Community Grants (2026 cycle)

Community Grants (2026 cycle) is sponsored by BC Hydro. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Grants for community groups 2024-05-28T16:48:25. 232-07:00 Home › Community › Community giving › Grants for community groups Grants for community groups General program announcements and notices Applications are now closed Our Community Grant applications closed May 31, 2026. Check back in early 2027 for information on the next application intake.

Funding for non-profit organizations and registered charities We support B. C. non-profit organizations and registered charities working to strengthen communities across the province.

Through our community grants program, we fund programs that build the STEM workforce of tomorrow, advance safety education, and help communities take meaningful action to protect and restore the environment. We’ve updated our program to better align funding with our focus areas.

We now award grants by focus area and funding amount: $2,500 for Safety education workshops and training $5,000 for STEM & trades workforce development $5,000 for Sustainability and environmental initiatives Community grant focus areas To qualify, your program must align with one of our three focus areas .

Each focus area has a specific funding level and is designed to support programs that make a meaningful difference in communities across B. C. STEM workforce of tomorrow We invest in programs that build a strong, inclusive energy workforce and prepare the next generation of problem solvers for B.

C. ’s future. We may prioritize programs that: Address skill gaps and expand access to STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and trades training Engage youth, women, and underrepresented groups Align with future workforce needs in B.

C. ’s energy sector Eligible programs may include: Accessible STEM learning opportunities for K-12 (e.g., after-school programs, summer camps, or mentorship programs) Trades exploration or work-integrated learning Career awareness programs in energy, technology, engineering, or technical fields We support organizations that strengthen community safety through public-safety education and emergency-preparedness initiatives.

Our goal is to help foster safer, more resilient communities across B. C.

We may prioritize programs that: Promote electrical, water, or emergency preparedness safety awareness Provide hands-on training that strengthens community readiness Assist youth, rural or remote communities, or groups facing barriers to accessing safety resources Align with community resilience, safety capacity, or emergency-preparedness needs Eligible programs may include: Water safety campaigns or awareness initiatives Emergency response and preparedness workshops Natural-disaster readiness and resilience programs Skills-based safety training delivered through community workshops We support organizations taking meaningful environmental action across B.

C. Our goal is to empower communities to protect the environment, reduce the impacts of climate change, and build a more resilient future.

We may prioritize programs that: Promote environmental education Strengthen energy efficiency, carbon reduction, or climate action efforts Advance land and water stewardship practices Protect and restore species at risk, salmon populations, and local ecosystems Show measurable environmental impact and long-term community benefit Eligible programs may include: Environmental education, climate resiliency workshops, or energy efficiency education programs Land and water stewardship activities (e.g., wetland restoration, stream rehabilitation) Species-at-risk protection initiatives; habitat enhancement, monitoring, and community led conservation projects (e.g., salmon watershed monitoring) You must be a Canadian non-profit or registered Canadian charity with an operating base in B.

C. Registered Canadian charities must provide their Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) registered charitable number. We don’t fund individuals, political parties, advocacy and special interest groups, religious or sectarian programs.

What are the eligibility requirements? To be eligible, your organization must: 1. Align with a focus area Your program must help strengthen community resilience by supporting one of the following: STEM workforce of tomorrow 2.

Deliver community impact Address a pressing or important issue Create meaningful, measurable benefits 3. Show organizational capacity Strong leadership and governance Sufficient staff or volunteer resources A diversified funding model (not solely reliant on BC Hydro) 4. Commit to storytelling If we fund your program, you must be willing to share stories, testimonials, and photos that showcase community impact.

5. Meet the program timeline Funded activities must take place within one year of receiving funding. We’ll email a post-project outcomes survey to successful applicants in January 2027.

Submit the completed survey by December 31, 2027. Please note only one program per organization per year can receive funding under this program. Meeting eligibility requirements doesn’t guarantee funding.

Organizations without an operating base in B. C.

Political parties, candidates, advocacy, or special-interest groups Organizations that discriminate based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation Health related organizations Individuals or individual pursuits Ineligible requests or program types Religious or sectarian programs Sports teams, tournaments, or equipment School equipment purchases not tied to eligible program delivery Scholarships, bursaries, or endowments Requests benefitting only an individual (e.g., individual training, personal equipment) Research projects, academic studies or feasibility studies Capital projects (e.g., construction, renovations, or infrastructure upgrades) Requests for full program funding (we don’t cover 100% of program costs) Salaries, wages, or stipends Ongoing operating costs (e.g., rent, utilities, insurance) Costs incurred before applying Travel-related expenses (e.g., transportation, meals, accommodations) Advertising or media underwriting (e.g., TV, film, or video production) High-value or infrastructure type equipment or buildings (e.g., sheds, solar panels, water bottle-filling stations, greenhouses, irrigation systems, HVAC systems) Ineligible events and fundraising initiatives Event sponsorships (e.g., galas, golf tournaments, festivals) Fundraising events (e.g., school fundraisers, third-party campaigns, equipment drives) Ineligible in-kind requests We don’t provide in-kind donations or services, including: Prizing, giveaways, or gift baskets Electrical connections, deferred electricity, or free electricity Electric vehicle charging Used computers, poles, or scrap metal View full eligibility criteria [PDF, 152 KB] Step 1 – Select a focus area Select the focus area that best aligns with your program: STEM workforce of tomorrow , Safety education , or Sustainable future .

Step 2 – Review eligibility Make sure you review all eligibility requirements and criteria to ensure your program qualifies before you apply. Please note meeting eligibility requirements doesn't guarantee funding. Once you've submitted your application, you'll receive a confirmation email.

Our application intake closed on May 31, 2026. Please check back in early 2027 for information on our next intake. How we review applications After the intake closes, allow up to four months for application review, processing, and fund disbursement.

If we need additional information, we may extend the timeline. Plan your project schedule to align with the funding approval and payment dates. We notify all applicants of funding decisions by email.

We assess applications based on relevance, community impact, sustainability, involvement, accountability, and organizational profile. View full review criteria [PDF, 152 KB].

Program timeline overview Applications closed May 31, 2026 We review your application We notify you of our funding decisions We issue grant payments to approved applicants We’ll send you the post-program outcomes survey link Complete your program activities Submit your post-program outcomes survey If you have questions about the Community Grants program, please email us .