Before You Apply
Prior to starting the application process, please read through our Grant Application Guidelines to see if your organization and/or your project are eligible for funding. Your organization must be a CRA registered charity, or a non-profit society, or a community service organization or association. If you are a new non-profit society, or a community service organization or association, be in partnership with a charity, municipality, or school, to qualify.
Once you have determined your groups’ eligibility, please call us to discuss your idea at 250-832-5428. Then, use our online application system to begin the grant application process.
Please read the following guidelines carefully before you Apply for a Grant.
New for this Grant Cycle: A Letter of Intent is now required for applications of $10,000 or more.
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve our grant processes and ensure the most impactful use of community funds, we are introducing a Letter of Intent (LOI) requirement for funding requests of $10,000 or more, starting this grant cycle.
Why This Change?
This new step is designed to:
- Improve the efficiency of our grant review process.
- Strengthen alignment between your project goals and community funding priorities.
- Provide earlier feedback to strengthen full applications.
- Allow us to better allocate SCF resources for projects with the highest potential impact.
How It Works
Before submitting a full application for grants of $10,000 or more, applicants must first submit a short Letter of Intent—via our grant’s portal, outlining the project’s purpose, goals, anticipated impact, and alignment with our mission.
This initial step will help us identify projects that best align with our strategic goals, ensuring a more focused and efficient review process. It also allows our dedicated staff to provide valuable feedback, helping you strengthen your application for the best chance of success.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to strengthen our impact in the community. Thank you for your continued dedication to making a difference.
1. For your project to qualify for a grant, your Society must:
- Operate within the boundaries of the Shuswap area of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. View Service Area Map
- Be one of the following:
- A registered charity (i.e., have a CRA number: BN—- —–RR000–)
- A non-profit group
- An organization or association
If a non-profit/organization/association is seeking funding within the first year of business, we require you to partner with an established registered charity or non-profit with which there is a formalized partnership, a history of collaboration, and a similar mission and vision. The grant application must be submitted by the Registered Charity or established non-profit in collaboration with the new non-profit/organization/association.
2. Your project must contribute to the well-being of residents of the Shuswap in the following grant categories:
- Animal Welfare
- Arts & Culture
- Community
- Education
- Environment
- Health & Wellness
- Heritage
- Seniors
- Social Equality
- Youth
3. The Foundation will not support projects of a partisan, religious or political nature.
4. The Foundation does not normally fund ongoing operations.
Grants are intended to be one time and should support projects that can be completed and evaluated within a reasonable period. For capital projects, the Foundation reserves the right to approve the project, but not advance funds until invoices are received and confirmation of other funding sources has been received.
5. The Foundation will not fund projects already underway.
6. Grant funds may not be used to retire debt.
7. Your Online Application must be submitted no later than June 15 (First Cycle) or January 31 (Second Cycle).
Funds typically are available for distribution within 4-6 weeks of notification of approval.
The following must be included with your Grant Application:
- Proof of eligible CRA number (your CRA number is sufficient as proof). For more information, or to look up your CRA number, visit: https://apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/hacc/srch/pub/dsplyBscSrch.
- For non-profits, organizations, or associations your relevant registration #, if none, enter RP000000000RR0000
- Financial Statement for last complete year. These can include Audited or Reviewed financials prepared by an accountant, financial statements prepared in accordance with recognized accounting or bookkeeping practices – Statements must be prepared within the 18 months prior to this application and cannot be National financials if part of a larger organization. Financial statements preferred are an Income Statement and Balance Sheet (see Financial Statement Sample)If your organization is holding significant cash reserves, earmarked for specific purposes, please provide a detailed explanation either as an attachment or in the space provided, and any supporting documents such as bylaws or board confirmation.
- Board of Directors with contact information (Phone #’s and email addresses)
- Annual Budget
- Project Budget for which you are requesting funding, separate from your organizations Annual Budget.
- Supporting Documents and/or Contractors Quote
A Non-Profit Group / organization / Association with a Host Registered Charity requesting funds:
(Grant application must be submitted by Registered Charity in collaboration with thenon-profit/organization/association )
- All of the above for the Host Registered Charity AND for the non-profit group the following:
- Project Partnership Agreement with the Host Registered Charity
- Current complete financial statements
- Annual Budget
- Supporting Documents and/or Contractors Quote
- Board of Directors with contact information (Phone #’s and email addresses)
8. A Project Evaluation Report must be submitted to the Foundation by December 15th (Second Cycle) or May 1st (First Cycle) of the following year for the Society to be eligible for future grants.
If you have any questions about your project’s eligibility, please contact the Foundation.
