Grants
United Way British Columbia provides funding to non-profit organizations in the following areas: children and youth, food security, healthy aging, urgent response and more.
At United Way, we strengthen vital connections that support people in need in local communities across our province. One way we do this is through our various grant streams. These grants help to build a strong social support network by providing programs and services for communities in need. Our intention is to be responsive during challenging and urgent times to ensure our friends and neighbours are cared for and connected. Our grant streams are available throughout the year. Updated information can be found on this page.
Working together, we can build inclusive, resilient communities.
Province Wide
The Recovery and Resiliency Fund is a new fund made possible through a partnership between Government of BC, Vancouver Foundation, and United Way British Columbia to distribute $30 million to charities and non-profit organizations across the province. The fund will be disbursed over three years.
This Fund provides multi-year, unrestricted grants to eligible organizations that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. A portion of the Fund – the Indigenous Resilience and Recovery Grant (IRR Grant) – will go to New Relationship Trust to provide funding directly to organizations that are led by or serve Indigenous Peoples in their post-pandemic recovery.
United Way British Columbia (UWBC) is announcing funding for emergency preparedness and response for community-based senior serving organizations across the province. Projects must provide innovative community-driven responses/initiatives supporting vulnerable older people disproportionally impacted by extreme weather events.
Funding from this stream is for community-based organizations to develop practical, innovative and/or low-barrier solutions that support the health and safety of isolated and/or vulnerable seniors during extreme weather events, including mobilizing and/or coordinating efforts of community-based seniors’ services organizations. Examples of eligible expenses include program supplies, partnership development, salary for positions geared towards the intent of this call, equipment, transportation, etc.
Emergency Preparedness and Response grants are awarded on a one-year term to be expended by August 31, 2023. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning July 4, 2022, and will be awarded based on available funds and to accommodate seasonal need.
The intention is to provide support to agencies that have been successful in meeting the needs of the older adults in their communities.
For more information, please head over to the Emergency Preparedness and Response group on CORE BC. If you do not have an account, you will be required to create one.
Lower Mainland
Check back soon.
Southern Interior
The Sustainable Recovery Grant (SRG), a multi-year collaborative partnership from local funders, provides entrepreneurial coaching to charities to help them build sustainability and resilience in four key areas: revenue, operations, people, and impact. When these areas are predictable and sustainable, charities can focus on what they do best – serving the vulnerable people of our community – even when unforeseen events happen. The focus of this grant was a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the challenges charities face continue to evolve.
Grant to support sustainability to charities in recovery from the impacts of COVID & other challenges
The pandemic highlighted the valuable services charities provide in our communities. Numerous natural disasters during 2021 compounded this. Last year, many charities reported growth in demand, faster than their capacity. As a result, innovation and experimentation inside charities have increased sharply, which is unlikely to change in 2022.
Over the past five years, the SRG has helped participating charities launch and grow social enterprise revenue streams, improve internal and external communication, redesign programs and services, improve financial sustainability, and navigate complex leadership challenges. This coaching helps to provide the capacity and capability leaders need to succeed in these challenging times.
Successful applicants to the SRG fund receive one-time grant funding for customized coaching and support through Purppl‘s Resilience & Recovery Program. Purppl helps social purpose organizations build financial resilience, improve their impact, and develop leadership skills.
The Sustainable Recovery Grant aims to build charities’ capacity and long-term sustainability in the Southern Interior region of BC. It’s a collaboration between local funders, including United Way British Columbia (UWBC) – Southern Interior, Interior Savings, Community Foundation of the North Okanagan, Community Foundation of the South Okanagan | Similkameen, and Valley First, a Division of First West Credit Union.
ORGANIZATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Registered charity operating a social enterprise or committed to launching/expanding a revenue-generating program
- Facing challenges or opportunities in one or more of the four sustainability focus areas (revenue, operations, people, impact)
- Must have a paid leadership staff member ready to participate in bi-weekly coaching meetings
- Located within the geographic boundaries of Central Okanagan, South Okanagan Similkameen, North Okanagan Columbia, or Shuswap
- Able to contribute a minimum of 25% of the program costs ($400-$500 per month) for the duration of the 6 or 12-month program. Some organizations with greater ability to contribute more may be asked, but not required, to do so
PROGRAM FOCUS AREAS
- Revenue: build, refine, and grow a sustainable revenue model
- Impact: Define your desired community impact, develop steps to get there, and relevant impact metrics.
- People: Strengthen teams, culture, and leadership.
- Operations: Improve capacity and operational efficiency. Evolve products, services, or technology to meet changing demands.
For more information on the grant, please contact Naomi Woodland at NaomiW@uwbc.ca, Regional Coordinator, Community Impact and Investment with United Way BC, or Domenica Chieffo, Programs Operations Coordinator of Purppl CCC at domenica@purppl.com.
The Youth Initiative Grants is a program led by the Central Okanagan Foundation and United Way BC – Southern Interior. We are proud to announce that, thanks to the success of these youth-led projects, this collaborative funding partnership has just expanded to include Community Foundation North Okanagan and Community Foundation South Okanagan / Similkameen to reach all Okanagan communities. Being offered for the fourth year, now the program welcomes youth from the North, Central and South Okanagan Similkameen to apply for a grant of up to $2,000.
Young people have proven to have creative and effective ideas to implement meaningful change in their communities. The Youth Initiative Grants offer youth up to the age of 25 the chance to develop and run projects to benefit both youth and the whole community. To meet the eligibility criteria, youth must partner with a registered charity, First Nation organization, school, or church.
Last year, youth who were awarded grants led some inspirational projects that garnered thoughtful community conversation and engagement. For instance, OneWorld Youth Crew (OWYC) heard that the Okanagan Falls Legion Branch 227 issued a call to local artists requesting a mural of a female soldier. OWYC started researching and discovered Mary Greyeyes – the first Indigenous military officer. They also learned that she was a champion for diversity during her time of service.
“With the project goal of increasing inclusion and diversity through art, we believe that connecting with the Legion and influencing their choice to include a woman Indigenous soldier helps to strengthen the relationship between veterans, our local band and SOICS, an immigrant-serving settlement office.” Reports OWYC in their project evaluation.
Another youth-led project was championed by a team of volunteers that partnered with CRIS Adaptive Adventures and organized an “Amazing Race” along Kelowna’s Mission Creek Regional Park. Youth with disabilities and their families spent the day completing fun, engaging, team-building activities, using adaptive equipment where necessary.
Other youth-led projects funded last year included Penticton Overdose Response Project, which was a partnership with Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy and UBC Okanagan Campus Health, and two different partnerships with Central Okanagan Public Schools, the Okanagan Mission Secondary Composting Project, and the Westside Learning Centre Farm Initiative.
To find out more information, download the Application, and to view some grant writing tips visit https://cfno.org/youth-initiative-grants/
To find out more about eligible organizations who can apply visit https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/charities-giving/list-charities/list-charities-other-qualified-donees.html
Thompson Nicola Cariboo
Check back soon.
Central & Northern Vancouver Island
Reaching Home funding is available (starting October 3) in the Cowichan Region, the City of Duncan (including pre-existing extensions beyond boundaries), and the City of Nanaimo.