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Participatory Action Research Grants
Grants from $20,000 to $300,000 to support research that is co-led by community members and researchers to learn more about the root causes of pressing issues impacting the health of communities.
Amount:
up to $300,000 over three years
Participatory Action Research Grants support research that is co-led by community members and researchers to learn more about the root causes of pressing issues impacting the health of communities.
How do they work? Participatory Action Research Grants support a collaborative approach to research that involves stakeholders – those whose lives are affected by the issue being studied – and researchers in all phases of the research process. The research must investigate the root causes of a complex health issue, and must be a collaboration between community organizations and institutions with access to an ethics board, such as universities.
Participatory Action Research Grants may fund projects that investigate any of the social determinants impacting the health of communities. In addition, some of our funding is specific to research into heart disease, cancer, arthritis, mental health, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and neurological, emotional or paediatric disorders. But no matter the research area, the project must be led by a registered charity or other qualified donee listed by Canada Revenue Agency.
Do you need to know more about the root causes of a complex issue before action can take place? Have you established a community-research partnership that can co-lead the work?
If so, then we’d love to receive your proposal.
Types of grants
There are two different grant types available, depending upon the stage of your project.
1. Convene grants (up to $20,000, for up to one year)
Convene grants are short-term grants to help teams develop a participatory research project plan that can be submitted to funding organizations. They offer up to $10,000 towards the project's process, and up to an additional $10,000 to support community's participation in the process. Convene grants are a one-stage application, can be submitted anytime, and decisions are made by the end of the following month.
2. Investigate grants (up to $100,000 per year, for up to three years)
Investigate grants are multi-year grants to help teams answer a research question, analyze their findings, and share knowledge in a way that supports the community to take action in the future. You can apply for an Investigate grant during either the spring or fall granting call, and decisions are made by the beginning of June or December. Investigate grants are a two-stage application. Applicants begin by their application by submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI), and if successful, are invited to submit a Full Application.
Eligibility quiz
To help you understand if your organization and project meet our eligibility criteria, we’ve developed a quick and easy online quiz.
Take the eligibility quiz now.
Guidelines
Our Participatory Action Research Grants Guidelines are designed to give you all the information you need to apply. The guidelines provide an overview of the program, eligibility criteria, an introduction to participatory action research and social innovation, practical questions to help you think about your project, and tips for making a successful grant application.
In addition, our guidelines include step-by-step application instructions, including every question you will be asked throughout the online application process.
Download our guidelines, and get started today.
Key dates
We appreciate grant applicants need to plan their time in advance to work on new proposals. The following key dates are updated every month, so please check back here regularly for updates on our granting cycle.
July 3, 2018: Open for grant applications
July 20, 2018: Deadline to submit Letters of Intent for Investigate Grants
Early September, 2018: Decisions on Letters of Intent for Investigate Grants
Early October, 2018: Deadline to submit Full Applications for Investigate Grants (invite only)
Mid-December, 2018: Decisions on Investigate Grants
Please note that Convene Grant applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year, beginning July 3, 2018. Decisions on Convene Grants are made by the end of the following month.
Grant Alerts
Never miss another deadline. Sign up to receive updates about workshops, calls for proposals, and application deadlines.
Workshops
Vancouver Foundation hosts community workshops throughout the year to support Participatory Action Research Grants applicants.
You will hear about grant eligibility, the different funding opportunities available, and what our advisory committees look for in the proposals they review. There are opportunities to ask questions throughout the workshop.
More workshops will be confirmed soon.
Tofino
When: May 11, 2018. 9-11am.
Where: Tofino Botanical Gardens
Closed.
Ucluelet
When: May 11, 2018. 2-4pm.
Where: Ucluelet Community Centre
Closed.
Vancouver
When: May 22, 2018. 10-11:30am.
Where: Creekside Community Centre
Closed.
Langley
When: May 24, 2018. 1-3pm.
Where: Trinity Western University
Closed.
Vancouver
When: May 28, 2018. 2-3:30pm.
Where: Collingwood Neighbourhood House
Register now. [Full - Waitlist only]
Vancouver
When: June 1, 1:00pm - 2:30pm.
Where: Hillcrest Community Centre
Register now. [Full - Waitlist only]
Victoria (we’re participating in a Volunteer Victoria workshop)
When: June 6, 2018. 8:30am-1:00pm.
Where: Salvation Army Citadel
Register now.
Vancouver
When: June 25, 2018. 10-11:30am.
Where: Creekside Community Centre
Register now.
Contact
Our team is here to help. We can consult with you on your idea before you apply, support you during the application process, and provide opportunities for you to share your work and to learn from others.
Niveria Oliveira, Grant Manager
Terra Kaethler, Grant Manager
Get in touch with Niveria or Terra to talk about participatory action research, to think though your project design, to find out more about learning opportunities, to build partnerships, to arrange a workshop in your community, or if you need support with your current grant.
Mike Conroy, Grant Administrator
Stephanie Falcon, Grant Administrator
Contact Mike or Stephanie for information about the application process, or to discuss the priorities and policies of our Participatory Action Research Grants program.
Jill Shouldice, Grant Administrator
Contact Jill if you have general questions about our granting programs and funding priorities, if you have questions about or need help with our online application system, or if you are a current grantee and have general questions regarding payments and reporting requirements.