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Neighbourhood Small Grants: a tool to help us respond to COVID-19

This is an unprecedented time for all of us — but challenging times have a way of bringing out the best in West Coasters.

Neighbourhood Small Grants are based on a simple but powerful idea: when people feel a sense of connection and belonging to their neighbourhood, they are more likely to be engaged in activities that make it a better place to live. While COVID-19 has changed the way we can gather as neighbours, the underlying importance of connection and community service has never been greater.

The original plan was to accept and evaluate NSGs through March and April, but we realize that many of your earlier ideas (involving in-person events) aren’t possible right now. However, the NSG program is innovative and able to adapt to community needs. We plan to use NSG to help our community in the short term- but what this looks like exactly, we’re not sure yet! We’re currently researching how similar programs are innovating under this new public health reality and we know our community members will have great ideas as well.  Here’s our working plan:

  • Postpone the spring (“green grants”) round of NSG and offer a full environmental-themed NSG program later in the year
  • Reach out to our partner organizations and community members to continue brainstorming how NSG can help (maybe it’s a virtual gathering, maybe it’s a grocery delivery program… there are many possibilities!)
  • Keep the online application form open this spring and evaluate ideas on a rolling basis over the coming weeks/months

Remember, social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation! If you have an idea for how NSG can help our community respond to COVID-19, reach out to brooke@clayoquotbiosphere.org or call her at 250-725-8227!

Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants: a show of west coast community resilience

August 19, 2020
We’ve wrapped up our COVID-19 Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants (R-NSG) and couldn’t be more proud of our west coast communities! The 4 months since we launched the program have been a wild and unpredictable ride, but west coasters have come together to support each other— while maintaining physical distancing— in many inspiring and innovative ways.

CBT collaborates on a new SDG Guidebook

August 13, 2020
This week, Community Foundations of Canada launched a Guidebook and Toolkit to help Canada's 191 Community Foundations—and all the communities they support—find bolder, creative and innovative ways to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. CBT research director, Laura Loucks, helped author a case study on p. 29 about our organization's dual role as a community foundation and UNESCO Biosphere Region.

We've met our Giving Catalogue fundraising goal

July 2, 2020
On Giving Tuesday Now (May 5th) CBT launched the Community COVID-19 Response Giving Catalogue, a place where west coast registered charities and not-for-profits share current and emerging needs with people who want to help. We are excited to announce that we have met our $30,000 for local organizations!

Red dresses in the office window

June 30, 2020
If you walk by the CBT office at 316 Main Street later this week, you may notice the red dresses hanging in the front window. The simple and elegant dresses are adorned with black silhouetted feathers and bring awareness to the staggering amount of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) across Canada, but especially those from our community.

2019 Neighbourhood Small Grants Announced

October 29, 2019
We're so grateful for all the amazing community members who are taking on a Neighbourhood Small Grant project this year This blog post includes a list of all the funded projects, the organizers, the approximate dates, and a summary of the project in the organizers' words. Make sure to check out what events are happening in your neighbourhood!