applicants have been notified that their application has been approved, which will happen 4-6 weeks after an application has been submitted. Project activities can continue longer but grant money must be used by December 31.