Community Grants

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.

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.

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:

DONORS

Thank you to the donors that make these grants possible, including:

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
  • Nancy Farran
  • Grace Wong