Just got out of our second to last Vancouver Foundation NSG Grant committee meeting for this round of fall grants.

It was a long session of deliberations.

There is still thousands of dollars on the table and we will not be able to roll that money over in the the next grant cycle.

Applications are open until October 21st via the Vancouver Foundation grant website and if you apply with paper applications I can buy you some more time but only until the close of business on October 23rd.

The grants are “low hanging fruit” so don’t be shy, a simple outline of what your project is about is enough (although the more concise it is the better). If you need help in applying / writing for the grant I can and will help you. We are encouraged to help applicants. Note: If I help you I will announce it when your application comes up for review and recuse myself from deliberating on it if you are in my catchment / division, that being said it is never a bad thing when a committee member can vouch for you and help explain the project before recusing ourselves.

There are a few divisions:

NSG: Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) provide grants of up to $500 for projects that connect people socially or promote skill-sharing with each other. And yes, a grant means you don’t need to pay back this funding — no matter the outcome.

Greenest City Grants: The Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grant (GCNSG) is created to support small-scale, neighbour-led community projects that help advance climate and sustainability goals in Vancouver, B.C.

Youth NSG: The Youth Neighbourhood Small Grants is a program for youth (ages 12-24) living in Metro Vancouver (including Burnaby, Langley, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey/White Rock and Vancouver). It’s a program run by youth, for youth!

See the website: https://neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca/

On another note the neighbourhood small grants (NSG’s) are coming to an end in 2025. What the new grant program looks like is kind of vague to even us on the grant committees. What seems clear is the the grants will be for substantially more money per grant. Having been awarded past grants is a good thing if you complete the project and make full disclosure of the outcome and share it in pictures, video, websites etc with .
the foundation.

Every Blessing,
John