Thrive Impact Fund
Thrive Impact Fund is a place-based fund that sees untapped potential in local communities and a desire for investors to see their money make both financial and impact returns.
Who Should Apply
Non-profits, charities, and enterprises operated by people who traditionally are overlooked by conventional lenders.
Maximum Amount: not provided (loan)
Apply Now: thriveimpactfund.ca
Central Okanagan Foundation Project Grants
The Central Okanagan Foundation supports registered charities within the Central Okanagan including Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna and Peachland.
Who Should Apply
Central Okanagan registered charities
Maximum Amount: $15,000
Deadline: October 1
Apply Now: centralokanaganfoundation.org
South Okanagan Similkameen Foundation Project Grants
CFSOS has refreshed its funding priorities to better align with the emerging needs in our communities. These changes reflect local and national perspectives brought about by many factors including the COVID 19 pandemic, changes in Indigenous relations, and the efforts to further Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Who Should Apply
Southern Okanagan and Similkameen registered charities.
Maximum Amount: not provided
Deadline: October 15
Apply Now: cfso.net
Vernon Council Discretionary Grants
This stream provides one-time seed money to build agency capacity through engaging in customer driven revenue development models to help improve their sustainability while solving long term community, social, and environmental challenges.
Who Should Apply
Community based Not-for-Profits or Registered Societies that contribute to the general interest and quality of life for Vernon residents.
Maximum Amount: Up to $25,000
Deadline: October 1 to 31
Apply Now: vernon.ca
Social Enterprise & Scaling Impact Streams
Innoweave provides funded coaching access for organizations looking to expand a program or implement a new approach or deepen their social impact. Yes, Purppl can help provide the coaching.
Who Should Apply
Any organization with a clear and shared definition of the impact they seek to achieve.
Maximum Amount: $10,000
Deadlines: December 15, April 15, August 15
Apply Now: innoweave.ca
Training & Wage Subsidies for Environmental Jobs
These programs help employers attract new talent, while saving initial wage and training costs. Best of all, young practitioners and students will be able to kickstart their career journey and gain meaningful work experience.
Who Should Apply
Youth (30 and under) and Host Employers in Canada.
Maximum Amount: Up to 80% of wages.
Deadlines: Not specified.
Apply Now: eco.ca
Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)
Supports tourism businesses and organizations adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth.
Who Should Apply
Non-profit and for profit tourism operators.
Maximum Amount: $100,000 in grants or $500,000 in financing.
Deadlines: Not specified.
Apply Now: wd-deo.gc.ca/
First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC)
All the programs they fund support the vitality of Indigenous languages, arts and cultural heritage, with an aim to rebuild cultural systems impacted by colonization and support Indigenous self-determination.
Who Should Apply
Many grants available with varying application criteria.
Maximum Amount: n/a
Deadlines: 2021 and 2022 deadlines (Art grants now open)
Apply Now: fpcf.ca
Indigenous Growth Fund
The Indigenous Growth Fund (IGF) is a new $150M investment fund that will provide access to the capital that Indigenous small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have long sought and lacked. Indigenous entrepreneurs across all industries, including emergent exporters and food and agriculture related businesses, will be able to access the Fund via business loans from a network of Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) throughout the country.
Who Should Apply
Indigenous small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
Maximum Amount: Not provided (loan)
Deadlines: Not provided.
Apply Now: bdc.ca
Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
With an investment of up to $350.8 million over four years, it will help Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses and succeed now and into the future.
Who Should Apply
Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country.
Maximum Amount: $250,000 (loan)
Deadlines: Not provided.
Apply Now: ic.gc.ca
Women Entrepreneurship Strategy
The government is advancing women’s economic empowerment with the first ever Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), a more than $6-billion investment that aims to increase women-owned businesses’ access to the financing, talent, networks and expertise they need to start up, scale up and access new markets.
Who Should Apply
Women business owners and entrepreneurs.
Maximum Amount: Loans of up to $50,000 + mentorship and knowledge expansion opportunities.
Deadline: Not provided.
Apply Now: ic.gc.ca/
Vancity Unity Women Entrepreneurs Program
Vancity and Women’s Enterprise Centre give women, and anyone who identifies as women or non-binary, more access to the funds they need, more networking opportunities with like-minded people, and more advice from experienced mentors.
Who Should Apply
Start-up and growth stage businesses that are majority woman-owned and controlled, and struggling to meet working capital needs due to COVID-19.
Maximum Amount: Not provided.
Deadline: Not provided.
Apply Now: join.vancity.com
Impact Investment Fund
If your organization needs a loan for a credible business opportunity, but isn’t able to secure conventional financing, this fund may be able to help.
Who Should Apply
The Impact Investment Fund provides loans to First Nations organizations, social enterprises, non-profits and businesses that are not able to secure conventional financing to support credible investment opportunities which have significant positive and measurable community benefits.
Maximum Amount: Not provided.
Deadline: Not applicable.
Apply Now: ourtrust.org
Kelowna Organization Development Grants
This program aims to provide assistance to non-profit sport, event, social service and cultural organizations for the purpose of undertaking activities or initiatives which develop the organization’s capacity and sustainability.
Who Should Apply
Kelowna-based, established, non-profit society or a registered charity with a sport, event, social service or cultural mandate.
Maximum Amount: Funding can be used to cover 100% of the consulting or tuition/registration costs, to a maximum of $5,000.
Deadline: Open in-take
Apply Now: kelowna.ca
Community Gaming Grants
Community Gaming Grants funding enhances community life through supporting programs that: provide opportunities for enrichment through participation in sport and the arts, enhance and protect our local environment, improve quality of life for community members; and, enhance and support the safety of our communities.
Who Should Apply
Not-for-profit organizations providing programs or services of direct benefit to the broader community.
Maximum Amount: $250,000
Deadlines:
- Arts & Culture: Apply between February 1 and April 30
- Sport: Apply between March 1 and May 31
- Public Safety: Apply between July 1 and September 30
- Environment: Apply between July 1 and August 31
- Human and Social Services: Apply between June 1 and November 30
Apply Now: gov.bc.ca
Telus Friendly Future Foundation
The TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is dedicated to funding health, education and technology focused charitable programs for at-risk youth in communities across Canada.
Who Should Apply
Registered Canadian charities with a focus on education, health and technology initiatives for at-risk youth.
Maximum Amount: $20,000 (or up to $200,000 for national, territorial or provincial charities).
Deadlines:
- Thompson Okanagan – closed for 2021
- Vancouver – closed for 2021
Apply Now: friendlyfuture.com
Venture Internship Program
Internships for post-secondary students across Canada. Dynamic, aspirational young people find their way to the Venture for Canada community. We select the ones with the character traits Canadian startups and SMEs say they need and we train them to stick a landing.
- 75% subsidy
- Each funding round can cover up to 20 weeks of employment
- Employers can participate in multiple semesters, and even hire the same eligible student for up to two consecutive semesters
Who Should Apply
- < 500 employees
- Any industry, offering an entrepreneurial role
- Located in BC, AB, MB, SK, NB, NS, PEI or NL
Maximum Amount: Up to $2,800
Deadline: Not provided.
Apply Now: ventureforcanada.ca
