My Great Neighbourhood Grants Program – Canada

Deadline: 31-Oct-2024

Do you have an idea to bring a neighbourhood space to life or bring community together? If so, the City of Victoria would like to hear from you.

The Program provides residents with funding for initiatives that develop and enhance a sense of community in their neighbourhood.

Purpose

• This policy guides the allocation of funding for projects that impact public space, and that support community building activities.

Objectives

• My Great Neighbourhood Grants are designed to build social capital by bringing neighbours together in a variety of ways. They can animate and leave a positive physical legacy in community spaces, support community development through action and education, and create resiliency in their neighbourhoods and across the city.

Categories

• Placemaking
  • Placemaking projects have the following characteristics:
    • They are initiated by local residents.
    • They animate under-utilized community spaces.
    • They create gathering spots that bring people together.
    • They foster community identity and expression.
    • They are partnerships between the community and the City of Victoria.
  • Examples of placemaking projects include:
    • Community garden enhancement
    • Boulevard enhancement
    • Neighbourhood gathering place
    • Community pathway
    • Decorative lighting display
    • Community art display or mural
• Community Development Activities
  • Community Development Activities have the following characteristics:
    • They are initiated by local residents.
    • They engage and/or educate community members.
    • They promote community development and community programming.
    • They encourage social connection.
    • They encourage safety and belonging.
  • Examples of activity projects include:
    • Social connection community programs
    • Educational community programs
    • Neighbourhood improvement or clean-up programs
    • Neighbourhood diversity programs
    • Temporary site transformations (pop ups)
• Community Resiliency
  • Community Resiliency projects have the following characteristics:
    • They are initiated by local residents
    • They engage and/or educate community members
    • They build resiliency in their neighbourhoods and across the city
    • The project does not have to produce a physical legacy
  • Examples of resiliency projects include:
    • Supporting community conversations using the basics of asset-based community development to help build social infrastructure.
    • Formation of mutual aid groups at the block or neighbourhood level (beyond Block Watch).
    • Engaging ongoing neighbourhood response teams to provide tangible and emotional support to isolated individuals, especially seniors.
    • Creating/enhancing more recreation spaces to keep people active.
    • Creating and promoting more connected youth groups/communities.

Funding Information

• The City grants up to $7,500 for placemaking and community resilience projects and up to $1,500 for events and activities.

Location

• Projects must take place within the City of Victoria. Projects can be for a specific place or neighbourhood, or for the city as a whole. The applicant and/or sponsoring organization can reside outside of Victoria however the project must be situated in Victoria and directly benefit residents of the City of Victoria.

Eligibility Criteria

• This program is open to all not-for-profit organizations including community and neighbourhood associations and schools. Ad hoc, informal organizations and businesses may also apply for funding by partnering with a local not-forprofit group. The not-for-profit group is required to sign the application as the sponsor, and if approved, will receive the funding for disbursement to the applicant.
• The applicant or sponsor must meet all the following criteria to apply for a grant:
  • Registered non-profit organization in good standing in the Province of BC or registered charitable organization in good standing with the Canada Revenue Agency.
  • There must be evidence of a clear mandate and competent administration.
  • Applicant organization must not be in arrears with the City of Victoria, not in bankruptcy and/or seeking creditor protection.

Limitations

• Applicants are limited to one application per category per year for a maximum of 3 applications.
• Registered non-profit organizations in good standing can sponsor multiple applicants without impacting their own application limitations.
• For a multi-phased project to be considered, a substantial new element must be introduced with each application for a maximum of 3 phases over 3 years.
• Applications for new projects will be prioritized over recurring applications, factoring in quality of application.

For more information, visit City of Victoria.