Please note: the application intake for 2023 is pending and will likely open in 2024.
The Sunshine Coast Foundation offers two community granting streams. Both streams are open within the winter/spring granting cycle (Letters of Intent due ~February 28th; full applications due ~April 30th).
The ‘responsive‘ stream is a continuation of our longstanding grants process, offering grants of up to $10,000 for serviceable community projects or programs. Return here if you would like more information about applying for a Responsive Community Grant.
Intentional Community Grants reflect the Foundation’s commitment to making its grants strategic, impactful, and focused on high priority community challenges. Based on the 2019 Vital Brief and other Vital Signs reports, the Foundation offers grants of up to $40,000 per year for up to three years for initiatives (organizations, programs, or projects) that address one or more of the following issues:
- housing affordability,
- food security, or
- mental health and addiction services.
If you intend to apply for an Intentional Community Grant, please read the Guidelines, Eligibility, and Restrictions (see FAQs below), and have a look at the grants management system online tutorials (see FAQs at the bottom of this page) before proceeding to the Foundation’s grants application portal.
In accordance with Canadian income tax laws, the Foundation may award grants only to registered charities or qualified donees (e.g., municipalities, First Nations, universities, or registered amateur athletic associations). The applicant named in any Letter of Intent or Application to the Sunshine Coast Foundation must be a registered charity or qualified donee. Non-charities seeking a grant must do so through a registered charity or other qualified donee. [Please note that the former Foundation practice of allowing non-charities to complete Letters of Intent or Application forms is no longer accepted.] The Canada Revenue Agency has specific requirements for any such arrangement. Please see “Information for Charities/Qualified Donees Working through Non-Charity Intermediaries” in the FAQs at the bottom of this page. Contact us for more information and assistance identifying potential charity partners.
FAQ’s
Intentional Grants Guidelines
The cornerstone of the Foundation’s grants program is the concept of community capacity-building.
1. Capacity building occurs when resources, skills, leadership, or expertise in the community is increased.
2. Grant making for community capacity building occurs when proposals:
- build on the strengths and assets of a community or an organization,
- include the involvement of diverse groups in the development and implementation of a project,
- demonstrate clear outcomes,
- help create and strengthen participation and networks among residents and organizations,
- provide seed funding for initiatives,
- respond to a need identified in Vital Signs, or
- address another community priority.
For Intentional Community Grants, organizations, programs, or projects must seek to make a positive impact on one of three priority challenges:
- housing affordability,
- food security, or
- mental health and addiction services.
As we navigate and build our shared experience with this new grants stream, the Foundation seeks to be expansive as to the nature of the initiatives (organizations, programs, or projects) that these grants might support.
Please note that any one organization is eligible to apply for both a Responsive Community Grant and an Intentional Community Grant in the same granting cycle, so long as it is for two different projects.
Downloads
Intentional Grants Eligibility
In order to be eligible for an Intentional Community Grant from the Sunshine Coast Foundation, the applying organization must:
- be providing programs or services that directly benefit the citizens of the Sunshine Coast,
- be a federally-registered charity or other qualified donee under the Income Tax Act; (those organizations wishing to apply who do not have federal charitable status, please see Information for Charity/Non-Charity Collaborations in the FAQs at the bottom of this page),
- provide all information required pursuant to the Intentional Community Grant “Letter of Intent” and the “Application Form”,
- have completed its final reports for all prior grants from the Foundation, and
- apply for only one responsive community grant and/or one intentional community grant in each grant year.
When you have read the guidelines, eligibility restrictions, and requirements and are ready to submit your letter of intent, visit the Foundation’s grants portal.
Intentional Grants Restrictions
Restrictions
The Foundation’s Board intends that the Intentional Community Grants be as flexible as possible to support organizations addressing high priority community challenges. However, Intentional Community Grants will not be made for:
- academic research (i.e., research intended for publication only without application to current activities),
- tours or travel outside the community,
- scholarships or bursaries,
- activities of partisan political organizations or religious organizations that serve primarily their membership and/or their direct religious purposes (community programs delivered by religious institutions are eligible),
- general endowments,
- major capital or building fundraising campaigns,
- operating or capital deficits, or
- individuals.
When you have read the guidelines, eligibility restrictions, and requirements and are ready to submit your letter of intent, visit the Foundation’s grants portal.