Our funding - from small to large - promotes the health of individuals, communities and ecosystems throughout the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. Each granting stream is supported by its own Advisory Committee comprised of local volunteers with interest and expertise relevant to the specific grant. Advisory Committees review proposals and make funding recommendations to the CBT Board of Directors.
Applications are now closed, we will be accepting applications for Neighbourhood Small Grants again in the spring of 2024. Stay tuned for more details!
The goals of the Culture Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) are to support strong, vibrant and united cultures by fostering preparation for the UNESCO Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022 – 2032), celebrating diversity, and building inclusion.
Projects themes could be, but are not limited to:
Celebration of indigenous languages - Example: Host a language gathering.
Sharing of cultural practices across generations - Example: Share a cultural skill with youth.
Sharing culture with new audiences - Example: Host a cultural feast with friends and neighbours.
Creation of opportunities for cultural exchanges - Example: Host a cultural expo.
Youth led culture projects - Example: Create a Zine.
Inclusion - Example: Help create a community where everyone feels welcome.
Diversity - Example Host a 2SLGBTQIA+ event.
Support for Indigenous Food projects
The Neighbourhood Small Grants program is guided by the following principles:
Everyone has gifts: Anyone can offer their ideas, talents, skills, experiences and contacts to build a strong community.
Small is powerful: Small amounts of money have a potential to bring powerful changes in community in forms of new relationships, increased self-confidence, leadership development, stronger sense of place and creation of local traditions.
Local decisions are best: Community members from diverse backgrounds and experiences get an opportunity to make decisions on who should get the grants in their community.
Where we live matters: the grants enable anyone to team up with their neighbour and come up with a project that they can carry out within an area of where they live and based on what they think works in their community.
We learn together: There is no single right way to build community so anyone involved in the program will have many opportunities to learn, share, reflect, exchange and capture knowledge, skills and information that they can use within and beyond the program.
Everyone is invited: The program is accessible and inclusive to anyone living in an NSG area no matter their age, ethnicity, income, cultural background, gender, ability and sexual orientation.
Terms & Conditions of the Culture Neighbourhood Small Grants Program
Who can apply?
You must live in Clayoquot Biosphere Region.
You can apply for only one NSG project per cycle and you can apply within only one community.
Registered charitable organizations and businesses are not eligible to apply. These grants are specifically for individuals and small volunteer-based neighbourhood/community groups.
No previous connection to community organization is required.
What information do you need to know about Culture Neighbourhood Small Grants?
Your project must be free to attend, accessible and welcoming to all. We encourage applications for projects that are accessible to people with disabilities and inclusive of all people.
You may not fundraise for other projects and/or organizations during your event. However, we encourage you to seek donations or gifts in kind from local businesses to help support your project.
Large capital projects such as building and maintenance of public assets such as playgrounds or purchasing equipment such as computers are not eligible.
Projects involving psychotherapy and counseling support are not eligible.
You must begin your project after the grant decision is made. Projects are not supported retroactively.
While some projects may continue year-round, it is expected that your NSG grant money is spent by May 30, 2024.
What do you need to think about when you are estimating your project costs?
Grant requests for projects are expected to be under $500. However, applications that offer unique and creative ways of meeting the NSG goals may be considered for additional funding.
Grant money may be used to pay people for services (also called honorariums) to help with the project. An honorarium is a small fee paid to someone for their in-kind skills or knowledge contributions. Examples: opening/welcome from an Indigenous Elder, or an artist sharing skills. Total honorarium(s) may not be more than $350 per project.
You are responsible for keeping expense receipts to account for all project costs.
What do you need to know if you use a public space (for example, a neighbourhood street or park) for your Culture NSG project?
Projects taking place on neighbourhood streets or public spaces and/or parks must follow municipal by-laws and have proper permits.
What do you need to think about when carrying out your project?
Your project is expected to address one or more of the NSG program goals and objectives listed above. The primary focus should be on increasing relationships between neighbours and deepening neighbours' involvement within their community.
Your project must take place within the neighbourhood or community where your application is processed.
Festival-style events are expected to focus on a specific neighbourhood or community with a range of 300 attendees. Projects that are part of festivals must demonstrate an activity within the event that helps residents to develop or strengthen relationships.
What do you do after you receive the grant money?
To help future applicants, please document your project with photos, videos or by writing a summary of your event. Share these with your local NSG Coordinator.
Project leaders are expected to attend the NSG Celebration at the end of the grant year. Your local coordinator will invite you to the event, and you may be asked to share your project story with other attendees.
Clayoquot Biosphere Trust should be acknowledged by displaying appropriate logos on event posters or other project promotional materials. Logos will be provided.
After your project is complete, you must fill out an evaluation survey. Your NSG Coordinator will provide further instructions about the survey close to project completion date.
You must return any unused grant money to your NSG Coordinator.
Curious to see what the application form looks like, CLICK HERE to see an example.
Applications are now closed, we will be accepting applications for Neighbourhood Small Grants again in the spring of 2024. Stay tuned for more details!
Watch this video featuring local Culture NSG projects in the Clayoquot Sound
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2023 and will be reopening in early 2024. Sign up for our newsletter to receive timely updates about our grants, including when they open for applications.
Funding Priorities
While the Arts & Culture Committee is open to creative ideas, funding priority will be given to projects that:
Provide age-friendly opportunities for participation in arts & cultural activities (particularly inter-generational and for youth);
Foster cross-community and/or cross-cultural engagement, teaching, and learning;
Contribute to language development (Nuu-chah-nulth and other languages);
Build capacity in the arts;
Deliver equity-seeking initiatives that aim to address barriers to equal access and participation in the arts (BIPOC, LGBT2Q+, people with disabilities etc.).
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2023 and will be reopening in early 2024. Sign up for our newsletter to receive timely updates about our grants, including when they open for applications.
Funding Priorities
Funding priority will be given to projects that contribute to:
the development of accessible, inclusive, and sustainable communities;
the development of healthy, supportive, and equitable environments;
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2023 and will be reopening in early 2024. Sign up for our newsletter to receive timely updates about our grants, including when they open for applications.
Funding Priorities
Funding priority will be given to projects that:
Address key species and ecosystem threats within the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. For example, the threat of sea star wasting disease, the impact of commercial herring fishery on local marine ecosystem health, knowledge gaps on the threats of finfish aquaculture, the threat of invasive species on local native species diversity.
Address habitat conservation, restoration and/or protection for target species or ecosystems of ecological and/or cultural importance. For example, research that addresses habitat for keystone species with multiple food chain linkages such as salmon, habitat species of economic importance and/or cultural importance, and/or food security importance, habitat for charismatic species that elevate conservation awareness, and habitat for species that we feel we have a high stewardship responsibility to protect.
Address key threats to Indigenous ways of knowing about sacred places and important knowledge for vibrant Nuu-chah-nulth people, culture, and connections to place;
Align with First Nations priorities and follow protocols. Research must be supported by the First Nation in whose territory it will be conducted.
Support the spirit and intent of the UNESCO Biosphere designation and contribute to specific conservation values and actions that have broad application for mitigating an ecological and/or cultural threat such that system resilience is supported. Conservation action refers to a variety of responses that can mitigate the threat. For example, land or water protection, land or water management/restoration, species monitoring and management, education and policy change, and new modes of governance that support ecological and cultural resilience.
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2023 and will be reopening in early 2024. Sign up for our newsletter to receive timely updates about our grants, including when they open for applications.
Funding Priorities
Funding priority will be given to projects that:
Builds capacity and provides education/training opportunities for local residents;
Connects people across communities within the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region;
2023 Funding Process
Recognizing that full application and partnership development takes time and resources, Vital Grants uses a two-stage application process with an initial shorter Letter of Interest (LOI) followed by a full application for a smaller group of applicants. Those with successful LOIs will be invited to submit a full application and receive $500 to support application development costs. The LOI will be reviewed by staff for fit with our general funding guidelines and with Vital Grants funding focuses. The full applications will be reviewed by a committee of diverse members from different communities with a range of knowledge and experience using this matrix. Their funding recommendations will be approved by the CBT board. Vital Grants will also pilot multi-year funding for one project this year.
2023 Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2023 and will be reopening in early 2024. Sign up for our newsletter to receive timely updates about our grants, including when they open for applications.
2023 Funding Focus
Support teams with well-developed timelines of activities and budgets that reflect their demonstrated knowledge of what is needed to have a positive impact on a regional priority or complex sustainability challenge.
Support the capacity of an existing or expanding project team to grow a project to new communities, schools or geographic areas within the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region to have a positive impact on a regional priority or complex sustainability challenge.
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2023 and will be reopening in early 2024. Sign up for our newsletter to receive timely updates about our grants, including when they open for applications.
Funding Criteria
Funding priority will be given to projects that:
Research that addresses key species and ecosystem threats within the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region.
Research that addresses a trend of degradation on target species or ecosystems of ecological and/or cultural importance.
Research that applies to conservation action and can be applied in other areas as well (broad application). Conservation action refers to management responses that can mitigate the threat.
Research that aligns with First Nations priorities and follows protocols. For example, Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society has identified stream restoration as a priority. Research must be supported by the First Nation in whose territory it will be conducted.
Research proposals that support the spirit and intent of the UNESCO Biosphere designation.
Research findings need to be communicated in a public forum of some kind.
The committee encourages you to only request the amount you need as they have a limited budget and want to assist as many groups or projects as they can. Members of the CBT Youth Committee will review all proposals and select the recipients. Please read the information below to learn about funding timelines, amounts, and priorities. If you have any questions or concerns about this grant, please contact Jason Sam: jason@clayoquotbiosphere.org.
Funding Timeline
Applications are open from November 20th, 2023 until December 12th, 2023.
Funding Priorities
Funding priority will be given to projects that contribute to:
Activities or projects focused on youth health & wellness (food learning activities, activities that promote physical health or mental health)
Local learning opportunities (Field trips, Recreation, Workshops.)
Youth-led Projects (Leadership groups, Dances, Fun activities, etc.)
Co-ordinated by Tsimka Martin with direction from the nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) Language Committee this grant funds up to $2,000 per year to ONE leader in EACH of the following nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) Nations: hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht First Nation), ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht), ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations), Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation), and tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation). Funding is for individuals who are members of a Nation with projects that are committed to language revitalization efforts.
Funding Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants MUST be a member of one or more of the following nations:
hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht First Nation);
ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht);
ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations);
Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation); and/or
tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation)
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2023 and will be reopening in early 2024. Sign up for our newsletter to receive timely updates about our grants, including when they open for applications.
Funding Priorities
The NLG will fund language revitalization projects, with the following priorities:
Learning language in one’s own territory (getting learners out on the lands and water for various activities);
Events or exercises designed to support silent speakers;
Getting and giving traditional names;
Finding and sharing family information;
Creative use of language (making new songs, plays or skits in the language with community).
The nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) language committee is made up of language leaders from each of the 5 nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) Nations who this grant serves. This is our pilot year and we are excited to learn from the process as we go! To learn more about the thinking behind these grants, check out the NLG Policy Manual.
If you are interested in applying for this grant, as a teacher or a learner of the language, please follow the directions for applying as a "student" in the "create an account" section. Leave blank the CRA question and the website/organization email question.
