The West Vancouver Foundation is accepting applications for its Neighbourhood Small Grant (NSG) Program to combat loneliness and social isolation, by making communities stronger, safer, and more welcoming.

By offering a small grant (up to $500) they enable the applicant to bring their project to life, often in a more impactful way or with people in the community they may not have previously been familiar with. The NSG kickstarts people's imagination and often makes neighbours more willing to participate. Traditional projects have included concepts such as park cleanups, emergency preparedness meetings, and community gardens and enhanced block parties. 

Eligibility Criteria

Here are some of the criteria the committee looked for in 2020 (criteria may change for 2021):

• Does the project build connections or share skills, virtually, in West Vancouver
• Is the project free to attend
• Is the applicant a West Vancouver or Lions Bay resident (not a business or organization)
• Does the project follow social isolation/distancing guidelines (either virtual or groups up to 6 people)
• Are the honorariums and costs appropriate? Note that equipment or capital typically is not covered with the grant, however if an exception is made then the item(s) purchased must remain in a communal area where community members can access it. Because these types of purchases can be expensive, we encourage applicants to find a way to borrow equipment or find an additional sponsorship.

For more information, visit West Vancouver Foundation.