United Way Grants

The United Way BC Climate Resilient Communities: Food Infrastructure Grant (FIG), in partnership with The Ministry of Health, is a funding program that supports rural, remote, and Indigenous communities to build food systems resilience. The program aims to support community food-based organizations adopt local, climate adaptive solutions for growing, harvesting, foraging, procuring, storing, and processing local, and traditional foods. With the support of the FIG program, communities can improve access to nourishing and culturally preferable foods while fostering community health, resiliency and food security. 

Eligibility:  

The FIG program is open to all community food-based organizations, as well as other non-profit, social enterprise, grassroots organizations, co-ops, community contribution companies, Indigenous governing body, Indigenous community, or Indigenous led organization (including a band or tribal council, government of a self-governing First Nation or Métis Nation Chartered Community, Society or Association, or not-for-profit) located in rural, remote or Indigenous communities. 

Total Funding Amount:  

The grant offers funding of up to $20,000 (one application per organization). 

Eligible Expenses:  

Eligible capital expenses include infrastructure and equipment for growing, harvesting, foraging, procuring, storing, and processing local, and/or Traditional, Indigenous food to improve community food access and climate resiliency. Some examples are: 

• Solutions for growing food, such as greenhouses, seed libraries, and garden boxes. 

• Equipment for Traditional, Indigenous food processing, such as smoking, canning, curing, and freeze-drying. 

• Food infrastructure, including cool storage alternatives like root cellars. 

Non-Eligible Expenses 

• Purchasing food for direct distribution  

• Routine or ongoing operating costs (e.g., heating and lighting; security; telephone; internet) 

• Planning, community engagement or needs assessment 

• Community events  

• Projects that require adherence to a specific faith 

• Projects with political activities 

• Research projects 

Applications are now closed. 

Reporting: 

Funded projects are required to provide virtual or in-person mid-point check-ins and  through our online portal, submit a written final report including a description of how the project has improved access to nourishing and culturally preferable foods within the community. 

Questions?  

If you require more assistance, please email Morning Star Trickey, Project Coordinator at morningstart@uwbc.ca. 

Please note: Organizations that received funding from the Climate Resilient Communities: Food Infrastructure Grant (FIG) awarded in March 2024 are not eligible to apply this cycle. 

Partner: 
The United Way BC Climate Resilient Communities: Food Infrastructure Grant is funded by the Ministry of Health – Province of British Columbia. 

Climate Resilient Communities: Food Infrastructure Grant FAQ  

What is the Climate Resilient Communities: Food Infrastructure Grant (FIG)? 

The United Way BC Climate Resilient Communities: Food Infrastructure Grant (FIG), in partnership with The Ministry of Health, is a funding program that supports rural, remote, and Indigenous communities to build food systems resilience. The program aims to support community food-based organizations adopt local, climate adaptive solutions for growing, harvesting, foraging, procuring, storing, and processing local and traditional foods. With the support of the FIG program, communities can improve access to nourishing and culturally preferable foods while fostering community health, resiliency, and food security. 

Who is eligible to apply?  

All community food-based organizations, as well as other non-profit, social enterprise, grassroots organizations, co-ops, community contribution companies, Indigenous governing body, Indigenous community, or Indigenous led organization (including a band or tribal council, government of a self-governing First Nation or Métis Nation Chartered Community, Society or Association, or not-for-profit) located in rural, remote or Indigenous communities are encouraged to apply for this grant. Both new projects or programs, and existing initiatives that are expanding are eligible to apply.   

What is the total funding amount? 

The grant offers funding of up to $20,000 per application. 

When are applications open? 

Applications are open from September 3, 2024, to October 16, 2024. 

What types of expenses are eligible for funding? 

Eligible capital expenses include infrastructure and equipment for growing, harvesting, foraging, procuring, storing, and processing local, and/or Traditional, Indigenous food to improve community food access and climate resiliency. Some examples are: 

• Solutions for growing food, such as greenhouses, seed libraries, and garden boxes. 

• Equipment for Traditional, Indigenous food processing, such as smoking, canning, curing, and freeze-drying. 

• Food infrastructure, including cool storage alternatives like root cellars. 

Does the entire budget have to be used exclusively for acquiring infrastructure?  

Seventy (70) percent of the budget should go towards food infrastructure expenses. A maximum of twenty (20) percent of the budget may support project implementation expenses such as staff time, labour, or consulting. Ten (10) percent of the budget can be allocated towards administrative costs such as meeting expenses, financial management expenses, etc. 

How long is the funding term?  

The term is 12 months. The project must be completed, with all funding spent within this time frame. Timelines and reporting requirements will be provided upon successful grant allocation.  

How can I apply?  

You can apply through United Way BC’s online granting system, where all necessary information, including eligibility criteria and application guidelines, will be available. Additionally, United Way BC offers individual consultations to assist you with the application process and project planning. Applications may also be submitted via Zoom call. For more information, please contact Morning Star Trickey at morningstart@uwbc.ca. 

What are the reporting requirements?  

Funded projects may provide updates on project status, successes, challenges, and timeline adjustments through in-person or virtual check-ins. A final report is required, including documentation of the project’s impact on the community, improved food access, and demographics benefiting from the project, and it will be submitted through our online portal. Photo and video documentation, as well as any media and social media promotion or recognition of the project, should also be included in the final report.  

How are applications evaluated and decisions made?  

All grant applications are evaluated based on project eligibility, regional equity, and alignment with the fund’s objectives. Decision-making involves an evaluation committee.  

Can organizations located in an urban center apply? 

No, this fund will only support organizations in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.   

Are there any restrictions on how the grant funds can be used?  

Grant funds must be used solely for the purposes outlined in the project proposal and approved budget. The funds cannot be used for general operational expenses or unrelated projects.  

Can I apply for funding if my project has already started or been completed?  

We accept applications for both new and existing projects that are expanding. If you are seeking funding to scale up an existing project, please provide relevant documentation and progress reports to support your application. Funding will not be allocated to completed projects.  

Can I apply if I am based outside of BC?  

No, this fund is specifically designed to support community-led food infrastructure projects within British Columbia. Projects based outside of the province are not eligible for funding.  

Are matching funds or co-funding required for applications?  

Matching funds or co-funding are not mandatory for this grant application.   

United Way BC School’s Out Summer is a funding program serving children aged 6-12 facing barriers to enriching summer-time programming. Summer is a particularly challenging time as there is a reduction of services and wrap-around supports available for the whole family. School’s Out Summer focuses on children aged 6-12 from priority populations (Indigenous, Black, racialized, newcomer, refugee, low-income, those with neuro-diversity, or physical disability), offering them access to quality programming that prepares them to return to the classroom in September and mitigates learning loss.

School’s Out Summer program activities and curriculum must align with the following five core outcome domains and demonstrate how they will include the three priorities:  

1. Social and Emotional Development (this includes the development of emotional regulation, and better coping and resiliency strategies)  

a. Priority one: Preparing children for return to the classroom in September (this can include gradual routine adjustment, being organized for success, empowering independence, celebrating achievements);  

2. Connectedness (this includes access to non-familial  role models and consistency of engagement in summer programming)  

a. Priority two: Family engagement (this can include opportunities for families to convene and celebrate their child’s experience or the inclusion of wrap-around supports – like healthy food and nutrition, English language learning, care products, mental health supports – available for the families while the child is attending the program);  

3. Interests and Competencies (this includes the opportunity for new experiences, activities, and the development of new life skills)  

a. Priority three: Mitigating learning loss (this can include literacy and numeracy learning opportunities that help close the achievement gap);  

4. Health and Well-Being (this includes physical, mental, and nutritional);  

5. Service to community (this includes opportunities for the children to engage the community, connect with locally, and build empathy by volunteering or participating in service projects such as neighborhood clean ups).  

Proposals must include a clear family engagement component and demonstrate how the whole family unit is supported in a community of care. 

Total Funding Amount:

• Programs operating at 4 weeks or less will be eligible to apply for up to $30,000.
  
• Program operating at 5-8 weeks will be eligible to apply for up to $50,000.  

Successful applicants must commit to:  

• Sending a representative to attend the virtual School’s Out Summer program evaluation walk-through in May 2025; 

• Sending a representative to attend the in-person School’s Out Summer Kickoff event in early June 2025;  

• A mid-program visit to the program;  

• One interim report;  

• One final report;  

• Implementing United Way BC School’s Out Summer participant evaluations and submitting results back to United Way BC by the end of the program.  

Ineligible costs include:  

• Overnight camps;  

• Organization costs outside of the 10% administration fee;  

• Capital costs.  

There will be two funding streams for School’s Out Summer 2025:  

• Stream one: Community organizations (including registered and non-registered charitable agencies, non-profits, societies); 

• Stream two: Indigenous-led organizations and Land-based Nations (including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities) 

Stream one: Community Organizations (including registered and non-registered charitable agencies, non-profits, societies) – Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley only  

• Stream one applicants are encouraged to use the Word document template to develop their application for a School’s Out Summer application ahead of submitting via the online Salesforce Portal.  
   

Preference will be given to applications that demonstrate:  

• Alignment with United Way BC’s goal of addressing inequity for Indigenous, Black, racialized, newcomer, and refugee communities (this can include providing culturally informed summer program activities and demonstrated organizational connection to the communities which the applicant seeks to serve);  

• Clear demonstration of how the five core outcome domains and three School’s Out Summer priorities are being met/integrated;  

• Community integration and partnership: Programs should be strongly embedded in and with the community (this can include agreements for in-kind program space, collaboration with school districts, corporate partners, or municipalities);  

• Involve youth engagement &/or leadership in the program;  

• Clear access to wrap-around supports for the child and the whole family (eg: healthy food and nutrition, English language learning, care products, mental health supports, etc.)  

Stream two: Indigenous-led organizations and Land-based Nations (including First Nations Métis, and Inuit communities) – Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley only  

Please apply through the “School’s Out Summer Indigenous-led 2025” grant stream.  

• Stream two applicants have the option of submitting either a written program proposal and supporting documents via Salesforce or an audio or video recording proposal. Applicants are encouraged to use the Word document template to help develop their proposal for a School’s Out Summer program. Audio or video applications can be submitted via email to mayag@uwbc.ca.  

Preference will be given to applications that demonstrate:  

• Clear demonstration of how the five core outcome domains and three School’s Out Summer priorities are being met/integrated;  

• Connections to Indigenous cultures and traditions that builds capacity, confidence, and motivation for children to be secure in their identity;  

• Involve youth engagement &/or leadership in the program.  

Want more information on how to apply for this grant? Watch our helpful information session.

Important Dates:  

• Monday, December 9, 2024: Information Session and Call for Applications is live.  

• Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 12PM noon: Application deadline. Call for applications is closed.  

• March 31, 2025: Decisions are reached and communicated to applicants.  

• June 1st – August 31, 2025: Funding period for the program (with Interim Report due mid-way through program delivery).  

• May 30, 2025: School’s Out Summer evaluation walkthrough (virtual) 

• June 6, 2025: School’s Out Summer Kickoff event (in-person) 

• September 12, 2025: Final report due.  

• September 12, 2025: School’s Out Summer participant evaluations due.  

For inquiries, please contact Maya Graves-Bacchus, Project Coordinator, Strategic Initiatives, at mayag@uwbc.ca. For technical assistance, contact Jenny Louie, Granting Specialist, at jennyl@uwbc.ca. 

No grants currently available.

No grants currently available.

Request for Proposals

Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy is a community-based program designed to prevent and reduce homelessness within Canada. This program provides funding to designated communities to help them address their local homelessness needs.

Applications are now open for projects taking place between April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026.

For more information, visit our Reaching Home page.

Apply here: https://resources.uwbc.ca/

Important Dates

• Applications Open: December 9, 2024
• Applications Close: January 13, 2025

Download the Application Guide for important information regarding your application.

• 2025-2026 Reaching Home Application Guide

  Important information on funding, eligibility, and timelines.

  Download Guide

No grants currently available.

No grants currently available.