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Funding Futures
in the Southern Gulf Islands
May 2023| Sustainable Funding Initiative
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The Project Assistance: Arts-Based Community Development program supports organizations to engage professional artists in the development and delivery of projects that provide arts-based community development impacts and benefits to a specified community. Through collaborative, community-based, arts-centred activities, these projects provide a tangible and active understanding of arts and culture as a path to health, well-being, human dignity, and social transformation.

To be eligible to apply, an applicant must:

  • Be a professional or community arts organization working in collaboration with a specified community.
  • The organization must be registered and in good standing as a non-profit society or community service co-op in B.C. for at least one fiscal year prior to application with: a) The majority of key staff (paid or volunteer) and board members based in B.C.; and b) A dedicated arts and culture purpose/mandate; or c) A purpose/mandate to provide services to the arts and culture sector in B.C.
OR
  • Be a community organization whose focus is not arts and culture, working in collaboration with a specified community. The organization must: Be registered and in good standing as a non-profit society or community service co-op in B.C. for at least one fiscal year prior to application with the majority of key staff and members based in B.C.
OR
  • Be an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) community organization or Indigenous government in B.C. that offers dedicated arts and culture activities, and working in collaboration with a specified community.
AND
  • Provide public arts and cultural or community programming in B.C. and have done so for a minimum of one year.
  • Engage competent artistic, curatorial, administrative or project leadership (volunteer or paid).
  • Fairly compensate artists, arts and cultural practitioners, technicians, Elders, and/or Knowledge Keepers. Compensation must align with project and community contexts and industry standards within the field of practice, including adhering to international intellectual property rights standards and cultural ownership protocols.
  • Adhere to the Criminal Records Review Act which requires that people who work with or may have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults must undergo a criminal record check by the Criminal Records Review Program.

This program provides support in two categories:

1. New Work, which:
  • Supports one-time projects that create new artistic work through collaborative, community based arts and cultural activity where professional artist(s) work with a specified community. 
  • Recognizes the long-term commitment required of community-engaged practice by allowing projects with a phased approach over a maximum of three years.
  • New Work projects must be presented publicly.  

2. Skills Development and Knowledge Transfer for A-BCD Practitioners, which:
  • Supports projects where the primary focus is training and skills development for artists to be able to initiate and conduct arts-based community development activities.
  • Creates opportunities for experienced arts-based community development practitioners to demonstrate new ways of knowledge sharing, including training or mentoring artists and social service practitioners in safe and effective approaches to arts-based community development.  
  • Enhances the capacity of artists to provide leadership by offering them an opportunity to develop their practice as a means of community transformation or social change.
  • May or may not be presented publicly, as applicable to the project

Project Amounts: Various, $100,000+

Deadline: May 17, 2023, no later than 11:59 p.m.  
We are looking for feedback on our program. What support does your organization need? What training are you interested in? Which of our services have you found the most useful?

Funding is available to registered charities that offer programming that promotes the well-being of youth and provides them with opportunities to succeed, both today and in the future. Programs must focus on reaching youth experiencing obstacles to reaching their full potential and incorporate the innovative use of technology.

Eligible Applicants

To qualify for funding, your organization must meet the following criteria: 
  • Your organization is a Canada Revenue Agency registered charity with a stated focus on serving youth
  • Your organization has not applied to any TELUS Friendly Future Foundation funding channel in the past calendar year and your organization has not received a grant from any TELUS Friendly Future Foundation funding channel within the past 24 months

Eligible Activities

The 2023 intake of Innovation Grants will focus on two areas of interest:

1. Youth mental health
2. Environmental education or climate action programs for youth

Additional Requirements

Your project must address one of the focus areas and meet the following criteria:
  • Projects must serve children or youth who face obstacles to reaching their full potential. This may include youth from marginalized or under-served communities and members of equity-deserving groups.
  • Requests for support of a new approach, or a significant change to an existing model to improve outcomes. Funds can be used to explore, test or launch innovative ideas or initiatives or to scale a program to serve a new region or audience.
  • We will give priority to projects that use technology in innovative ways to meet the needs of project participants and your community. 
  • Your project must have clearly defined and measurable outcomes, but we understand that when testing or exploring new ways of solving a problem, you may not get it right the first time. 

Funding: Up to $100,000 for a single-year grant or $200,000 for grants that span two years

Deadline: Letter of Intent due June 23, 2023

The Green Communities Canada’s National Mini Forest Pilot will help community-based organizations grow support for green infrastructure and engage citizens in the planning, design, and implementation of local action projects such as mini forests. 

Eligible Applicants: seeking partnerships with local organizations and municipalities
Background on Mini Forests

A mini forest — also known as a micro forest or tiny forest — is a community of native trees and shrubs planted tightly together in an urban or suburban site based on the Miyawaki method. The method emphasizes the use of dense plantings, diverse locally-native species collections, soil preparation, and multilayered design to mimic the complexity of a native forest. This dense planting technique results in taller plants in a shorter time period. 

In 2023, a minimum of 2,800 trees will be planted in five pilot communities. Through our scale up, we aim to plant a minimum of 10,000 trees in 2024.  

Benefits and Outcomes:
  • reduces air pollution and improves air quality
  • increases biodiversity
  • provides necessary habitat for wildlife
  • provides much-needed green spaces for people to enjoy
  • offers mental health benefits
  • helps reduce runoff, prevent flooding and mitigate the urban heat island effect

How to Apply
Prospective partners can fill out the survey or reach out to their Green Infrastructure Manager, Emily Amon eamon@greencommunitiescanada.org for more information about partnership opportunities.
Free Webinar:
Brought to you by Charity Village

Are we on the cusp of an economic downturn? Most economists agree that a recession is imminent. This webinar will discuss how you can prepare your not-for-profit for uncertain times, and even find opportunities to thrive. Learn about planning, tools, and decisions you can make to help weather the storm and come out on top. From cash flow planning and expense reviews, to personnel and strategy setting, we’ll dig into all the areas that need your attention to prepare for and survive the economy ahead.

Thursday, May 25 at 1pm ET / 10am PT (webinar is 1 hour in length)
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The First Nations’ Emergency Services Society (FNESS) has received one-time funding from the Province of BC to provide broad-based emergency management (EM) capacity-building for First Nations in BC for a Community Capacity—Emergency Management Program. 

Eligible Activities 

Funding is available through two streams:

Category 1 funds projects aimed at:
  • improving emergency preparedness, response, disaster risk reduction, or recovery planning capacity.
  • also be used for a variety of equipment, supplies or training (especially for “unmet needs” or funding that is limited or challenging to obtain)
Category 2 is intended to fund:
  • a “staffed position” in emergency management such as an Emergency Program Coordinator
  • applicants are strongly encouraged to develop and implement an “Emergency Program” and strive to align this with other planning processes.
  • It is recognized that some First Nations may not have a fully funded Emergency Program Coordinator or Community Safety Officer position and this funding can help create a full-time position. 

Funding
Category 1: up to $30,000
Category 2: up to $80,000

Deadline: No established deadline
Have you heard about the SGI Neighbourhood House?
Click the link above to find out more!
JOB BOARD

Did you know that the SGI Community Resource Centre has a job board? Post or browse local jobs at the click of a mouse!
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The Community Placemaking Program provides funding for communities to collaboratively reimagine and revitalize public spaces to create more welcoming, respectful, walkable, safe, healthy and engaging public spaces for everyone, focusing on the design and management of these places.

Eligible Applicants: Indigenous communities including Indigenous development corporations, local and regional governments, and not-for-profit organizations.

Eligible Projects:
To qualify for funding, a project must: 
  • Create a new outdoor public amenity/area that contributes to increased business district vitality, visitor attraction and/or resident engagement and quality of life 
  • Demonstrate community collaboration and align with existing assets, strengths and priorities 
  • Be located in, adjacent to, or serve as a gateway to downtown core, main street, business district or commercial area  
  • Support new or increased economic activity in the area in question 
  • “Shovel-ready” initiative/business case with clear and broad public economic benefits beyond any one organization or business 
  • Implement or complement a broader vitality “concept” 
  • Provide the “use case” and/or plan to bring the amenity to life
Eligible costs may include: 
  • Standard capital expenditures 
  • Art installations, interpretive signage, or other capital costs integral to the concept realization
  • Landscaping, beautification elements integral to the concept realization
  • Technology and equipment required for hybrid digital/capital initiatives
  • Construction costs, installation costs or required professional labour  
  • Final design costs and printing costs for interpretive elements (based on existing concept design) 
  • Professional third-party project management costs 
Funding: up to $50,000 

Deadline: Applications are accepted on a continued basis

Community Gaming Grants provide $140 million annually to not-for-profit organizations throughout B.C., to support their delivery of ongoing programs and services that meet the needs of their communities.
 
Eligible Applicants
  • Is not-for-profit (including designated Community Service Cooperatives)
  • Not-for-profit organizations are not required to be provincially or federally incorporated. However, provincially incorporated not-for-profit organizations must be in good standing with the B.C. Registries and Online Services
  • Organization’s primary purpose is to operate for community benefit.
  • Provides programs that benefit the community and not solely its members’ interest.
  • Please see Program Guide for more Organizational Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Projects

1) Sport Organizations within this sector deliver youth and/or amateur sports programs that provide opportunities for all people to participate in organized, competitive physical activities.

Examples of eligible Sport programs may include:

  • Youth sports that focus on building foundational skills or competition, and competitive adult sports (e.g., soccer, swimming, hockey, skating, basketball, baseball, biking, rowing/paddling, sailing, martial arts, skiing, etc.).
  • Special Olympics.
  • Seniors Games.

2) Public Safety

Organizations within this sector deliver programs that enhance and support the safety of the community

Examples of eligible Public Safety programs may include:

  • Volunteer firefighting.
  • Land or marine search and rescue.
  • Amateur emergency radio.
  • Trail and outdoor recreation safety (e.g., hiking, biking or snow trail education and maintenance).
  • Disaster relief and emergency preparedness.
  • Anti-racism programs (e.g., community-based Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network programs).
  • Community crime prevention.
  • Restorative justice initiatives.

Funding Amount
Local organizations: up to $125,000 per year

Deadlines
1) Sport Stream:

  • Apply between March 1 and May 31
  • Notification by September 30

2) Public Safety Stream:
  • Apply between July 1 and August 31
  • Notification by November 30
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Level Up Program
The Government of Canada 
The Government of Canada is offering fully subsidized 80hr internships to registered businesses and non-profits. Level Up is funded by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiatives program, which gives paid job experience to undergrad and masters students from over 100 universities across Canada.

All you need is an 80hr project, and the capacity and willingness to work with a student remotely and answer questions. There is no cost to your business or organization. 

Due to the wild success of this program, non-profit organizations and businesses will need to add themselves to a employer waitlist.
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Join Charity Village for a 60-minute webinar designed to help nonprofits achieve long-term success by focusing on donor retention. They will delve into the effective techniques for engaging with supporters at each stage of the donor journey. From personalized communication to meaningful impact reporting, they will provide you with tactics for building strong relationships with donors and ensuring their continued support. Charity Village will also discuss the latest trends and best practices in donor retention, offering practical tips and insights that can be applied to your organization’s fundraising efforts. Bring your burning questions, and they will help you increase your donor retention rate!

Thursday, June 29 at 1pm ET / 10am PT (webinar is 1 hour in length)
Federal Government of Canada

This Department of Canadian Heritage Program provides funding for community-initiated capital projects, intended for community use.

Funding supports community-initiated capital projects that:
  • commemorate a significant local historical event or pay tribute to a significant local historical personality;
  • mark a 100th anniversary or greater, in increments of 25 years (e.g., 125th, 150th);
  • involve the restoration, renovation, or transformation of existing buildings or exterior spaces with local community significance that are intended for community use;
  • encourage arts and heritage activities in the local community that are intended for and accessible to the general public.

Recipients may receive up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenses up to a maximum of $500,000.

Deadline (continuous): Projects must be submitted before the anniversary date of the event or personality to be commemorated.

This time-limited Section 8 and 9 funding aims to support First Nations efforts in addressing the priorities they have identified to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen First Nations languages under the Indigenous Languages Act.

Eligible Applicants: First Nations organization within Canada

Eligible Activities: Examples of eligible activities that may be useful to guide First Nations in their work plan could include:

  • First Nations- governed language partnerships and collaboration with federal government as well as with other First Nations and organizations and may include provincial, territorial governments; non-government organizations; and the private sector, including by working across regions, Treaty areas, provincial/territorial borders, and federal and provincial program areas, with the consent of First Nations in regions affected.
  • Establishment of networks and resource-sharing to support systemic language needs and ensure as many people as possible are able to benefit from First Nations language revitalization efforts.
  • Complementary services that fill gaps that which will enable First Nations to implement their language plans and strategies.
  • Innovations efforts in First Nations languages reclamation, revitalization, maintenance and strengthening.
Funding: up to 100% of eligible expenses

Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis until 2025
Santas Anonymous

The mandate of the Children’s Special Grant Program is to fund projects and programs that support children, youth (ages 17 and under), and families in the Capital Regional District. Only projects that fall within these objectives will be considered. 

Eligibility:
Applications may be submitted by private citizens, schools, and registered charities (as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency). In the latter case, the organization’s charitable status must be verified to be in good standing. If an applicant has previously received a grant, a final report must have been received prior to submission of a new application. 

Projects:
The program has a funding focus of five categories addressing child poverty. This includes funding of existing and grassroots programs where the outcome makes an impact on a child's well being. The categories are:

  • mental health
  • hunger
  • education
  • sport
  • greater good

Deadline: 
First quarter: March 31   
Second quarter: June 30    
Third quarter: September 30
Fourth quarter: December 31

Neurodiversity describes the amazing variety in human neurology, thinking, communication styles and expression. Those typically excluded are a wide spectrum of neurodivergent conditions, characteristics and expression including conditions such as Autism Spectrum Condition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Developmental Language Disorder, and Dyspraxia. 15-20% of the world population is Neurodivergent (rising sharply in STEM tertiary education). 

Neurodiversity in Business is a business-led forum functioning as an industry group for organisations to share industry good practice on ND recruitment, retention and empowerment.

The vision is to foster a corporate environment where neurodivergent people are understood and form an invaluable part of the work culture.
We will achieve this by creating a best-practice business community to share indispensable insight for employers, the neurodivergent and the neurotypical.

By embracing Neurodiversity and the contributions every kind of mind can make businesses unleash long term potential benefits that enable their teams and their people to make an impact that matters. 
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORTS
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The B.C. Employer Training Grant provides funding to small, medium and large enterprises to support skills training for their workforces, including prospective new hires.

The intent of this program is to help British Columbians access the skills training required to adapt to the labour market’s changing job requirements, while also encouraging employer involvement in skills training.

The Employer Training Grant helps employers pay for training, which in turn helps employees experience increased job security or move into better jobs.

Employers can apply as often as they need and receive 80 per cent of the cost of training up to $10,000 per employee, with a maximum annual amount per employer of $300,000.

With the help of this fund, communities see job creation, positive social impacts, economic growth, and more employment opportunities. Projects help reduce poverty while strengthening the labour market and supporting communities experiencing impacts because of economic change.

Eligible Applicants:
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Crown Corporations
  • Municipalities or Agencies
  • Band/Tribal Councils/First Nations Governments
  • Public Health or Educational Institutions
  • Businesses

Funding Streams

CEP is funded by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and consists of four streams:
TIP: Complete the Funding Questionnaire to determine which stream is right for your organization. 

Eligible Projects

A broad range of projects are funded. Some examples include:
  • Building affordable housing
  • Persons with disabilities mentorship 
  • Indigenous Longhouse renovation 
  • Community improvement initiatives 
  • Wildfire recovery 
  • Accessibility enhancements to buildings, trails or parks 
  • Trail building 
  • Historical building/site restoration 
  • Early childcare education training 
  • Occupational training and work experience 
  • Developing community gardens 
  • Labour market studies

Deadline: No established deadline
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A unique way of helping people who might not qualify for or need a conventional loan

Microborrower Eligibility:

  • Entrepreneurs with great ideas and limited resources
  • Newcomers to Canada who need to build credit history
  • People looking to enter a trade or 
profession
  • People who need to repair credit history

Eligible Activities:

  • Start a business
  • Upgrade education
  • Renew certifications
  • Buy tools & equipment to start working
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Music BC Travel Grants provide assistance to BC based artists to participate in touring and showcasing initiatives, and BC based companies and individuals undertaking business travel activities in support of the BC music community.

  • For 2023 funding sources from public agencies or other sources – in combination with a Music BC award (at 75% of total eligible project expenses) may equal but not exceed 75% of the total eligible project expenses (Less GST/HST) incurred.
  • Emphasis will be given to applicants who have yet to receive significant funding from Music BC. For applicants who have received support through the travel grant program, consideration will be given to initiatives that have not yet been attended, visited, or funded.

Deadline: May 26th, 2023
Do You Own a
Small Business?

Fill out our 10 minute survey and tell us how we can help!
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With Canadian consumers moving online at a rapid pace, the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) can help get your business online, grow your e-commerce presence, or help digitalize your business’ operations.
The Grow Your Business Online program is designed to help small businesses take advantage of e-commerce opportunities and reach more customers online.

Business Eligibility

The Grow Your Business Online Grant is offered in British Columbia through Small Business BC and is currently open for applications from businesses that meet all the following criteria:
  • Is a for-profit business (including for-profit social enterprises and co-operatives)
  • Is a registered or incorporated business
  • Is a consumer-facing business
  • Can be accessed by consumers or provides in-person services to consumers
  • Has at least one employee (other than the business owner) or had at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year (2021)
  • Must commit to maintaining a digital adoption strategy for six months after participating in the program
  • Must consent to participating in follow-up surveys, having this information shared with the Government of Canada (ISED and Statistics Canada) and having the name of their business published as a recipient of funding

The $2,400 micro-grant is a reimbursement-style grant so funding will be issued after your spending plan is confirmed, grant agreement is received, and eligible receipts/proof of payments are submitted and approved.

No Established Deadline

Coming up with an idea for a business is only the first step. A well-structured business plan will help communicate what you plan to do, and how you plan to do it.

This grant program recognizes excellence in small home service businesses!

This program invites business owners to apply for grants ranging from $2500 to $15000.

25 grants will be awarded.

Deadline: June 8th, 2023
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Organization Spotlight...
Our nature-rich, coastal community is looking for a childcare enthusiast to lead our Galiano Island daycare program. We offer competitive pay and benefits and are happy to answer any questions you have. If you love working with children and are interested in leading our daycare community, please reach out to us.
POSITION OVERVIEW

The Daycare Manager provides the necessary support, resources, and leadership to ensure the provision of safe and nurturing care to young children in a group setting.
HOURS

Flexible, open to part-time or full-time (35 hours/week)

  • 16-24 hours as lead ECE/A weekly with opportunity to increase
  • 11 hours flexible program planning and management
WAGE

$ 24 - $ 32 /Hr., Benefits +
$ 2,500 Signing Bonus!

Considering relocating to Galiano? Talk to us about housing options!
PRINCIPLE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILIES

  • Plans and executes a program for 8 students/day, with staff support
  • Provides for the physical needs of children 
  • Ensures program is in strict compliance with the BC Child Care Licensing Regulation
  • Assists in the creation of an annual budget.
  • Manages day-to-day business operations including registration
  • Manages staff recruitment, selection, training, and supervision
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Early Childhood Education diploma or degree (ECE or ECEA)
  • Emergency Child Care First Aid and CPR 
  • Negative criminal record check
  • Superior interpersonal skills 
  • Adequate energy level and physical ability
  • High degree of initiative and dedication
CONTACT

Facebook: @GalianoCommunityDaycare https://www.galianoactivitycentre.org/
Southern Gulf Islands Sustainable Funding Initiative