HOW MANY INTAKES WILL THERE BE?

✢ The Fund runs over multiple years:

→ Round 1 (2025–2026) launches on November 28, 2025, with projects beginning in 2026 and running through 2028.
→ Round 2 (2027–2028) begins in 2027 and will include both open and invitation-only calls, depending on the first round’s results. 

✢ Stay tuned for more information about when Round 2 will launch in 2027.

FUNDING AVAILABLE

✢ We have approximately $180,000 available in round 1 to support local projects through Free to Play.

✢ We encourage organizations to apply for the amount that best fits your project needs:

▫︎ Request the amount you truly need to deliver meaningful and lasting impact.
▫︎ Ensure your budget reflects realistic costs for your community and your organization’s capacity.
▫︎ Balance ambition with feasibility, demonstrating how funds will directly support your project goals

✢ Taking only what you need helps ensure we can support as many strong local initiatives as possible, while still resourcing projects for success.

MAJOR CAPITAL EXPENSES

We know many communities are excited about naturalizing playgrounds or redesigning schoolyards. While these are important projects, they are also very costly. Free to Play is not designed to fund major capital or infrastructure projects on its own.

Instead, this fund focuses on outdoor play opportunities, things like nature-based programs, open-ended adventures, cultural play traditions, caregiver engagement, or re-imagining underused community spaces.

For a full list of project eligibility, see the Applicant Guide.

KEY DATES — INTAKE 1

Applications Open
→ November 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM PST

Applications Close
→ February 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM PST

Applications Reviewed
→ Between February–April 2026

Applicants Notified
→ No later than April 24, 2026

First 50% of Funding Distributed
→ By 

Activities Can Begin
→ From 

Activities Must End
→ No later than 

*See ‘Interim Check-In’ section below for more information about the payment of the second 50%.

**See ‘Timeline of Activities’ section below for more information on minimum and maximum length of activities. 

ELIGIBILITY – ORGANIZATIONS

Eligible Organizations

Eligible applicants include registered charities or non-profit organizations, including Indigenous Governing Bodies, incorporated non-profit organizations, such as a community group, Indigenous nation/community, school board, school, or local organization registered federally or provincially.

Ineligible Organizations

The following organizations cannot apply funding through Free to Play:

✗ For-profit organizations
✗ Unincorporated nonprofits
✗ Business non-profit institutions, including business associations, chambers of commerce and condominium associations
✗ Organizations that provide provincial services, including hospitals, medical centres, schools (both public and private), universities, colleges and regional health authorities***
✗ Local governments and regional districts, and organizations that are financially managed by them***

***These ineligible organizations can act as Collaborating Organizations for Non-Qualified Donees, if they themselves are a Qualified Donee. See ‘Your Application’ section below for more information.

ELIGIBILITY – ACTIVITIES

Eligible Activities

Funding can support operational expenses or project delivery that contribute to community prosperity.

You get to decide what would benefit your organization most so that you can advance your activities and the incredible work that benefits our community.

We’ve included some project examples below, but please know, the list is not exhaustive.

Activity Examples:
・A charity that supports youth with financial literacy is applying to improve its online platform and provide additional webinars on financial literacy.
・An Indigenous-serving organization is applying so that they can support language revitalization programs.
・A charity that focuses on local food security is applying to expand its food redistribution program.
・A charity that focuses on jobs for new immigrants is applying so they can continue to pay their rent and operate out of the same building.
・An Indigenous-serving organization is applying to develop a coalition on food security in their region.
・A charity that provides mental health and addiction services is applying to create a branch-out program for new mothers experiencing addiction.

Ineligible Activities

✗ Activities that take place outside the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia
✗ Major capital activities, including building infrastructure, purchasing land or buildings
✗ Partisan, political or election-related activities
✗ Activities that generate a profit, including direct fundraising activities or events
✗ Activities that benefit only private interests
✗ Activities that undermine, restrict or infringe on human rights legally protected in Canada
✗ Sub-granting activities
✗ Sponsorship, endowment funds, and donations

ELIGIBILITY – EXPENSES

Eligible Expenses

✓ Expenses can begin April 1, 2025 and continue to June 30, 2027, when all activities must be completed
✓ Staff salaries and employment-related costs
✓ Contractors and fees for professional services
✓ Materials and supplies
✓ Equipment
✓ Travel expenses
✓ Training and events
✓ Rent
✓ Gift cards
✓ Honorariums
✓ Transit passes
✓ Administration

Ineligible Expenses

✗ Expenses incurred before April 1, 2025
✗ Expenses incurred after June 30, 2027
✗ Expenses that have already been paid for by another funding source (Organizations may receive funding from other sources, but those funds may not cover the same expenses)
✗ Purchasing land or buildings, real estate fees and related costs
✗ Setting aside funds for losses or potential future liabilities and contingencies
✗ Legal penalties, including fines and other punitive measures
✗ Taxes for which an organization is eligible for a tax rebate
✗ Individual membership fees for private clubs (e.g., golf clubs, gyms)
✗ Costs associated with profit-making activities, including fundraising activities
✗ The financing of deficits
✗ The purchase or sale of alcohol or cannabis, financing related licenses or permits, or capital renovations or repairs to facilities or spaces used to sell alcohol or cannabis
✗ Political activities supporting or opposing any political party, elected representative, or candidate for public office
✗ Activities which are religious or include a requirement to participate in any dimensions of faith (for example, a church running a community-based kitchen can apply for supplies and staffing costs are eligible but not primarily religious activities)
✗ Capital renovations or repairs of premises used exclusively for religious observance or practice
✗ Activities, projects or services carried out or provided outside of Canada

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Interim Check-in

Organizations approved for funding will sign a funding agreement outlining their responsibilities for participating in the Sunshine Coast Prosperity Fund, including an interim check-in. The interim check-in will occur at the halfway point of an approved organization’s project timeline, as outlined in their application. At the interim check-in, approved organizations will share how activities are progressing and reflect on the impact of the funding to-date. Payment of the remaining 50% of funding will be made upon completion of an interim check-in. More information about the interim check-in will be provided in the funding agreement.

Timeline of Activities

In your application, you will be asked to provide a high-level timeline of your activities, including a start date and an end date. Activities can begin anytime from April 1, 2025, until your expected end date. PLEASE NOTE: activities must continue for a minimum of 12 months, which makes April 1, 2026, the earliest end date possible (presuming your activities will start on April 1, 2025). You may, however, choose to continue your activities over a longer period. Funding can be used to support your activities for up to 27 months, until June 30, 2027, at which point all activities must end.

YOUR APPLICATION

How to Apply

Organizations may submit one application for funding to a maximum amount of $40,000. Applications are accepted through our online application portal. The portal opened on January 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM PST and it will close at 5:00 PM PST on February 5, 2025. A sample version of the application is available now to view and download (see ‘Downloads’ section below). This PDF will support your preparation; however, all applications must be submitted through the online portal.

PLEASE NOTE: Applying to the Sunshine Coast Prosperity Fund does not prevent an organization from submitting a Letter of Intent through the Foundation’s Community Grants program (e.g., the upcoming 2025 Responsive Community Grants stream is open to Sunshine Coast Prosperity Fund applicants).

Any organization approved for funding through the Sunshine Coast Prosperity Fund is not prevented from applying and/or securing Community Grants from the Foundation while their Sunshine Coast Prosperity Fund remains active.

Are you a Non-Qualified Donee?
Your application process will be slightly different depending on whether you are a Qualified Donee or a Non-Qualified Donee. Qualified Donees can apply directly to the Sunshine Coast Prosperity Fund, whereas Non-Qualified Donees will need to work in partnership with a Collaborating Organization to apply (see ‘Key Terms’ section below for definition.)

What does this mean?
The application must be filled out and submitted by the Collaborating Organization. All questions on the application will relate to the Collaborating Organization itself and should be answered as such. There will be a section on the application for the Collaborating Organization to provide the contact details of the Non-Qualified Donee they intend to engage as their intermediary.

If the Collaborating Organization is approved for funding:
・They will need to provide a collaboration agreement between their organization the Non-Qualified Donee (template provided).
・The Collaborating Organization will sign the Foundation’s funding agreement and complete the interim check-in.
・Payments will be issued from the Foundation to the Collaborating Organization.
・The Collaborating Organization will be responsible for disbursing funds to the Non-Qualified Donee.

SELECTION PROCESS

Reviewer Rubric

All applications from eligible organizations will be reviewed by a local Ad Hoc Grants Committee established by the Foundation. All applicants will receive notification of the outcome of their applications no later than February 28, 2025. The Ad Hoc Grants Committee will use a Reviewer Rubric to assist with the adjudication process and make funding recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Reviewer Rubric is available now to view and download (see ‘Downloads’ section below).

DOWNLOADS

Sample Application Form

Budget Template

Reviewer Rubric

KEY TERMS

COLLABORATING ORGANIZATION: A collaborating organization is a Qualified Donee who works in partnership with a Non-Qualified Donee and agrees to take on an application and its activities as its own and engages a Non-Qualified Donee as an intermediary to carry out the activities. The agreement should be made between organizations with a mutual alignment of values and missions. If an application with an agreement is successful, payment will be made to the Collaborating Organization, which will be responsible for disbursing funds to the Non-Qualified Donee.

EQUITY-DESERVING GROUPS: Equity-deserving groups are communities that have been historically denied equal access to opportunities, such as employment and education. They experience collective barriers, lack of access, and less power and privilege in society. 

INDIGENOUS-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS: Indigenous-serving organizations include qualified donees, non-qualified donees, charities and non-profit organizations serving Indigenous peoples.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: In B.C., not-for-profit/non-profit organizations are known as societies. Societies are independent, democratic organizations that are required to comply with the Societies Act and their own constitution and bylaws. Societies do not earn any profits for its members. All money is donated to the organization’s cause or goal.

OPERATIONAL EXPENSES: Operational expenses cover operating costs that organizations require to function, such as rent, insurance, staff salaries, technology, etc.

QUALIFIED DONEE: Qualified donees are all organizations that are listed in the CRA’s database of qualified donees, and this includes registered charities. A qualified donee can issue official donation receipts for gifts it receives from individuals and corporations.