Do you have a great idea to bring your community together? Grants of up to $500 are now available through the Comox Valley Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program. Applications are open from March 2 to April 9, 2026 at cvcfoundation.org/nsg.

The NSG program—co-funded by the Vancouver Island NSG Network and the Comox Valley Community Foundation—supports small, community member-led projects that foster connection, engagement, and inclusivity.

“Even the smallest ideas can create meaningful change,” says Community Foundation Executive Director Jolean Finnerty. “From craft nights and seed exchanges to neighbourhood parties, art activities, and emergency preparedness demos—these are just some of the past projects that have helped bring neighbours in the Comox Valley closer together.”

Neighbourhood Small Grants help spark creativity and strengthen connections across the Comox Valley. Some past project examples include:

• Sharing the arts – Hosting an accessible choir in the community.
• Celebrating Indigenous culture – Craft nights and traditional food harvesting.
• Intergenerational learning – Youth teaching seniors how to use tablets.
• Growing and eating local food – Mushroom harvesting workshops and community gardening.
• Youth-led initiatives – Senior interviews, reading buddy programs, and care packages.

All NSG projects must be free, inclusive, and open to the community. Funded projects can take place between April and December, but applications close Thursday, April 9, 2026. The process is simple, and no grant-writing experience is needed.

Ready to bring your idea to life?
Visit cvcfoundation.org/nsg to learn more and apply.

Comox Valley Community Foundation is excited to announce that 25 projects have been funded through this year’s Neighbourhood Small Grants program. The projects, which will take place throughout the Comox Valley, share a total of $8,750 with grants ranging from $240 to $500.

The Neighbourhood Small Grants program is based on a simple but powerful idea – when people feel a sense of connection and belonging in their neighbourhood, they are more likely to be engaged in activities that make it a better place to live. The program is funded by the Vancouver Foundation and administered locally through the Comox Valley Community Foundation. It supports residents of any age, experience, or background to take part in community building.

“For years, Neighbourhood Small Grants have helped strengthen connections among neighbours across the Comox Valley,” said Jolean Finnerty, the Foundation’s Executive Director. “We’re always impressed by the imagination and enthusiasm that project leaders bring forward. These small grants spark meaningful change and leave a lasting impact in our communities.”

A diverse range of projects will take place in 2025, including a community celebration on Denman Island, a puzzle library in Black Creek, neighborhood gatherings throughout Courtenay, Comox, and Cumberland, gardening workshops, new parent gatherings and much more.

To view the full list of projects or learn how you can apply next spring, visit https://cvcfoundation.org/.

The Comox Valley Community Foundation has granted more than $7 million to over 175 local non-profits and 250 students in the form of grants and scholarships over the past 25 years. As a funder, we support all not for profit and charitable organizations in our community so that they may respond to the pressing and ever-changing needs and priorities of our community.

2025 Neighbourhood Small Grants Projects

Looking for event details?

These grassroots projects are independently organized and typically hosted within neighbourhood circles. Some events may be open to the public, and we’ll share details on social media when available.

Comox Valley Community Foundation is excited to announce that 30 projects have been funded through this year’s Neighbourhood Small Grants program. The projects, which will take place throughout the Comox Valley, share a total of $8,620 with grants ranging from $200 to $500.

The Neighbourhood Small Grants program is based on a simple but powerful idea – when people feel a sense of connection and belonging in their neighbourhood, they are more likely to be engaged in activities that make it a better place to live. The program is funded by the Vancouver Foundation and administered locally through the Comox Valley Community Foundation. It supports residents of any age, experience, or background to take part in community building.

“Neighbourhood Small Grants have been uniting neighbours throughout the Comox Valley for many years” said Jolean Finnerty, Executive Director of the Foundation. “We are delighted by the ideas and creativity that project leaders bring. The grants may be small, but the results continue to make a big impact.”

A diverse range of projects will take place in 2024, including a community celebration on Denman Island, neighborhood gatherings throughout Courtenay, Comox, and Cumberland, fibre arts workshops, mural painting, emergency preparedness program, and much more.

The 30 projects, which will take place throughout the Comox Valley,
share a total of $8,620

To learn how you can apply next spring, visit the Neighbourhood Small Grants section on our website here.

Comox Valley Community Foundation Launches 2024 Neighbourhood Small Grants

Do you have a great idea for your community? Grants of up to $500 are available now for people to lead a project in their neighbourhood through Comox Valley’s Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program. The online application located here will be open from March 1 to April 15 through the Comox Valley Community Foundation.

The Neighbourhood Small Grants program, which is co-funded locally by the Vancouver Island NSG Network and Comox Valley Community Foundation, is designed to engage and connect people at the neighbourhood level by supporting activities that lead to stronger connections.

“Small projects can have a big impact in our community,” explains Community Foundation President Christine Helpard. “Butterfly highways”, seed swaps, family movie nights, art workshops, community BBQs, and emergency planning demonstrations are just a few examples of last year’s projects that brought together community members right in their own neighbourhoods.”

Neighbourhood Small Grants are designed to kickstart our community’s imagination and create better, stronger connections, right here in the Comox Valley. Inspiration from past projects are available online https://neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca/stories/ as well as a few examples listed below:

• Sharing the arts – Bringing an accessible choir to the neighbourhood.
• Celebrating Indigenous culture and language – Craft night, harvesting traditional foods.
• Sharing of skills and knowledge across generations – Youth teaching seniors to use iPads/tablets.
• Growing and eating local food – Mushroom harvesting; community garden work bees; composting projects.
• Youth-led projects – Youth interviewing seniors; reading buddy program; care packages for seniors.
• Environment – Courtenay Climate Action Mural.

Neighbourhood Small Grants projects must be free, accessible, and welcoming for all. Projects may take place from April until December, but the application deadline is Monday, April 15, 2024.

Ready to get started? Visit https://cvcfoundation.org/nsg to learn what you can do and how to apply.

The Comox Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) is pleased to announce that 24 projects were funded through the 2023 Neighborhood Small Grants (NSG) program.

The 24 NSG projects will share a total of $6,926, with grants ranging from $100 to $500 per project. Projects will take place throughout the Comox Valley, from Union Bay to Kitty Coleman.

Neighbourhood Small Grants is a grassroots granting program funded by Vancouver Foundation and administered locally through CVCF. The program is based on a simple but powerful idea – when people feel a sense of connection and belonging in their neighbourhood, they are more likely to be engaged in activities that make it a better place to live.

“We were thrilled to see the NSG program continue to go from strength to strength in the Comox Valley,” said Christine Helpard, CVCF’s President. “We reviewed 18 projects from new applicants and 11 projects from returning applicants which is the most applications we’ve ever received.”

This year CVCF funded 8 block party events. Block parties remain the cornerstone of the NSG program as they offer neighbours the opportunity to connect and share a meal, helping to foster connection within neighborhoods. This year, NSG-funded block parties will take place in Cumberland, Courtenay, Comox, Little River and Kitty Coleman.

Other funded projects include two murals, pollinator pathways, lending libraries, seed libraries, a seed swap, an art and poetry workshop, a tie-dye workshop, two emergency preparedness neighbourhood workshops, and cinema nights in Cumberland. NSG projects are open to all, so watch for promotion of the projects in your neighbourhood. The next opportunity to apply for a Neighbourhood Small Grant will be in Spring 2024.

“An NSG Project Leader in Cumberland brought the community together to create a 3D mural in 2022.”

Neighbourhood Small Grants are small-scale, community-based grants designed to kickstart our community’s imagination and create connection within neighbourhoods.

The Comox Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) is excited to announce that applications for Neighbourhood Small Grants are now being accepted. Up to $500 is available to individuals or groups to undertake local projects that focus on connection and on making our communities better places to live. Projects may take place anytime from April until December, but the deadline to apply is Thursday, April 20, 2023.

“We are delighted to continue to support the Neighbourhood Small Grants program in the Comox Valley,” said Christine Helpard, CVCF’s President. “A total of 19 projects were funded in 2022, ranging from block parties to pollinator pathways, and we hope to see this program continue to have tremendous impact at the neighbourhood level.”

Neighbourhood Small Grants are designed to kickstart our community’s imagination and create connection within neighbourhoods. Additional examples of past projects include:

• Sharing the arts – e.g. neighbourhood musician’s event/jam session in the park; art workshop
• Celebration of Indigenous culture and language – e.g. craft night, harvesting traditional foods
• Sharing of skills and knowledge across generations – e.g. youth teaching seniors to use iPad/tablets
• Growing and eating local food – e.g. mushroom growing/harvesting; community garden work bees; composting projects
• Youth-led projects – e.g. youth interviewing seniors; reading buddy program; care packages for seniors
• Diversity and Inclusion – e.g. hosting a 2SLGBTQIA+ event; spring BBQ for your townhouse complex with all residents invited; moms and toddlers’ event

Neighbourhood Small Grants projects must be free, accessible, and welcoming for all. Check out stories from past grant recipients to get inspired: https://neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca/stories/.

The Comox Valley Community Foundation is pleased to announce that a total of 19 projects have been funded through the 2022 Neighborhood Small Grants (NSG) program.

The NSG program is based on a simple but powerful idea – when people feel a sense of connection and belonging in their neighbourhood, they are more likely to be engaged in activities that make it a better place to live.

“We were delighted to see a strong desire to reconnect in our community,” said Christine Helpard, CVCF’s President. “For the past two years, the NSG program has been connecting people virtually and in small groups. This year, it was all about the block parties and bringing neighbours together.”

Block parties are the cornerstone of the NSG program in many communities as they offer neighbours the opportunity to connect and share a meal. These events help to foster connection within neighborhoods.

Other funded projects include a 3D mural in Cumberland, two seed libraries in Comox, two Neighourbood Emergency Preparedness events in Courtenay and a workshop for older adults on how to prepare for a heat wave. The next opportunity to apply for a Neighbourhood Small Grant will be in Spring 2023.

Puntledge Pollinator’s Butterfly Way project helped neighbours create pollinator friendly gardens.

Comox Valley Community Foundation Launches 2022 Neighbourhood Small Grants

The Comox Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) is pleased to announce that the Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program will be accepting applications from individuals in the Comox Valley until Wednesday April 20, 2022. The NSG program offers small grants of up to $500 for community-based projects to help connect neighbours while following all public health guidelines.

In a change from 2021, this year’s program will only have one application period. Projects can take place anytime from April until December, but applications must be received before April 20.

“We are working hard to get the word out that this year, if you want to run a project in the fall or winter, you need to apply now,” said Christine Helpard, CVCF’s President. “A total of 38 projects were funded through two rounds of applications in 2021 and we hope to continue to see this program grow.”

Neighbourhood Small Grants are designed to kickstart our community’s imagination and create connection within neighbourhoods. Projects could be, but are not limited to:

• Sharing the arts
  • Example: Neighbourhood musician’s event/jam session in the park; art workshop
• Celebration of Indigenous culture and language
  • Example: Indigenous cultural event (e.g., craft night, harvesting traditional food, etc.)
• Sharing of skills and knowledge across generations
  • Example: Youth teaching seniors to use iPad/tablets
• Growing and eating local food
  • Example: Mushroom growing/harvesting; community garden work bees; composting projects
• Youth-led projects
  • Example: Youth journaling project (e.g., interviewing seniors); reading buddy program (youth reading to young children and/or to seniors)
• Diversity and Inclusion
  • Example: Host a 2SLGBTQIA+ event (e.g., Pride event); Parking lot BBQ for your townhouse complex with all residents invited; moms and toddlers’ event

Neighbourhood Small Grants projects must be free, accessible, and welcoming for all. Check out stories from past grant recipients to get inspired: https://neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca/stories/.

Detailed information regarding Neighbourhood Small Grants as well as the link to the application is available on the Foundation’s website: https://cvcfoundation.org/nsg.

CVCF Announces Neighbourhood Small Grants Recipients

 The Comox Valley Community Foundation is pleased to announce that a total of 18 projects were recently funded through the Neighborhood Small Grants (NSG) program.

NSG is based on a simple but powerful idea: when people feel a sense of connection and belonging in their neighbourhood, they are more likely to be engaged in activities that make it a better place to live and when people are active in the life of their neighbourhood, our community is strengthened from the ground up. Fall 2021 marked the third time the NSG program was offered in the Comox Valley and the community response was outstanding.

“We continue to be amazed and delighted by the community’s response to the NSG program,” said Christine Helpard, CVCF’s President. “It’s a testament to the community we live in – so many people are initiating creative projects to engage with their neighbours and are ultimately making the Comox Valley a stronger and more connected community.”

The following projects received funding:

Since 1996, CVCF has awarded more than $4.2 million to over 170 local non-profits and 230 students in the form of grants and scholarships. These dollars have supported children and youth, seniors, the environment, arts and culture, adults with diverse abilities, and our community’s most vulnerable residents. For further information, please visit www.cvcfoundation.org or call 250-338-8444.