Give Where You Live Grants Are Now Open for Letters of Intent

Nanaimo Foundation is pleased to announce that Letters of Intent (LOIs) are now open for the 2026 Give Where You Live (GWYL) Grant Program.

The Give Where You Live program supports community-driven initiatives that strengthen wellbeing, equity, and opportunity across Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Cedar, Gabriola Island, and Lantzville. We fund capital projects and pilot initiatives that respond to demonstrated community needs and align with Nanaimo Foundation’s commitment to trust-based philanthropy.

LOI Deadline:
11:59 PM on March 23, 2026

New This Year: Online Application Portal

We’re excited to introduce a new online grant application portal to make applying easier and more accessible.

All Letters of Intent must now be submitted through the online portal. Paper or emailed submissions will no longer be accepted.

To apply, organizations will need to:

• Create an account for your charity or sponsoring organization
• Complete and submit the LOI using the online form

We encourage applicants to set up their account early and allow time to familiarize themselves with the system before the deadline.

Need help?
If you experience any issues with the application portal, please contact Chelsea Pope, Grants & Communications Coordinator:

• 📧 chelsea@nanaimofoundation.com
• 📞 250-816-9723

We’re happy to help troubleshoot or answer questions.

About the Give Where You Live Grant Program

The Give Where You Live program is designed to provide flexible, respectful, and responsive funding that supports not only projects, but also the organizational capacity required to deliver them effectively. We recognize that strong organizations are essential to strong communities.

Trust-Based Philanthropy in Practice

The updated program is guided by trust-based philanthropy principles, including:

• Mutual trust and respect for community expertise
• Flexibility in how funds may be used
• Reduced administrative burden
• Transparency, partnership, and shared learning
• A commitment to equity, inclusion, and reconciliation

Funding Streams and Grant Amounts

Capital Projects

Supports the acquisition, improvement, or maintenance of tangible assets that provide long-term community benefit.

Maximum grant: $25,000

Eligible costs may include construction or renovation, equipment purchases, major maintenance, professional fees, staffing, and administrative expenses directly related to project delivery.

Pilot Projects

Supports time-limited initiatives that test, learn, and refine new or innovative responses to community needs.

Maximum grant: $15,000

Eligible costs include program delivery, staffing, coordination, evaluation, and reasonable administrative overhead.

What’s Changed — and Why It Matters

Recent updates to the Give Where You Live program are intended to reduce barriers, improve clarity, and better reflect the realities facing local charities and non-profits. Key changes include:

• • Administrative and staffing costs are now eligible, recognizing that strong projects require people, systems, and coordination

  • Increased grant caps for both funding streams, allowing projects to be scoped more realistically

  • Greater flexibility around matching funds, which may be adjusted or waived where appropriate

  • Simplified, learning-focused reporting, with an emphasis on reflection rather than compliance

  • A shorter timeline from application (February) to funding (early Summer 2026), with the overall process reduced by approximately three months

What hasn’t changed is our focus on accountability, fiscal responsibility, and meaningful community impact.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants must:

• Be a registered charity or other qualified donee, or be sponsored by one
• Operate within Nanaimo–Ladysmith School District 68
• Demonstrate sound governance and financial stewardship
• Show a commitment to inclusiveness, equity, and reconciliation

See our Give Where You Live policies and more on this page.

Ready to Apply?

If your organization is considering a capital or pilot project that responds to community needs, we encourage you to submit a Letter of Intent through our new portal.

Following the Letter of Intent, selected applicants will be invited to complete a longer application.

All applicants will be updated in mid-April 2026 with next steps, whether or not they are invited to proceed to the next stage.

If you have questions or run into any technical issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Chelsea at Nanaimo Foundation at chelsea@nanaimofoundation.com or 250-816-9723.

We look forward to hearing from you, and to continuing to invest in the organizations doing essential work in our community.