Victoria Foundation opens applications for 2023 Community Grants Program
Victoria, B.C. – Applications are open for the Victoria Foundation’s 2023 Community Grants Program, which provides funding for the non-profit sector in the Capital Region.
“As we heard in the 2022 Vital Signs report, there are a lot of people and causes that need our support to improve the conditions or sustain what is working. The Community Grants Program is one opportunity to respond,” said Sandra Richardson, Victoria Foundation CEO. “Our community grants program is helping us strengthen community wellbeing by investing in people, opportunities, and solutions to improve the capital region.”
The Victoria Foundation’s annual Community Grants Program supports registered charities and other qualified donees whose work benefits community wellbeing in the Capital Region. The goal of this year’s program is to strengthen the non-profit sector and the long-term resilience of our community by supporting eligible local organizations with flexible, general, operating funding. The Victoria Foundation is a broad-based funder, who provides supports across the nonprofit sector from housing and homelessness to arts and culture, environment, youth and senior services, and more.
The Victoria Foundation’s grant process is aligned with Trust-Based Philanthropy principles, promoting equity, centring relationships and increasing accessibility. The Foundation recognizes the historical and systemic barriers to funding for some communities and encourages applications from organizations that are working with equity-deserving groups.
“Without community grants, many services for our community would not have the capacity to run and many children, youth, adults, and seniors would be without the support they need,” said Tara Skobel, executive director of The Reconciliation Project Society. “I appreciate the Victoria Foundation’s low-barrier approach to their granting process and how they truly engage the community to understand each local neighbourhood’s unique needs.”
The 2023 Community Grants Program has two grant streams, including the Vital Stream (requests up to $30,000) and the Collaboration Stream (variable request amounts).
“The application process was an ease,” said Neil Belanger, executive director of the B.C. Aboriginal Network on Disability Society. “The benefits from being approved were vital to us as an organization, and more importantly to those we serve.”
The 2023 Community Grants Program builds on the 2022 Community Grants Program, which distributed over $4.32 million to help 191 organizations. The Community Grants Program is one part of the Victoria Foundation’s overall granting strategy. In 2022, the Victoria Foundation granted over $25 million* to organizations.
We’re welcoming applications until April 4th, 2023, please visit our website for guidelines, resources, and to apply.
Background
Established in 1936, the Victoria Foundation is Canada’s second-oldest community foundation and the sixth-largest of over 200 nation-wide. The Victoria Foundation manages charitable gifts from donors whose generosity allows them to create permanent, income-earning funds. The proceeds from these funds are then distributed as grants for charitable or educational purposes. To date, the Victoria Foundation has invested over $312 million* in people, projects and non-profit organizations that strengthen communities in BC and throughout Canada.
*Note the 2022 numbers are unaudited at the time of our release. Official audited numbers will be released this spring.