Additional funding opportunities

Projects may emerge out of the community assessment that target improving or enhancing accessibility and inclusion in your community. Many of these projects may be capital (such as upgrading a recreation centre), or program-related (such as creating a job skill training program for persons with disabilities), both of which may require significant amounts of funding to initiate and maintain.

Below is a list which provides an overview of current funding sources available for a wide variety of initiatives. These programs may or may not be accepting applications at this time.

2010 Legacies Now funding opportunities

BC Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund
The Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund supports programs assisting BC's Aboriginal youth to prosper in sport.

Literacy Now Communities Program
The Literacy Now Communities program guides communities through a planning process to identify local literacy needs.

Province of British Columbia funding opportunities

Civic Info BC
Civic Info BC is a great resource for local governments that are looking for funding or grants to implement community projects. The site provides a searchable database of available grants for local government.

Localmotion
Localmotion gives local governments extra resources to encourage all British Columbians to be more active in their communities by improving physical fitness, improving safety, reducing air pollutants, and meeting the diverse needs of British Columbians including seniors, young families and people with disabilities.

Ministry of Community Development
The Ministry of Community Development provides funding to local governments in a number of different ways, through Small Community Grants, Regional District Basic Grants, and Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing.

Ministry of Housing and Social Development – Community Gaming Grants
Community Gaming Grants allow eligible organizations to apply for gaming revenues to support a broad range of programs and services.

The Community Health Promotion Fund
Funding is available for innovative pilot projects that support health promotion programs and activities in communities through a focus on healthy living and chronic disease prevention.

Towns for Tomorrow
Towns for Tomorrow provides assistance to small town governments to improve local infrastructure including sustainable planning, design, construction and management; innovative approaches; environmental benefits and contributions; health and social benefits; economic growth; and local government financial planning and capacity.

Government of Canada Funding Opportunities

Canadian Heritage Financial Support Programs
Canadian Heritage is responsible for national policies and programs that promote Canadian content, foster cultural participation, active citizenship and participation in Canada's civic life, and strengthen connections among Canadians.

Community Action Program for Children (CAPC)
CAPC provides long term funding to community coalitions to deliver programs that address the health and development of children (0-6 years) who are living in conditions of risk

New Horizons for Seniors – Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
New Horizons for Seniors supports community-based projects across Canada that encourage older persons to continue to play an important role in their community by helping those in need, providing leadership, and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.

Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities – Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
The Opportunities Fund Program is designed to assist persons with disabilities to return to work.

Social Development Partnerships Program – Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
The Social Development Partnerships Program provides funding to non-profit organizations, educational institutions, research institutes, and professional associations working to meet the social development needs of persons with disabilities, children and their families, or other vulnerable or excluded populations in Canada.

The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) for Persons with Disabilities
The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) for Persons with Disabilities offers financial assistance to homeowners and landlords to undertake accessibility work to modify dwellings occupied or intended for occupancy by low-income persons with disabilities.

Organizational funding opportunities

Aboriginal Research BC
Aboriginal Research BC provides a list of funding opportunities related to increasing the capacity of Aboriginal health research in BC.

Agri-Spirit Fund for Rural Communities (Farm Credit Canada)
The Agri-Spirit Fund supports rural communities across Canada with improvements such as emergency services equipment, playgrounds, food banks, recreation centres and care homes.

Arts Partners in Creative Development
Arts Partners in Creative Development (APCD) is a strategic investment partnership to assist BC arts and cultural organizations create and develop new works or further develop existing works, with the intent of producing, presenting or exhibiting them at the highest standard. Organizations can apply for funding to create, commission, and develop original work in the performing, visual, media or literary arts.

BC Healthy Communities Seed Grants
BC Healthy Communities Seed Grants are small one-time funding opportunities that encourage and support efforts to improve community health and well-being.

BC Rehab
BC Rehab fundraises and allocates money to organizations that support people living with physical disabilities in BC, in the areas of education, research, arts, recreation, and wellness programs.

Built Environment and Active Transportation Grants (Union of B.C. Municipalities)
The Built Environment and Active Transportation Grant program assists BC municipalities and regional districts to develop plans for active transportation.

Canadian Million Dollar Round Table Foundation
The Canadian Million Dollar Round Table Foundation awards grants annually to a variety of charities in communities across Canada.

Canadian Women’s Foundation Grants
Canadian Women's Foundation Grants support women’s organizations across Canada to use the most effective approaches to ending violence against women, moving low-income women out of poverty and building strong, resilient girls. Particular priority is given proposals that address the needs of women and girls who face multiple challenges.

Columbia Basin Trust
The Columbia Basin Trust supports efforts by the people of the Basin (Invermere, Radium, Golden, Valemount, Nelson, Castlegar, Rossland, Trail, Balfour, Salmo, Cranbrook, Kimberley, Creston, Fernie, Sparwood and area communities) to create a legacy of social, economic, and environmental well-being and to achieve greater self-sufficiency for present and future generations.

Community Futures
Community Futures provides a searchable database on sources of funding and support for community development in British Columbia with a primary focus on support for social, economic, and environmental community development initiatives in rural areas.

Community Foundations of Canada
Community Foundations of Canada provides a searchable website by region for all local community foundations across Canada that provides funding for community-based initiatives.

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP) – Rural Communities
Western Economic Diversification Canada’s EDP Rural Program assists entrepreneurs with disabilities to pursue their business goals and to contribute to economic growth within their rural communities.

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP) - Vancouver and Victoria
Western Economic Diversification Canada's EDP Program assists entrepreneurs living in the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the Greater Victoria District who have a disability and are interested in pursuing self-employment goals.

Everybody Active Seed Grants Program (B.C. Recreation and Parks Association)
The Everybody Active Seed Grants Program are small funding opportunities for communities to ensure that opportunities for active living are available to all residents – especially for people living in poverty.

Green Municipal Fund (Federation of Canadian Municipalities - FCM)
FCM’s Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments.

Gwaii Trust Fund
The Gwaii Trust Fund was established as a locally controlled, interest-bearing fund to advance economic diversification and sustainable development on Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands.

Islands Trust Fund (Opportunity Fund)
The Islands Trust Fund aspires to create a legacy of special places in the Islands Trust Area, protecting both natural and cultural elements forever.

Kongsgaard-Godlman Foundation
The Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation is a small, private foundation that provides support to a wide range of nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana and British Columbia), within the program areas of human rights, civic development, environmental protection, as well as arts and humanities.

Literacy BC
Literacy BC provides financial resources to community-based adult learning centres through the Paul Gallagher Community Access Fund.

Northern Development Initiatives Trust
The mandate of the Northern Trust is to act as a catalyst for strategic economic development and to create, as well as sustain, outstanding industries and diversified economies in central and northern BC communities.

Rick Hansen Foundation "Let’s Play"
Let’s Play is dedicated to ensuring that young children with physical disabilities have the same opportunities for play as their peers. A joint initiative of the Rick Hansen Foundation and the Province of British Columbia, Let’s Play offers grants for the creation of accessible public play spaces for children and builds awareness about accessible play and related best practices.

Seniors Housing and Support Initiative (Union of BC Municipalities)
The Seniors Housing and Support Initiative is designed to support projects that provide innovative responses to challenges in the provision of housing, transportation, and social services to older persons.

Seniors in Community Dialogue Fund (Union of BC Municipalities)
The Seniors in Communities Dialogue Fund provides monies for organized exchanges or collaborations between local government leaders, older persons and others involved in the delivery of older persons’ services within a community or group of communities.

Southern Interior Development Initiatives Trust
The mission of the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust is to assist regionally strategic investments in economic development projects that will have measurable and enduring regional benefits for the Southern Interior.

Vancouver Coastal Health (The SMART Fund)
The Vancouver Coastal Health SMART Fund (serves Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond, and North Vancouver) focuses on promoting health and wellness among communities who have multiple challenges, including persons with disabilities, to play an active role in their own health.

Vancouver Foundation Grants
The Vancouver Foundation, through partnerships with donors and agencies, supports hundreds of projects in communities throughout British Columbia.

Victoria Foundation Grants
The mission of the Victoria Foundation is to improve the quality of life in southern Vancouver Island through the stewardship of permanent funds and other gifts, in addition to grant making for charitable purposes.

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WDP)
The WDP program is a tool for working with western Canadians to make strategic investments designed to enhance and strengthen the economy in Western Canada. The aim of the program is to facilitate innovation, promote a competitive and expanded business sector and develop sustainable communities.