The Central Okanagan Foundation on behalf of the City of Kelowna is inviting applications for its Community Social Development grants program with an aim to make available funding to registered non-profit organizations and community organizations offering socially beneficial services or programs in the City of Kelowna.

This program aims to provide assistance to community organizations for the purpose of improving the social well-being and resiliency of the community. Organizations funded through the Community Social Development Grants will focus on an approach that is responsive to social needs, strengthens and stabilizes family and community life and improves peoples’ abilities to identify and act on their own social needs.

Grant Categories

• Operational Grants
  • Purpose: To assist eligible organizations with core operating activities and expenses that are used to support the organization’s operational sustainability and enable the development and delivery of programs and services in the community.
  • Funding Levels: A maximum of 25 per cent of the organization’s operating budget up to $25,000
• Project Grants
  • Purpose: To assist eligible organizations to stage special events or to operate short-term programs or projects (less than 12 months in duration). Projects must have clear time frames, not require permanent staff and be projects which would not normally have been undertaken without this additional resource.
  • Funding Levels: A maximum of 50 per cent of the costs of the project up to $25,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• To participate in this program, the organization must:
  • be a registered non-profit society or a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and be registered for at least two years at the time of the application submission
  • be physically located, have an active presence and have the majority of its programs and services delivered within the city of Kelowna for at least two years at the time of the application submission
  • have a social service mandate and profile which is consistent with these guidelines
  • have fulfilled all reporting requirements for any previous grants or funding support from the City of Kelowna
  • have a Board of Directors composed of volunteers and representative of its mission and audience. Directors must:
    • Meet the minimum statutory requirements imposed by the relevant incorporation statute (i.e. BC Societies Act); and
    • Not be remunerated for their services as Director (except for reimbursement of reasonable expenses) nor hold concurrent staff positions.
• Ineligible organizations are:
  • organizations whose mandates, operations and activities are not consistent with the program objectives, description and/or eligibility requirements
  • organizations which have outstanding indebtedness to the City of Kelowna, or which have not fulfilled reporting requirements for any previous grants from the City of Kelowna
  • unincorporated committees, groups, collectives or individuals

For more information, visit The Program.