Neighbourhood Small Grants

About

The Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program helps residents of any age, experience, or background take part in building community. NSG program was created to help build community and strengthen connections right where people live – in their neighbourhoods. This program supports project leaders who have small but powerful ideas to bring people together and make neighbourhoods vibrant. All three funding streams offer grant opportunities to local residents for amounts up to $500 (and occasionally $1000). Grants applications are reviewed and adjudicated by the Neighbourhood Grants Committee (NGC). Grants are awarded to project leaders for projects that meet the criteria to connect and engage residents, share residents’ skills and knowledge within the community, build sense of ownership and pride, and respect and celebrate diversity.

The best people to effect change in a community are the ones within it. And when we can make money less of an issue in doing so, it allows so many more kinds of ideas to shine!

The Westside Neighbourhood Small Grants have three funding streams:

NSG – Neighbourhood Small Grants

GCG – Greenest City Grants

Y NSG – Youth Neighbourhood Small Grants

Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) and Youth Neighbourhood Small Grants are funded by the Vancouver Foundation.
Greenest City Grants (GCG) program is funded by the City of Vancouver.
All three programs are administered through the NSG program by Kitsilano Neighbourhood House for the Westside catchment.

Visit the Neighbourhood Small Grants website to review the guidelines and criteria, and apply for a grant in these funding streams.

www.neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca

Project Leaders must adhere to any public health orders that may be in effect when their project takes place.

Project leaders are encouraged to submit applications early, even if you are planning for a late summer or Fall 2023 project. Applying early in the grant cycle will help ensure there is funding available to support your application if it is accepted.

Details

Application Dates

Applications open March 7, 2024 for the 2024 grant cycle.
*There is no formal closing date, the applications will close when funding is exhausted – this usually happens mid to late spring.

It is recommended that project leaders submit their applications early in the grant cycle, even for projects that will happen later in the summer or fall.

Grant Amounts

$50 – $500 (and occasionally $1,000)

Catchment Area

Kits House administers the Neighbourhood Small Grants program for the Westside > West Side – Neighbourhood Small Grant catchment area. If you live in an area other than the Westside of Vancouver click HERE to find your community

Apply

www.neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca

Apply

Contact

Contact Info

Faith G, Westside NSG Coordinator

faithg@kitshouse.org

Resources

Logos

Kits House Logos

NSG Logo

Greenest City Logo (GCG Logo)

White Background

Youth Neighbourhood Small Grant (Y-NSG)

Acknowledgement Blurbs

Acknowledge where the funds for your project came from!
When promoting your NSG, GCG, or Y NSG project in any way – printed posters, email, websites, or social media – you will need to acknowledge where the funds came from.

Include the appropriate acknowledgment blurb below, as well as the appropriate logo for the type of grant you received. Include the Kits House logo as well!

NSG Blurb

The Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) are funded through the Vancouver Foundation, and the program is administered by Kitsilano Neighbourhood House for the West Side community.

www.neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca

Y NSG Blurb

The Youth Neighbourhood Small Grants (Y NSG) are funded through the Vancouver Foundation, and the program is administered by Kitsilano Neighbourhood House for the West Side community.

www.neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca

GCG Blurb

The Greenest City Grants (GCG) are funded by the City of Vancouver and are administered through the NSG program by Kitsilano Neighbourhood House for the West Side community.

www.neighbourhoodsmallgrants.ca

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge and honour the fact that the community now known as ‘the Westside’ of Vancouver lies on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded Coast Salish territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh (SLAY WAH TOOTH) peoples.

Acknowledging territory shows recognition of and respect for Indigenous people – both past and present. Recognition and respect are essential elements of establishing healthy, reciprocal relations which are the key to reconciliation, a process to which Kitsilano Neighbourhood House and the Neighbourhood Small Grants program are committed to.

Promoting your Project or Event

Here are some tips on how and where to advertise your projects:

KnowAboutItWestside Google Group

When your NSG or GCG project is approved, your email address will be added to the “KnowAboutItWestside” google group. This is another way to get the word out about your project to Westside project leaders both past and present, and other members of the Westside Community.

Posters & Flyers

Promote your project with a flyer or poster that you can deliver door-to-door, hang in public places, public bulletin boards, coffee shops, libraries, community centres, or places where the public gathers or walks by. You can also promote your project by send out your poster or fler through email / KnowAboutIt Googe group.

Social Media

Create a Facebook page, group or event or use Twitter or Instagram to get the word out about your project. Make sure to tag Vancouver Foundation and Kits House in your Facebook and Twitter posts and your posts may get “re-tweeted”.

Twitter – @VancouverFdn | @KitsHouse | #vfnsg | #nsg

Facebook – VancouverFdn | KitsilanoCommunityProjects

Websites

Here are some websites where you could promote your project.

Reduced Rental / Free Space

KNH Room Rental Fees for NSG_Cheat Sheet1 2024

Equipment to Borrow

Tents

There are five green tents available to community members to reserve and use for events or projects.

Contact the Kits House front desk to reserve a tent. *Note that Kits House is not always open evening or on weekends – you will need to arrange a time with front desk to pick up and to drop off.

Folding Tables

There are 10 folding tables with carry handles (and some with wheels!) available to the community to reserve and use at their events or projects. These 6 foot tables fold in half and should easily fit into most types of vehicles. Please cover the table tops if you are doing crafts or art work so they remain nice and clean for the next person. Wipe down before returning to Kits House.

Contact the Kits House front desk to reserve a folding table. *Note that Kits House is not always open evening or on weekends – you will need to arrange a time with front desk to pick up and to drop off.

Easels

There are several different types of easels available (oil, water, table easels) that members of the community can reserve and borrow.

Contact Kits House front desk to reserve the easels. Please return the easels as soon as possible after you finish using them so that others have access to them. *Note that Kits House is not always open evening or on weekends – you will need to arrange a time with front desk to pick up and to drop off.

Resources for your Project

ZOOM

Zoom is a free online platform that lets you host video meetings and could be used as a tool to support your NSG project.

Info about Zoom, https://zoom.us/:

There is a limit of 40 minutes maximum with the free Zoom account. There are two ways around that:

Buy a paid account (22.40 per month, pay month by month)
Those associated with schools can register to bypass the time limit

https://zoom.us/docs/ent/school-verification.html?zcid=1231&_ga=2.228851412.995105639.1583699918-735451631.1546545079

More about Zoom

it works on smart phones and all computers (Mac, PC, Linux)
you can schedule meetings and send invites
you can share your screen and folks will see/hear whatever is on your screen
there are a ton of videos and resources on Zooms website to help people learn the system (in a multitude of languages)

Cultural Awareness: First Peoples: A Guide to Newcomers to Vancouver was designed for immigrant communities, but can help create more awareness and understanding for all non-Indigenous people.

Greening an Event: The City of Vancouver Green EventsPlanning Guide will help you rethink the amount of waste, energy, and materials consumed during your event planning and activities

Photo Waiver: Media Release forms for your event,

Tips & Tricks: Tips & Tricks for your event.

Project Leader Toolkit

Please click on this link to view the Project Leader Toolkit PDF document

Being Green & Zero Waste

Things to consider when organizing your event

Why have a green and zero waste event

Protect our planet
Educate and raise environmental awareness
Conserve resources
Save money

How to have a green and zero waste event

Promote a green and zero waste event by talking about it at beginning of event
Suggest that people bring their own plate, cups, cutlery, reusable water bottles, tablecloths, etc
Provide pitchers of water, lemonade, etc. with reusable glasses not individual drink bottles
No straws!
Purchase food, decorations, and other materials that can be consumed, reused, or recycled
Avoid styrofoam and unrecyclable plastic whenever possible
Consider packaging and the transportation impact before buying or ordering food items
Shop locally and eat locally grown food
Use name tags made out of recyclable material
Avoid balloons! They can be dangerous to wildlife and a choking hazard for kids.
Make your own décor using items found in your recycle box or use up or repurpose items that you already have
Provide clearly marked recycling, compost, and garbage bins (garbage should be the smallest!

Block Parties

Block parties are a great way to build community and connections!

You don’t have to live on a block of single-family homes to hold a block party; people in apartments and condos have them too!

You may decide to simply close your street to traffic and sip lemonade in the sun, or you may want to hold a parade, dance lessons, and a fashion show…from the most simple to the most elaborate, it’s your call!

These two documents offer project leaders tips and suggestions on how to make your party a smooth running success and also how to host a “green” and zero-waste event!

Block Party – Festival Planning and Ideas Toolkit

Greening Your Block Party

Barricade Rentals

Barricades can no longer be accessed free of charge from the City of Vancouver.
Vancouver where barricades can be rented from these businesses in Vancouver.
Be sure to include barricade rental costs in your budget!

A&B Tool Rentals	604-879-8633 8695 Barnard Street & 1331 Venables St
BC Rentals	604-323-1222 1322 Clark Dr
Whites LES	604-436-1418 3975 Kitchener St
Matrix Productions	604-421-3535 #2-525 North Skeena St
Kerrisdale Equipment	604-301-1321 #810-820 SW Marine Drive,