Neighbourhood Small Grants: Resident-Led Community Projects in British Columbia

Introduction

Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) is a community-grant program that helps residents of British Columbia, Canada, turn small ideas into projects that connect neighbours, share skills and strengthen local communities.

The program provides grants of up to $500 directly to individuals. Unlike conventional grant programs designed for registered nonprofits, NSG enables ordinary residents and informal groups to organize free community activities.

History and Background

Neighbourhood Small Grants was established by the Vancouver Foundation in 1999. It was created on the belief that the people who live in a community are often best positioned to identify local opportunities and bring neighbours together.

The program initially operated through partnerships in Metro Vancouver before expanding across British Columbia. It now reaches communities in:

• Fraser Valley.
• Kootenay Boundary.
• Metro Vancouver.
• Northern British Columbia.
• Okanagan, Thompson, Cariboo and Shuswap.
• Sea-to-Sky.
• Vancouver Island and surrounding islands.

Since its launch, thousands of residents have used small grants to organize gatherings, community gardens, learning activities, cultural celebrations and mutual-support projects.

Mission and Purpose

NSG seeks to create safer, more inclusive and better-connected communities by trusting residents to design projects based on local interests and needs.

Its objectives include:

• Strengthening relationships among neighbours.
• Reducing loneliness and social isolation.
• Encouraging residents to share their talents and knowledge.
• Supporting community creativity and leadership.
• Increasing residents’ confidence and practical skills.
• Promoting inclusion and belonging.
• Building community resilience.
• Making small-scale funding accessible to first-time applicants.

The program is based on four beliefs:

• Small ideas can produce meaningful results.
• Everyone has something valuable to contribute.
• Residents should retain ownership of their projects.
• Community activities can create lasting relationships.

Governance and Structure

Neighbourhood Small Grants is a program of the Vancouver Foundation, a community foundation supporting healthy and vibrant communities across British Columbia.

Vancouver Foundation works with local delivery partners, which may include:

• Community foundations.
• Neighbourhood houses.
• Community centres.
• Registered charities.
• Municipalities and public agencies.

Local partner organizations employ community coordinators, support applicants, distribute funding and oversee volunteer Neighbourhood Grant Committees.

These committees are composed of residents who review applications and decide which projects should receive funding. This participatory approach keeps grantmaking decisions within the communities concerned.

Funding and Grants

Neighbourhood Small Grants generally range from $50 to $500 per project. The funding does not have to be repaid, regardless of the project’s final outcome.

Grant money can cover reasonable project costs, including:

• Materials and supplies.
• Food and refreshments.
• Transportation.
• Venue or equipment expenses.
• Digital platforms and subscriptions.
• Services required to deliver the activity.
• Honoraria for people sharing skills or knowledge.

Up to $350 of a grant may be used for honoraria, including payment to the project leader when they personally teach or share a skill.

All activities, services or products created through the grant must be provided to community participants free of charge.

Eligibility Requirements

Any individual living in British Columbia can apply through the NSG community covering their residential area.

Applicants:

• Can be of any age, experience or background.
• Do not need charitable or nonprofit registration.
• May apply on behalf of an informal community group.
• Must propose a project that brings people together or strengthens community connections.
• May submit only one active project application at a time.

Registered businesses, nonprofits and other formal organizations cannot apply for a regular Neighbourhood Small Grant. However, their staff or members may potentially apply as individual residents for an independent community project.

Projects can take place in person or online. Applicants are responsible for obtaining any required permits or insurance before applying.

Application and Selection Process

Each NSG community operates according to its own application schedule. Many communities open applications during March or April, while others provide fall or rolling funding rounds.

The process normally involves:

1. Finding the relevant NSG community using the applicant’s postal code.
2. Reviewing local eligibility requirements and deadlines.
3. Preparing a simple project idea and budget.
4. Submitting an online or paper application.
5. Having the proposal reviewed by a volunteer resident committee.
6. Receiving a decision within approximately two to eight weeks.
7. Delivering the activity and sharing a short project story afterward.

Community coordinators can help first-time applicants clarify their ideas and complete the application.

Major Programs and Initiatives

General Neighbourhood Small Grants

The standard NSG program provides up to $500 for resident-led activities that build relationships, encourage skill-sharing or address social isolation.

Potential projects include:

• Neighbourhood gatherings and picnics.
• Community gardens.
• Book and seed exchanges.
• Arts and craft workshops.
• Cooking and food-preservation classes.
• Cultural celebrations.
• Care-package initiatives.
• Local storytelling and heritage activities.
• Environmental clean-ups.
• Intergenerational learning activities.

Indigenous Neighbourhood Small Grants

The Indigenous Neighbourhood Small Grants stream supports Indigenous individuals living in Metro Vancouver.

Projects may:

• Showcase Indigenous voices and talents.
• Promote Indigenous leadership.
• Strengthen relationships among Indigenous people and neighbouring communities.
• Advance community health and well-being.
• Share cultural knowledge and traditions.
• Promote awareness of Indigenous rights, education or healthcare.

Eligible applicants may request up to $500 for projects taking place in Metro Vancouver.

Youth Neighbourhood Small Grants

Youth NSG supports community projects led by young people aged 12–24 in participating Metro Vancouver communities.

The program enables young residents to develop leadership experience, organize events, share their skills and address issues affecting their peers and neighbourhoods.

Community Partnerships

Local organizations can become NSG program partners and administer resident-led grants within their communities. These partnerships help extend the program into rural, remote and underserved parts of British Columbia.

Partner organizations provide local knowledge, applicant support and connections with community residents.

Impact and Examples of Work Funded

Since 1999, Neighbourhood Small Grants has demonstrated how modest funding can generate meaningful community participation.

Supported projects have included:

• Community gardens and local food initiatives.
• Outdoor neighbourhood gatherings.
• Language and cultural-learning sessions.
• Book exchanges and public art.
• Workshops where residents share practical skills.
• Activities connecting older residents with younger generations.
• Care packages for people facing isolation.
• Environmental and land-based learning.

Reported benefits include:

• New friendships and stronger social networks.
• Reduced loneliness.
• Greater feelings of safety and belonging.
• Increased confidence among project leaders.
• More inclusive neighbourhood activities.
• Recognition of residents’ knowledge, culture and creativity.

The program’s impact comes not only from individual events but also from the relationships and community leadership that continue after projects conclude.

Conclusion

Neighbourhood Small Grants offers an accessible way for British Columbia residents to transform simple ideas into meaningful community projects. Through grants of up to $500, local decision-making and support for first-time applicants, the program places community development directly in residents’ hands.

Individuals interested in applying should visit the Neighbourhood Small Grants communities page to identify their local program, confirm its application period and review current requirements.

For more information, visit here.