West Vancouver Foundation supports charitable organizations working to create and sustain a healthy and vibrant North Shore, where everyone is valued, contributes and feels they belong. Community Grants support a wide range of community programs and projects that create connection and belonging for the North Shore community.
The 2024 program received an overwhelming response, with grant requests for over $1.1!
The Grant Committee reviewed the applications and staff worked with fund holders and 45 applications received through the Community Grant program plus 7 Donor Advised applications, will receive funding for a total of $427,720!
If you have questions about Community Grants, please contact Denise Howell.
$1,000 – $15,000
Please note, we have increased our maximum amount to $15,000, however, if you are applying for over $10,000 the application should specify what the funds will be used for and what the greater impact will be with these funds. As a result of the higher funding amounts, it is expected that fewer projects will be funded, therefore, please do review the application prior to submitting to ensure your project meets the criteria.
Applications are being accepted now until January 31, 2025. Login to our grant portal to submit your application.
A non-profit is eligible to apply if it serves the West Vancouver community and is a registered charity or qualified donee with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
If you are not a registered charity but wish to apply for funding, we encourage you to develop a formal and genuine partnership with a registered charity whose mandate is similar. The registered charity would apply for funds for the proposed project on your behalf. CRA recommends that the relationship between the registered charity and the non-charitable organization is documented. Click here to visit CRA’s website for more details.
Community Grants aim to support connection and belonging for the North Shore community and will support a wide range of organizational needs. Organizations must have submitted a final Impact Report for previous WVF grants before submitting a new application.
Eligible initiatives:
- Must be charitable in nature;
- Fall within the Impact Areas as listed above;
- Must be for the benefit of the North Shore community including West Vancouver;
- Improve connection and belonging for the North Shore Community.
Belonging is being part of a collective we. It’s about how much we believe we are a part of a group or place and how much that place or group welcomes or includes us. It’s the result of connecting with others in rich relationships and engaging in our communities to make them better.
The grants committee will meet in February to review applications.
You can also visit our online grant portal and check on current and past applications, including follow-up forms.
Staff may contact you to discuss your application or to set up a site visit. The Grants Committee will meet to recommend grants for approval by the Board of Directors. If you received a Community Grant be sure to submit the Checklist and Impact Form prior to applying for a new grant. Funds will not be issued if forms are outstanding.
You will be asked to submit a budget using our template. You can prepare this ahead of time using the Community Grants Applicant Budget Form.
This grant program is funded by the Howard Martin Memorial Fund, donor advised funds and the Caring Community Fund.
If you would like to donate to support the Community Grants program, please donate through the Caring Community Fund.
You can also talk to us about setting up your own fund, to support specific causes that you care about. Please contact us to find out more.
There was a webinar on January 16, 2024. If you missed it, you can see the slides here>>
Watch for the 2025 webinar date.
The 2025 program is open until January 31, 2025.
Belonging is being part of a collective we. It's about how much we believe we are a part of a group or place and how much that place or group welcomes or includes us. It's the result of connecting with others in rich relationships and engaging in our communities to make them better.
Learn more>>
COMMUNITY GRANT HIGHLIGHTS
2024 Grant Recipients
This year we received a record 73 applications to our Community Grant and Donor Advised programs, with requests for over $1.1 M! A tremendous increase and representative of the needs on the North Shore. The volunteer Grants Committee evaluated the applications, ranking them using a scoring rubric, and with those recommendations staff work with fund holders to maximize the amount that can be granted out.
52 applications will receive funding for a total of $427,720!
These grants were made possible thanks to funding from 20 funds at the Foundation including: Ian and Rosemary Mottershead, Howard Martin Memorial, Peter and Betty Haworth, Mayor’s Endowment, Smart & Caring, Jacqueline R Warke Legacy, Bonnie J McLaren Memorial, Mrs Kay Meek, Nancy Farran Compelling Opportunities, Ron and Barbara Howard, Adine Mees and David van Seters Family, Joshua Goos, Fred/k E Russell, Irene Carpenter, Hender Family, Thunderbird Marine Corp, Denning-Chunn Family, Ernie and Audrey Kershaw, Robertson Taylor, and Musica Nautica.
Avalon Recovery Society, Addiction Support
Canadian Mental Health North & West Van
Capilano Community Services, Out and About Club
Cycling Without Age, Silver Harbour Senior’s Centre
Family Services of the North Shore, Senior & Caregiver Support
Foundations for Social Change, New Leaf Project
Harvest Project, Client Care Program
Lionsview Seniors Planning Society
North Shore Community Resources, Seniors Wellbeing
North Shore Crisis Services, Hope’s Place
North Shore Keep Well, Wellness Program
North Shore Stroke Recovery Centre
North Shore Women’s Centre, Health & Wellness Program
Quest Outreach Society, Food Recovery
Vancouver Food Runners, Rood Recovery North Shore
Volunteer Cancer Drivers, North Shore Program
West Van Senior’s Centre, Shuttle Bus
Athletics for Kids, Sport4Life West Van
Canadian Health and Fitness Institute, National Forum (North Shore)
Lighthouse Park Preservation Society, Education and Birdsong Path Improvement
Ch’ich’iyuy Canoe Program, West Van Police
Community Cultural Fest, District of West Van
Dundarave Festival of Lights
Ferry Building, Sustain Exhibit
National Indigenous People’s Day, District of West Van
North Shore Celtic Ensemble, Folkestra
Pacific Spirit Choir, Handel’s Messiah
Snichim Foundation, Canoeing into Belonging
Theatre West Van, Arsenic and Old Lace
West Van Art Museum, Family Drop-in
West Van Community Arts, Art Walk
Backpack Buddies, Kid Meal Program
BeaYOUtiful Foundation, Confidence Program
Griffin Art Projects, Future Worldlings
Hollyburn Community Services, Youth Safe House
North Shore Community Resources, North Shore Young Civic Forum
Pathways Serious Mental Health, Education and Peer Support
PLEA Community Services, Taking Care of Ourselves
Red Fox Healthy Living, North Shore Youth
Spectrum Mothers Support Society
Summer Work Experience Program, District of West Van
West Van Police Youth Academy Camp
Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative
Elements Society, EcoCooks School North Shore
Ocean Ambassadors Canada, Climate Cafes
BC Mountain Foundation
BC SPCA West Vancouver Branch
Junior Achievement of BC
Keats Camp
Vets Without Borders, Northern Animal Care
West Van Marine Rescue
West Van Seniors Centre North Shore Health Expo
2023 Grant Recipients
In 2023 we received 49 applications through our Community Grant program, with requests for over $645k. Working with our volunteer grants committee, donors and fundholders we are pleased to be able to fund 44 requests for over $365k.
Grant applications were received from some familiar charities such as North Shore Community Resources, as well as some that are new to the Foundation as they expand their support to the North Shore. These include Foundations for Social Change and Vancouver Food Runners.
These grants are made possible thanks to funding from many of the funds at the Foundation including: Howard Martin Memorial Fund, Ian and Rosemary Mottershead Fund, Bonnie J McLaren Memorial Fund, Mayor’s Endowment Fund, Smart & Caring Fund, Hender Family Fund, Fred/k E Russell Fund, Mrs Kay Meek Fund, Musica Nautica Fund, Robillard Reading Fund, Irene Carpenter Fund, Robertson Taylor Fund, Haworth Fund, Denning Chunn Family Fund, Adine Mees and David Van Seters Fund, Joshua Goos Fund, June Harrison, and Ernie and Audrey Kershaw Fund.
Avalon Recovery Society, Addiction Recovery Support
Capilano Community Services, Out & About Club
Capilano Community Services, Cooking Cooperative
Crisis Centre BC, Lions Gate Bridge Crisis Phones
Family Services of the North Shore, Senior & Caregiver Support
Foundations for Social Change, New Leaf Expansion Project
Harvest Project, Client Care Program
Hollyburn Community Services Society, Life Success Program
Lionsview Seniors Planning Society, Seniors Working Group
North Shore Community Resources, Seniors’ Social Health
North Shore Keep Well Society, Health & Wellness
North Shore Stroke Recovery Centre, Survivor of Stroke Program
Pathways Serious Mental Illness Society, Awareness & Early Intervention Program
Vancouver Food Runners, North Shore Expansion
Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society, North Shore Program
West Van Seniors Activity Centre, Shuttle Bus
YWCA Metro Vancouver, Cheshá7min-aw̓txw Single Mothers Housing
Athletics for Kids, Sport4Life Program
Special Olympics BC, North Shore
West Van Marine Rescue, Communication Equipment
Dundarave Festival of Lights, with Lookout Housing
Lions Gate Sinfonia, Youth Orchestra Program
National Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Theatre West Van, Theatre Production of ‘The Mystery of Irma Vep’
Vancouver Art Gallery, Indigenous Cultures Program
West Van Art Museum, Family Art Drop-in
West Van Community Arts, First Thursday Arts Walk
West Van Police, Ch’ich’iyuy Canoe Program
West Vancouver Community Culture Fest, District of West Van
365Give, #Do1Give Day
BC Lions Society, Summer Camps for Persons with Diverse-abilities
North Shore Restorative Justice, Restorative Engagement in Schools
PLEA Community Services, Taking Care of Ourselves
Red Fox Healthy Living Society, Active Play & Volunteer Project
Summer Work Experience Program, District of West Vancouver
West Van Police Dept, Youth Academy
Zajac Ranch, Campership/sports equipment
BC Mountain Foundation, Baden Powell Trail
Lighthouse Park Preservation Society, Education and Outreach
Ocean Ambassadors Canada, Connecting Around Our Ocean
BC SPCA West Van, Emergency Medical & Dental
Pacific Spirit Choir, Silver Jubilee Concert
Veterinarians Without Borders, Northern Animal Health Initiative
This year, 2022, we’re happy to see so many in-person programs are able to start again. 56 grant applications were received and 49 will receive funding! In total, over $357,500 will be granted out in 2022 through the Community Grant program.
For 2021, we received 59 applications and were able to fund 44 initiatives for over $230,000. The grant recipients are featured below. You can learn more about some of the featured grant recipients here: Cycling Without Age, Butterfly Garden, The Welcoming Pole, Spectrum Mothers Support Program, Hollyburn Family Services. You can see our full 2021 grant recipient list here.
In 2020, the process was modified due to COVID-19. Some recipients that were originally selected to receive funding were unable to modify their programming and their project was cancelled. In total, 29 grants were issued for $189,000. Grant Recipients 2020. You can find out more about the impact the grants have had in the community on our Impact page.
In 2019, we received applications requesting a total of $330,000 and were able to award $180,000 to thirty-seven projects: 2019 Community Grants6
2022 GRANT RECIPIENTS
In 2022 49 charities will received funding through our Community Grant and Donor Advised grant programs. Most charities serve the North Shore but thanks to our Donors, charities in Vancouver and Northern Canada are also recipients this year.
Avalon Recovery Society
Canadian Mental Health North & West Vancouver
Capilano Community Services, Out & About Club
Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC
Family Services North Shore, Senior Support
Harvest Project
Lionsview Seniors Planning Society
North Shore Community Resources, Seniors programming
North Shore Disability Resource Centre
North Shore Stroke Recovery
North Shore Women’s Centre
West Vancouver Seniors Activity Centre, Shuttle Bus
North Shore Keep Well Society
Silver Harbour Seniors Centre, Cycling Without Age
Special Olympics BC North Shore
School District 45, Glenealges Ch’axáý Outdoor Community Hub
West Van Police, Ch’ich’iyuy Canoe program
Bridge Festival
Dundarave Festival of Lights, Lookout Foundation
Ferry Building Gallery, Reflecting on Home
National Indigenous People’s Day
North Shore Celtic Ensemble, Winter Concert
VSO School of Music, West Van Satellite
West Van Art Museum, Family Art Project
West Van Community Arts, Creative Voices 2022
365Give, #Do1GiveDay
Big Sisters, Virtual Go Girls Program
Hollyburn Family Services, Youth Education Navigator
Junior Achievement of British Columbia
North Shore Restorative Justice, Youth Action Council
MADD Canada, School workshops BC
North Shore Community Resources, North Shore Young Civic Forum
PLEA Community Services, Taking Care of Ourselves Workshops
Public Health Association of BC, Building Community Food Literacy across the Shore
Red Fox Healthy Living Society, Youth Engagement Project
Summer Work Experience Program, District of West Vancouver
West Van Police, Youth Academy summer camp
Zajac Ranch for Children
BC Mountain Foundation, Baden Powel Trail
Lighthouse Park Preservation Society, Birdsong Path
Lighthouse Park Preservation Society, Education & Outreach
Ocean Ambassadors Canada, adults 55+ Ocean Connect
BC SPCA West Vancouver Branch
KEATS Camp
Lions Gate Hospital
Vets Without Borders
Vancouver Art Gallery, Indigenous Cultures Program
West Vancouver Marine Rescue
West Van Streamkeepers, Nelson Creek Fish Ladder repair
2021 GRANT RECIPIENTS
For the 2021 cycle, we received 59 applications and are happy to announce that we were able to fund 44 initiatives. Here is the list of the 2021 recipients:
- 365Give - Do1GiveDay
- Avalon Recover Society
- BC SPCA (Donor Advised Grant)
- BC Mountain Foundation
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Crisis Centre BC - Lions Gate Bridge Crisis Phones
- Family Services of the North Shore
- Four Our Future Indigenous Economics
- Harmony Arts Festival - DWV
- Harvest Project
- Hollyburn Family Services Society
- Indigenous People's Day Celebration - DWV
- KidSport North Shore
- Lighthouse Park Preservation Society
- Lionsview Seniors Planning Society
- Lookout Housing - Dundarave Festival of Lights
- Mothers Matter Indigenous HIPPY
- North Shore Celtic Ensemble
- North Shore Community Resources - Farsi Senior Support
- North Shore Community Resources - North Shore Young Citizens' Forum
- North Shore Keep Well Society
- North Shore Meals on Wheels
- North Shore Restorative Justice Society
- North Shore Stroke Recovery Centre
- Ocean Ambassadors Canada
- Pain BC Society
- Pathways Serious Mental Illness Society
- PLEA /Children of the Street
- Silver Harbour Seniors' Centre - Cycling Without Age
- Special Olympics BC North Shore
- Summer Work Experience Program - DWV
- St John Society - Therapy Dog Program
- Theatre West Van
- Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports
- VanDusen Master Gardeners - West Van Bug Garden
- West Van Art Museum - Family Art Project
- West Van Community Arts Council - Art Walk
- West Van Historical Society - Storied Walks
- West Van Marine Rescue Society
- West Van Memorial Library - Dial-in Story Hour
- West Van Police Department - Ch'ich'iyuy Canoe Program
- West Van Police Department - Junior Police Camp
- West Van Youth Band
- Zajac Ranch for Children
DONORS
Thank you to the donors that make these grants possible, including:
- Ian and Rosemary Mottershead Fund
- Howard Martin Memorial Fund
- Bonnie J McLaren Memorial Fund
- Nancy Farran Compelling Opportunities Fund
- Musica Nautica Fund
- Caring Community Funds
- Mayor's Endowment Fund
- Fred/k E. Russell Fund
- Thunderbird Marine Corp Fund
- Irene Carpenter Fund
- Hender Family Fund
- Mrs Kay Meek Fund
- Adine Mees and David Van Seters Family Fund
- Denning-Chunn Family Fund
- Robertson Taylor Endownment Fund
- Joshua Goos Memorial Fund
- Ron and Barbara Howard Fund
If you would like to donate to an existing fund, or perhaps open your own fund, visit these pages for more information:
Community Impact
Read more about the impact your donations have in the community, through our grant programs.
Grants Committee for 2023
The purpose of the volunteer Grants Committee is to adjudicate the grants applications that are submitted to the West Vancouver Foundation for funding, ensuring that the generosity of donors is directed to the causes that inspire them and to the issues that matter most in West Vancouver. Our 2023 Grants Committee is:
- Justin Yoo, Chair
- Carmen Ryujin
- Hoon Choi
- Melina Tai
- Grace Wong
