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.
This new fund supports local solutions that break down barriers to play so more children can move, create, and connect. The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust is working with 22 participating community foundations across Canada to deliver Free to Play, created by Community Foundations of Canada with support from the Waltons Trust, the Lawson Foundation, and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.
Organizations can apply for funding to deliver creative programs that engage children in outdoor play. Eligible applicants include registered charities or non-profit organizations, including Indigenous Governing Bodies, incorporated non-profit organizations, such as a community group, Indigenous nation/community, school board, school, or local organization registered federally or provincially.
The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust has $176 000 to allocate locally using a participatory grant-making process for the first round. We encourage organizations to apply for the amount that best fits their project needs. Taking only what you need helps ensure we can support as many strong local initiatives as possible, while still resourcing projects for success.
Minimum Funding Request: $5 000
Maximum Funding Request: $50,000
Increase opportunities for outdoor play;
Reduce barriers that limit everyday outdoor play opportunities;
Contribute to the well-being, confidence, and healthy development of children in the community; and
Contribute to a long-term shift that values outdoor play as essential to childhood.
Outdoor play is voluntary engagement in an activity that takes place outdoors, is fun and rewarding, and is driven by children’s own curiosity and motivation. It gives children room to explore, move, take risks, and play their own way, often alongside other children, caregivers, and community members. Caregivers and community members help create the conditions for outdoor play, but children lead the outdoor play itself.
Running, climbing, digging, building, splashing, rolling, imagining, pretending
Playing with natural materials like sticks, mud, water, sand, grass, or snow
Taking risks, testing ideas, and learning how to navigate challenge and uncertainty
Outdoor play is more than fun, it’s essential for healthy childhood development.
Research shows that when children are free to explore, take risks, and use their imagination, they build confidence, resilience, and problem-solving skills that last a lifetime.
Outdoor play helps children:
Develop independence and decision-making skills.
Build physical strength and coordination through active movement.
Strengthen mental health and reduce stress.
Foster creativity, curiosity, and social connection with peers.
When children are free to play on their own terms, they don’t just grow, they thrive. And when children thrive, families and communities do too.
The CBT is using a participatory grantmaking process for Free to Play. This means community members and applicants will help inform funding recommendations. This approach centres lived experience, increases transparency, and supports decisions.
Applications open on November 28, 2025, at 9:00 am PST and close on February 24, 2026, at 5:00 pm PST.
The CBT will be hosting workshops in the New Year to help guide potential applicants. Stay tuned for more details.
Have questions? Email brooke@clayoquotbiosphere.org.
2025 Fall Funding Timeline
Applications open: September 15th, 2025
Applications close: October 30th, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
The Fall 2025 Neighbourhood Small Grant cycle in the Clayoquot Sound region will be culture-themed. The goals of the Culture Neighbourhood Small Grants 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:
The Neighbourhood Small Grants program is guided by the following principles:
Terms & Conditions of the Culture Neighbourhood Small Grants Program
Who can apply?
What information do you need to know about Neighbourhood Small Grants?
What do you need to think about when you are estimating your project costs?
What do you need to know if you use a public space (for example, a neighbourhood street or park) for your NSG project?
What do you need to think about when carrying out your project?
What do you do after you receive the grant money?
Curious to see what the application form looks like, CLICK HERE to see an example.
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2025 and will be reopening in 2026. 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:
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2025 and will be reopening in 2026. 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:
In decision making the Community Development Advisory Committee will prioritize projects that have the biggest impact on those with the greatest need.
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2025 and will be reopening in 2026. 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:
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed for 2025 and will be reopening in 2026. 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:
2025 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.
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed. Sign up for our newsletter to receive timely updates about our grants, including when they open for applications.
2025 Funding Focus
Funding Timeline
Applications are now closed. 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:
View the Biosphere Research Award application question list here.
Co-ordinated by Brooke Wood 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:
Funding Timeline
Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until all funding has been allocated.
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).
If you have questions or want to talk about your application, please contact Brooke Wood (brooke@clayoquotbiosphere.org) or call the CBT office any time at 250-725-2219 (staff can help you make your application over the phone). To apply via our online grant system, click "apply now" below. To apply by email, download this application form, complete it, and email it to Brooke (brooke@clayoquotbiosphere.org).
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.
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 Brooke Wood: brooke@clayoquotbiosphere.org.
Funding Timeline
Applications open: October 15th, 2025
Applications close: November 1st, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
Funding Priorities
Funding priority will be given to projects that contribute to:
Questions? Email Brooke Wood at brooke@clayoquotbiosphere.org.
