BCF Community Grants: Frequently Asked Questions

Each year, Banff Canmore Foundation makes grants to organizations and initiatives across the Bow Valley, from Lake Louise to Stoney Nakoda First Nation, to support projects and people stepping up to help make this outstanding place better.

The farthest-reaching grant program in the Bow Valley, these grants channel local residents’ support to projects with the greatest potential to address our most pressing challenges and to drive positive change.

Big or small, any organization based between Lake Louise and Mînî Thnî that has Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) charitable status (“qualified donees”) can apply. Learn more: Qualified donees

The application season will open earlier this year, on December 9, 2024. The application closes on January 15, 2025.

Subscribe to BCF’s newsletter to stay updated. To subscribe, go to banffcanmorefoundation.org, scroll down and join our newsletter. You may also follow us on Facebook at Banff Canmore Foundation or on Instagram at @banffcanmorefoundation.

Our grants are hosted in our Online Grants Portal. This is the most efficient way for us to manage applications, award grants, follow project progress, and interact with grantees. As an applicant, you can find active BCF grant opportunities, create and submit reports, and see your history.

We understand that for some, this might not be the ideal way to apply. We aim to reduce barriers in the application process. If you need accommodations (e.g. prefer to apply through an interview or other methods) please email us at gro.noitadnuoferomnacffnab@stnarg before December 20, 2024.

You can also prepare by downloading the BCF Community Grants 2024 – Application Preview.

If you are not a qualified donee but are partnered with an organization that is, you can also apply through them. They will be your fiscal sponsor and you will be their sponsored organization in this application process. Fiscal sponsors are taking responsibility in applying, receiving and disbursing the funds according to the grant agreement and the budget declared, and for ensuring that final reporting is completed on or before the due date. It is also the fiscal sponsor’s responsibility to assess the alignment of any project they are supporting with their own charitable objects.

These are some helpful guidelines for fiscal sponsors: 

Registered charities making grants to non-qualified donees: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/charities-giving/charities/policies-guidance/charities-making-grants-non-qualified-donees.html 

A Guide for Charity/Non-Charity Partnerships: https://calgaryfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Better-Together-A-Guide-to-Charity-Non-Charity-Partnerships.pdf 

The information provided in this program document is intended for guidance only. Applicants are encouraged to seek independent legal advice to ensure they fully understand the terms, conditions, and legal obligations related to fiscal partnerships. BCF does not provide legal counsel and is not responsible for any legal interpretations or advice regarding this grant application.

Equipment, infrastructure, digital assets, research support, programming – any effort that has a positive impact on the Bow Valley can be considered. If you’re not sure your project is the right fit, reach out to us directly.

Our Community Grants policy outlines the following restrictions:

• Grants are not given to support annual fundraising campaigns, form letter requests or telephone campaigns.
• Grants are not made to religious organizations for direct religious activities.
• Grants are not made for team support or sponsorship.
• Grants are not made for capital deficits

Yes. An organization may apply for multiple grants. The Grant Review Committee appreciates seeing the organization’s awareness of its own capacity.

If you are a qualified donee applying for a grant for your organization and intending to serve as a fiscal sponsor for another organization, the projects will be reviewed independently and will not affect the likelihood of your project to be approved or declined.

Yes, if it is defined that, if successful, the amount awarded will be spent on items/activities/programming initiatives between March 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.

Financial support is specific to your needs and is scaled, taking into consideration all other applicants and the strength of your submission. Generally, grants range from $500 to $10,000. The maximum amount you can apply for is $15,000. To see grants awarded in 2024, please read here.

BCF grants match contributions from our community with local organizations who can put those funds to work. Much of the funding for the Community Grants program comes BCF donors and partners. A portion comes from investment earnings of the BCF Community Granting Fund, which continues to grow through donor contributions.

Together with our partners, donors and grant recipients, BCF is catalyzing change in our community. Learn more and be a part of this change by contributing to the BCF Community Fund.

We receive roughly 50 applications which are adjudicated by volunteers from the community with a wide range of relevant experience and expertise. BCF’s Program Committee also oversees leadership circles, community assessments, capacity building for community organizations, sector and community meetings, and grant review. The committee scrutinizes each application, along with the Grant Review Committee, over a few weeks and then acts as a jury to determine amounts awarded. The slate of recommended awardees is then submitted to the BCF Board of Directors for their approval.

If you would like to volunteer as a Grant Review Committee member for this cycle, reach out to us at gro.noitadnuoferomnacffnab@stnarg on or before January 15, 2025.

Grants are announced in March of each year. Each applicant will receive an email from BCF with their results and status can also be found in the Online Grants Portal.

The Community Grant priorities for 2024-2025 are guided the following BCF strategic priorities:

• Support Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; advance equity and inclusion to strengthen relationships between Indigenous people and settlers; create opportunities to increase Indigenous cultural awareness and learning throughout the Bow Valley.
• Support initiatives that enhance affordability for people who live and work in the Bow Valley; foster a sustainable, locally owned, diverse, inclusive, and resilient economy.
• Support protection and restoration of the natural environment, with a focus on community action to address climate change and reduce emissions.

Foster community wellness and safety through support of essential social services, housing and food security, and mental health initiatives; ensure a healthy community and protection of vulnerable people.

Timeline

December 2024

• Application opens (December 9, 2024)
• Due date for expressing accommodation needs (December 20, 2024)
• Call for Grant Reviewers
• Sharing resources on Grant Writing

January 2025

• Application close (January 15, 2025)
• Start of Grant Review period

February 2025

• Grant Review Committee meetings
• Grant Review submits the slate of recommended grants

March 2025

• BCF Board of Directors approve the slate of recommended grants (early March)
• BCF informs applicants of the status of their application through GLM
• Fund disbursal (late March)

March 2026

• Project end date (March 31, 2026)

April 2026

• Grant reports due date (April 30, 2026)

Contact BCF

• Email gro.noitadnuoferomnacffnab@stnarg.
• Leave us a message at 403.762.8549 and we will call you back.
• You’re welcome to pop by our office at 214 Banff Avenue. We try our best to be available Monday-Thursday, 10 am-4 pm. To ensure we can accommodate a discussion at a time that works for you, feel free to set appointments via email as well.