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Grants to our community:
Children, Youth & Families

Purpose

Children, Youth and Families grants invest in strategies that offer strong potential to advance innovations in programs and initiatives that increase the health, well-being and resilience of children, youth and families in British Columbia.

The Types of Projects We Support

In general, Vancouver Foundation supports growth and innovation through project-based grants for new initiatives. (See here for a full description.)

Through Children, Youth and Families, we support projects that:

  • address the root causes of social and economic inequity
  • strengthen the quality of, and access to, community-based programs and services;
  • recognize the rights and capacities of children, youth and families to be included in plans and decisions that impact their lives
  • offer the potential to influence public policy and systemic change
  • advance the rights of children and youth
  • demonstrate the inclusion of diversity as a key dimension of community life
  • increase the sense of belonging and connectedness of children, youth and families (i.e., newcomers, aboriginal families, young families, families living in poverty

Priority Areas

While Vancouver Foundation is open to considering a range of requests that speak to broad goals, it is  particularly interested in strategies for:

  • Families with young children to have access to high-quality early care and learning experiences;
  • Strengthening the capacity of youth leadership development and civic engagement.

Typical Grant Amounts

Vancouver Foundation usually funds no more than 50% of the budget for a proposal. Both cash contributions and in-kind donations of services or goods are considered valid matching components. Generally, grant sizes are based on grant amounts for past proposals of a similar nature, the size of the total proposed budget, availability of funds and the importance of the proposal relative to the priorities described in this document.

Eligibility

Vancouver Foundation’s general eligibility guidelines apply.

How to Apply

Vancouver Foundation has a two-stage application process. The first stage is a Letter of Intent, which is a brief proposal assessed against the priorities and criteria of the Field of Interest you selected. If your proposal aligns well with the Field of Interest, then the second stage is to submit a full grant application upon request. A full description of the process can be found here.

Advisory Committee

Vancouver Foundation works with Advisory Committees to assess applications and to make funding recommendations. Advisory Committee members bring relevant expertise from across British Columbia and generously volunteer their time and energy to help shape our work and to ensure that we remain in touch with the communities we serve. Lists of Advisory Committee members can be found here.

Vancouver Foundation Contacts

 

Natalie Ord
Assistant, Grants & Community Initiatives
Tel: 604.688.2204
natalie.ord@vancouverfoundation.ca

Trina Prior
Manager, Grants & Community Initiatives
Tel: 604.688.2204
trina.prior@vancouverfoundation.ca

Mark Gifford
Director, Grants & Community Initiatives
Tel: 604.629.5362
mark.gifford@vancouverfoundation.ca

 

Other funding opportunities for Children, Youth and Families

Giving in Action: Family Independence Fund

The Family Independence Fund helps families with a child or adult that have a developmental disability living at home; they help fund renovations to homes, or modifications to vehicles.

Vancouver Sun Children's Fund

Provides grants that directly serve to accommodate children and youth with special needs.

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Letter of Intent: submit here

UPCOMING DEADLINES

Spring 2012 Deadlines

Letters of Intent:
January 27

Applications: March 16

Final Decision: mid June

Fall 2012 Deadlines

Letters of Intent: July 27

Applications: September 14

Final Decision:
mid December

 
Grants