CHF BC
SUSTAINABILITY GRANT
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, CHF BC is offering to our member housing co-ops a grant focused on environmental sustainability. Eligible projects include those with a focus on sustainability, greening initiatives, reducing the impact of climate change, and more.
Applications are now closed. Thank you for your interest.
Overview
The CHF BC Sustainability Grant is a one-time grant of $4,000. It will be awarded to one housing co-op in BC.
The goal of the sustainability grant is to:
- Create awareness about environmental sustainability
- Support sustainability-focused initiatives within housing co ops
- Fund action, engagement, and change around sustainability, climate change, and greening projects
If you have any questions about the grant, please email sustainabilitygrant@chf.bc.ca or call 604-879-5111 (toll-free 1-866-879-5111)
Eligibility
What you need to know before applying for a sustainability grant.
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Housing co-ops in BC that are CHF BC members in good standing are encouraged to apply.
Projects should focus on environmental sustainability.
Eligible projects may include the following:
- Community or communal gardens at the co-op
- Spaces for pollinators (e.g. nectar-rich plants, pollinator gardens, beehives, mason bee ‘houses’, etc.)
- Composting
- Bike storage
- Low / zero waste
- Water use reduction (e.g. rainwater harvesting and storage, xeriscaping, driplines)
Grant money can be used to help pay for supplies, equipment, materials, installation, and other costs directly related to the implementation of the project in your application.
Ineligible activities and costs include the following:
- Normal operating costs
- Honorariums or payments to co-op members
- Staffing costs
- Regular maintenance costs
- Costs for projects or work that are on-going or already completed
- Planned renewal or major project costs (including retrofits and upgrades eligible under existing incentive programs, e.g. Energy Conservation Assistance Program)
Projects must take place at your housing co-op. Any in-person activities should follow public health guidelines.
Application Requirements
Applicants must agree to the Terms and Conditions associated with the grant, including an obligation to repay up to the full amount of the grant received if any terms are not complied with.
- Applications must be submitted by co-op applicants by email using the CHF BC Sustainability Grant application form.
- Proposed projects should meet the stated eligibility criteria.
- It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their application is complete prior to submission.
Complete an Application
When completing your grant application, here are some things to keep in mind.
These points can help ensure that your application sufficiently describes your project and that needed information is provided.
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- Write using clear and concise language
- Ensure that the purpose and outcome of your project is described
- Make sure your application covers the who, what, where, why, when, and how
- Ensure that your description touches on the impact of your project on the co-op, its members, and sustainability
- Remember to identify if and how your project will touch on inclusion and accessibility
- Ask someone else to read over your application and give you feedback
- Make your project’s goals realistic
- Ensure that your project fits within the one-year timeline
- It’s okay if your project finishes early but make sure you’ve allotted enough time to get work done
- Remember your milestones and quarterly updates
- Identify the costs that are necessary and reasonable to complete your project
- It helps to get quotes to confirm costs (especially if a contractor is required)
- Clearly outline the amount of funding requested for each item (e.g. labour, materials, etc.)
- When developing a budget, round to whole dollars
- Keep in mind the overall grant limit
- A good strategy is to request an amount that is reasonable for your project but does not significantly over- or under-estimate project costs
- Remember to account for any matching funds or in-kind donations from partners
- Make sure to track your expenses
FAQs
Some answers to questions you may have about the sustainability grant.
If you have any further questions, please email sustainabilitygrant@chf.bc.ca or call 604-879-5111 (toll-free 1-866-879-5111)
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Applications will be reviewed after the deadline passes. Results are expected to be announced on or around July 18, 2022.
Projects should be started and completed within a 12-month period from the release of grant funding
No. A housing co-op can only make one application for the CHF BC Sustainability Grant to cover a specific project.
A committee comprised of Climate Emergency Task Force members, potentially with additional CHF BC staff, will decide which application receives funding. They are called the Sustainability Grant Committee.
Applications are assessed based on the answers given by applicants and whether a project meets the goals of the Sustainability Grant. Projects that can show a significant and long-term benefit to a broad number of co-op members and clearly show how accessibility, equity, and inclusion issues will be addressed may be given priority.
The CHF BC Sustainability Grant is fully funded and supported by CHF BC.
Sustainability Grant Committee
A committee comprised of Climate Emergency Task Force members, potentially with additional CHF BC staff, will decide which application receives funding.
Applications will be assessed based on the answers given by applicants and whether a project meets the goals of the sustainability grant.
Projects that can show a significant and long-term benefit to a broad number of co-op members and clearly show how accessibility, equity, and inclusion issues will be addressed may be given priority.