Municipal Community Service Grants

Municipal community grants are intended to support not-for-profit organizations serving North Shore residents.

North Shore municipalities provide these grants to assist groups with the delivery of services, which work to reduce social, economic, or physical disadvantages, or improve the quality of life for residents.

2023 grants recipients

Council approved the 2023 Municipal Community Service Grants recipients on July 10, 2023. The following report outlines the successful non-profit organizations and provides detailed summary of their work.

The 2024 application period opened on December 1, 2023 and closed on January 31, 2024.

On this page:


Who can apply

You can apply for a grant if your organization:

  • is not-for-profit
  • provides services to residents of the municipality you are requesting funding from
  • is looking for sources of funding other than North Shore municipal community grants
  • can provide your latest financial statement as proof of financial responsibility
  • can show evidence of active, ongoing volunteer involvement

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How to apply

You will submit your application online using our grant application system. To apply:

  1. Review our goals and guiding principles, our Municipal Grants Policy, and the information on this page to ensure you understand the purpose of the grant, and confirm that your organization qualifies
  2. Gather electronic versions of the documents that you need to attach to your online application
  3. Select the 'Apply now' button to launch the online application system
  4. If this is your first time applying using our system, you will be asked to create an account
  5. Once you have created an account, you can complete the online application form and upload your documents (note that you will be able to save your application in progress at any time, and return to complete it later)

Apply now

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Activities that do and don't qualify for funding

We provide funding for

  • Operating costs of an agency
  • Direct social services
  • Prevention
  • Education
  • Advocacy
  • Enhancement/augmentation of provincial or federal programs
  • Collaboration/partnerships

We do not provide funding for

  • Capital projects, office equipment and furniture
  • Fundraising projects, endowment grants, agencies which are primarily funding bodies to other organizations
  • Amateur sports
  • Community events
  • Services primarily geared toward animal welfare
  • Medical programs covered by the Medical Services Association
  • Groups that disparage others
  • Activities of religious, ethnic or cultural organizations that primarily serve their membership and/or their direct religious purposes
  • Services which are primarily recreational, environmental, academic/technical training or dissertation research
  • Services which are clearly within the legislated mandates of other governments
  • 100% of project funding
  • Retroactive funding, debt retirement or reserves, mortgage pay downs

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Information we ask for in your application

We ask for an extensive amount of information about your organization in the online application form, to ensure we're able to fully evaluate your request. 

The application form includes a number of questions within each of these categories:

  1. General information about your organization
  2. Contact details
  3. Charitable status
  4. Impact and reach
  5. Staff and volunteers
  6. Equity and access 
  7. Trends 
  8. Sustainability
  9. Recognition of support
  10. Grant information
  11. Programming and activities
  12. Budgeting and finances

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Documents to include with your application

When you complete your online application form, you will be asked to upload these documents:

  • Most recent year-end financial statement
  • Most recent annual report
  • Most recent strategic plan
  • Your organization's proposed budget for the fiscal year

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After you apply 

When you successfully submit your application, you will receive an email confirming we have received it. Staff will review your application and contact you if they require any additional information.

The Community Service Advisory Committee (CSAC) will review all applications and make recommendations to Council.

If you are selected to receive a grant, we'll contact you in July.

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How we evaluate applications

The Community Service Advisory Committee (CSAC) uses these critera to evaluate all applications:

  • Serves District of North Vancouver residents
  • Demonstrates and justifies the need for that service (e.g. programming or activities)
  • Does not duplicate an existing service
  • Sets clear goals and expected outcomes for service (e.g. programming or activities)
  • Ensures inclusiveness by promoting equity of opportunity, access, and outcome
  • Addresses barriers to services for traditionally underserved people (e.g. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, immigrants and refugees, low-income people, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people) who may experience disadvantage or discrimination
  • Provides evidence of ongoing, active volunteer involvement
  • Demonstrates financial responsibility and accountability, including evidence of a financial need for a municipal grant from the District
  • Seeking monies from other funding sources or contributes own funds (financial or in-kind)
  • Explains how programs and activities support their stated mission, mandate and core values
  • Shows alignment with the District’s climate and environment six key directions (corporate leadership, low-carbon buildings, low-carbon transport, zero waste, healthy ecosystems, and climate adaptation)
  • Agrees to recognize the District’s financial support

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Who to contact for help

If you have questions about the grant or application process, or you need help with your application, contact:

Eirikka Brandson,
Community Planning
604.990.2274
brandsone@dnv.org

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