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, 2023 and will close when funding is exhausted.
*In the 2021 grant cycle, funding was exhausted in July.
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
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 stays the same, no changes
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
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
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 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
- 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
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, |
Important Dates
March 7, 2023 | Applications Open and will remain open until funding is exhausted
June 14, 2023 | Learning Day Summit at Alexandra House (in person)
September 23, 2023 | NSG Celebration for Westside Project Leaders
November 30, 2023 | All 2023 NSG, Y NSG & GCG Projects Completed
December 2023 | Project Leader Surveys to be completed
December 11, 2023 | Unused funds must be returned to Westside Coordinator
Featured 2023 Projects
Featured 2022 Projects
2021 Projects
Featured R-NSG 2020 Projects
