The 2024 Neighbourhood Small Grants Program is now closed.
Supporting you where you live.
Neighbourhood Small Grants are small-scale, community-based grants designed to kickstart our community’s imagination and create connection within neighbourhoods. Neighbourhood Small Grants projects must be free, accessible, and welcoming for all. Check out stories from past grant recipients to get inspired.
Up to $500 is available to individuals or groups to undertake local projects that focus on connection and on making their communities better places to live.
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Who Can Apply?
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. Projects can be carried out by individuals and/or family members from the same household or in collaboration with a neighbour virtually.
You may apply on behalf of an informal group (for example, a meet up or shared interest group). You may not apply on behalf of a business or registered organization.
Eligibility & Requirements
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. Projects can be carried out by individuals and/or family members from the same household or in collaboration with a neighbour virtually.
You may apply on behalf of an informal group (for example, a meet up or shared interest group). You may not apply on behalf of a business or registered organization.
Local Stories & Project Ideas
Here are a few examples of some projects undertaken by different neighbourhood’s on Vancouver Island:
Project Ideas
Projects could be, but are not limited to:
Sharing the arts
Examples: Neighbourhood musician’s event/jam session in the park; art workshop
Celebration of Indigenous culture and language
Examples: Indigenous cultural event (e.g. craft night, harvesting traditional food, etc.)
Sharing of skills and knowledge across generations
Examples: Youth teaching seniors to use iPad/tablets
Growing and eating local food
Examples: Mushroom growing/harvesting, community garden work bees, composting projects
Youth-led projects
Examples: Youth journaling project (e.g. interviewing seniors); reading buddy program (youth reading to young children and/or to seniors)
Diversity and Inclusion
Examples: 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 Principles:
Everyone has gifts
Anyone can offer their ideas, talents, skills, experiences and contacts to build a strong community
Small is powerful
Small amounts of money have a potential to bring powerful changes in community in forms of new relationships, increased self-confidence, leadership development, stronger sense of place and creation of local traditions
Local decisions are best
Community members from diverse backgrounds and experiences get an opportunity to make decisions on who should get the grants in their community
Where we live matters
The grants enable anyone to team up with their neighbour and come up with a project that they can carry out within an area of where they live and based on what they think works best in their community
We learn together
There is no single right way to build community so anyone involved in the program will have many opportunities to learn, share, reflect, exchange and capture knowledge, skills and information that they can use within and beyond the program
Everyone is invited
The program is accessible and inclusive to anyone living in an NSG area no matter their age, ethnicity, income, cultural background, gender, ability and sexual orientation
Frequently Asked Questions:
What can I use the grant money for?
You may apply for up to $500 for any Neighbourhood Small Grant program. You can use the grant to offset any expenses that were needed for the project. This includes products, transportation, or services. You may ask for up to $350 to provide honourariums to anyone who contributes skills or knowledge to your project—including yourself. You may not fundraise for other projects and/or organizations.
What kind of materials can be included in care packages?
Dry goods including canned food items, healthy snacks, toiletries, water bottles, grocery cards can be included into care packages. Food can be distributed ONLY if it’s prepared at a ‘food safe’ kitchen where at least one person has Food Safe training. If fresh fruits or veggies are included in a package, it’s important that there is an accompanying note to properly wash fresh foods before consumption.
What is the grant amount limit on Neighbourhood Small Grants?
Grant requests for NSG projects are expected to be under $500. However, applications that offer unique and creative ways of meeting the NSG purposes may be considered for additional funding.
What kind of expenses are covered?
The goal of the grant is to contribute to expenses associated with your project such as canned goods, art and craft supplies, gift cards, Zoom or Skype subscriptions and honourariums or other items as necessary.
Are organizations or businesses eligible to apply for Neighbourhood Small Grants?
Registered charity organizations and businesses are not eligible to apply.Â
How are the decisions made about who gets funding?
A group of volunteers who also live in our community decide which applications are funded and how the available funds are distributed.
How many grants can you apply for each year?
An individual can be a main applicant on one Neighbourhood Small Grant application per year.
What are the other guidelines for projects?
- 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.
When can projects start?
Projects can start once the applicants have been notified that their application has been approved, which will happen 2-4 weeks after the deadline for applications.
Ready to Apply?
How to Apply?
You can apply online at www.neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca. Applications are available in various languages. If you need help with your application, please contact our office today.
