Community branch grants

Investing in local communities—together.

Community Branch Grants are funded through our Shared Success program and are led by Vancity branches in the communities they serve. These grants support local projects and events that help Vancity members and neighbourhoods thrive.

Grants

Funding support for smaller projects

Grant amounts

Requests up to $10,000 are considered

Who can apply.

Community Branch Grants are available to organizations in the communities Vancity serves, including:

Not-for-profit organizations
First Nation governments and Indigenous organizations
Co-operatives
Labour unions

In the spirit of reciprocity, we prioritize Vancity member organizations and the work they do in community.

Priority is given to initiatives that are led by or will partner with Indigenous, Black, people of colour, newcomers, women, persons with disabilities or other underserved communities in the planning and delivery of the initiative.

Initiatives we support.

We fund projects that:

Align with Vancity’s impact areas

Create meaningful community benefit

Build shared value for Vancity members and the local community

Impact areas we prioritize.

Every community has unique needs. Community Branch Grants seek to respond to local priorities while advancing Vancity’s broader impact goals.

Priority is given to projects aligned with one or more of Vancity’s four impact areas.

Strengthen the financial resilience of renters by reducing housing related financial stress and supporting pathways to stability, savings, and long-term housing security.
Advance inclusive pathways to affordable homeownership through models that address barriers to access.
Strengthen the affordable housing ecosystem by improving collaboration, coordination, and shared problem solving across organizations, governments, and community partners addressing housing needs.

Reduce emissions through practical, local projects that help people and organizations choose lower‑carbon options and prepare for climate risks like extreme heat, flooding, and wildfire.
Center equity‑deserving communities in climate solutions by supporting projects that are designed and led by these communities and ensure they benefit from climate action.
Build skills and confidence to take action through education, peer learning, mentorship, and networks that help communities move from awareness to action.

Incubate co-operatives and social enterprises by supporting early-stage development, governance, and financial readiness so community-owned organizations can launch, grow, and sustain themselves locally.
Build pathways to safe, stable, and future-ready employment by supporting training, entrepreneurship, and workforce transitions—particularly for equity-deserving groups—into good, green, and sustainable jobs.
Advance local business ecosystems by strengthening collaboration, adaptability, and resilience among locally rooted businesses, rather than supporting individual firms or one-off promotions.

Build trust-based, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous and equity-deserving communities through community-led, culturally grounded approaches that strengthen long-term partnership and accountability.
Advance financial empowerment and economic participation by providing financial education and protection from financial harm.
Support pathways to stability and self-determination through improved access to housing and entrepreneurship for equity-deserving groups.

Our approach: reciprocity.

Community Branch Grants are guided by reciprocity—a two-way approach where community partners and Vancity contribute, learn, and benefit together. We support projects that create meaningful community impact and offer opportunities for Vancity members or branches to participate, connect, or learn alongside the communities we serve.

Decion-making and Reporting.

Community Branch Grants are intended to be flexible and responsive to local needs.

Decisions will be made and communicated within 6 weeks.

Vancity reserves the right to approve or decline applications at its discretion.

Note that, if a grant is approved, we may not be able to fund the entire amount requested.

At this time, there are no formal reporting requirements for recipients. However, recipients are encouraged to share the outcomes of initiatives supported with us. We love to hear how the project went and to receive videos, photos, etc.

The report form is below in fillable PDF. Once your project is complete you can send the form to communitypartnerships@vancity.com

Get the report form

How to apply.

Applications are reviewed locally by Vancity branches from April 1st - November 15th.

In the application form (link below), you will be asked to select the branch to which you would like to submit your application.

Apply for a Community Branch Grant

Questions?

If you have questions about eligibility or fit, we encourage you to connect with your local Vancity branch.