Neighbourhood Small Grants

Strong, vibrant communities are an essential part of our province's social and economic fabric. When residents become active in their neighbourhoods, communities are strengthened from the ground up. Communities become more vibrant and safer when people feel engaged. This is the reason Vancouver Foundation created the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program.

Since 1999, the program has been supporting resident-led initiatives that enhance local neighbourhoods. Grants can be up to $500, and are reviewed by community organizations in five different neighbourhoods in the metro Vancouver area.

Hundreds of projects have been funded over the last ten years and here are a few examples:

  • A free model-making workshop for kids living in a low-income neighbourhood in Burnaby.
  • Local gatherings and block parties that help neighbours from diverse cultural backgrounds get to know one another.
  • The creation of community gardens where people share a plot of land and grow their own flowers and vegetables.
  • Supplies and training for children to participate in a lantern parade.
  • A knitting circle that encourages interaction and transference of a craft between seniors and young people.
  • Chinese brush painting workshops that help seniors from many cultural backgrounds to express themselves and create artwork.

Here are a few of the many wonderful stories from Neighbourhood Small Grants projects:

Having a ball

It starts with one ball... dropping onto the hard gym floor at RayCam Community Center in East Vancouver...

 Yes you can

Preserving your own food is in, and one B.C. community is on top of the trend.
Brush with the past

Mabel Leung thinks anyone can learn to paint, if they are willing to observe and express themselves.

 Cars

South Burnaby kids are churning out a virtual production line of mini- vehicles, thanks to a small grant and a gifted volunteer.

How to apply

Vancouver Foundation partners with community centres and neighbourhood houses to administer this program. For more details and a list of participating neighbourhood houses, click here.

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How to apply

Vancouver Foundation partners with community centres and neighbourhood houses to administer this program. Click here for more details

Special Projects