$10,000 – $15,000 for capital projects and pilot programs.

Submit a letter of intent between October 1 – November 30. Funding is distributed to successful applicants in the summer of the following year.

Give Where You Live Fund recipient organizations must:

• Be a registered charity or other qualified done defined under the Income Tax Act;
• Operate within the geographical boundaries of Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District 68, which includes the communities of Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Cedar,
• Gabriola Island and Lantzville;
• Demonstrate fiscal responsibility and effective management;
• Demonstrate inclusiveness and respect for diversity and equity.

The Give Where You Live Fund offers grants for capital and pilot projects within Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Cedar, Gabriola Island, and Lantzville. Grants support projects that address community needs, align with our mission, and have strong community support. Recipients must contribute their own resources, secure at least 50% of project costs from other sources, and provide plans for ongoing funding if the project continues beyond the grant period. Grants are not available for retroactive funding, debt retirement, general fundraising, administrative and staffing costs, or discriminatory activities.

Capital projects involve new construction, major renovations, or purchases over $10,000 with long-term benefits. Pilot projects test new ideas on a smaller scale to refine and improve before broader implementation. Changes to approved projects require Nanaimo Foundation approval, and all applications must meet reporting and eligibility criteria.

Read our completed policies here.

To apply for a Give Where You Live grant, submit a Letter of Intent via email to grants@nanaimofoundation.com between October 1 and November 30. Your Letter of Intent should be a PDF attachment with the subject line “Letter of Intent – Organization Name” and no longer than two pages or 1,000 words. Include a summary of your organization, the community needs addressed by your project, partnerships, a brief description of activities, start and end dates, the requested amount and its allocation, your organization’s charitable number, and the contact details of the applicant.

After submitting your Letter of Intent, Nanaimo Foundation representatives and the Grants Advisory Committee will review it for eligibility and alignment with our priorities. If your proposal is deemed suitable, you’ll be invited to submit a full grant application. The application will be further reviewed, possibly involving additional consultations and assessments. The Grants Advisory Committee will then make a recommendation to the Board of Directors, who will make the final decision. Once a grant is awarded, a Grant Agreement must be signed, and grant payments will be processed. Recipients must manage funds responsibly, report on project outcomes, and acknowledge the Foundation’s support publicly.

Email us at grants@nanaimofoundation.com.