Applicants must either be:

• A non-profit organization registered in BC from a marginalized community.
  or
• A project leader who is:
  • an individual or group from a marginalized community, and 
  • has found a willing non-profit sponsor organization.

Marginalized communities include but are not limited to:

• First Nations, Inuit or Métis
• Racialized or people of colour
• Deaf
• LGBTQ2+
• People who have/are: blind or low vision, physically impaired, mobility issues, or use mobility or other assistive devices
• People who are: neurodiverse, living with mental or chronic illness
• Other (tell us using the self-identification form)

Sponsor organizations may include:

• Non-profit organizations in one of the following jurisdictions, based on their physical address:
  • Saanich
  • Victoria
  • Oak Bay
  • Esquimalt
  • View Royal
  • Highlands
  • Metchosin
  • Sooke
  • Southern Gulf Islands (except Salt Spring Island)
• Organizations applying for Operating Grants and Project Grants can apply for their grant and act as a sponsor organization at the same time.

Sponsor organizations may not include:

• Organizations with overdue payments to any local government.
• Organizations that are bankrupt, seeking creditor protection, are unable to pay debts when they are due, or are under court supervision.

1. Read through the guidelines and sample application form for Equity Grants.
2. Contact us to confirm eligibility and request an application form.
3. Complete the application and self-identification forms. Be sure to show how the project will benefit people in the capital region.
4. If you have a sponsor organization, have them provide back-up documents. This should include an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) of the payment schedule.
5. Sign and scan page one of Part A of the application. Include this when you submit your application and supporting documents.
6. Email your application to the address found on the application form by 4:30 pm on the deadline.

If you have problems completing the application or emailing it to us, contact us at 250.360.3215.

• Purchasing, improving or maintaining capital assets (such as buildings, vehicles, equipment or land)
• Fundraising activities, contests or competitions
• Scholarships

Join CRD Arts & Culture staff for an online info session on February 29, 2024, from 12-1pm to learn about applying for Equity Grants. A short presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer period.

• Register for the 2024 Equity Grant information session
• 2022 video overview of Equity, IDEA, & Incubator Grants (with ASL and captioning)
• ASL video overview of Equity Grants 

If you are a project leader or group looking for a sponsor:

• Focus your search. Look for non-profit organizations that align with your goals or communities you want to reach with your project. Consider partnering with an organization you are already involved with. Learn more about potential sponsors by reading their mandate and activities. This information is often listed on their website or available by request.
• Start early. It will take you and your sponsor organization some time to put your application together.
• Make sure you and your sponsor organization are clear about roles and payment. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) you make with your sponsor should include this information.

• An Indigenous art collective partners with a non-profit organization in Metchosin. Together they request $5,000. They use this funding to develop a series of site-specific performance pieces.
• A Deaf artist partners with an organization in Saanich. Together they request $2,000 for an art program for the Deaf community.
• An organization in Esquimalt requests $2,500 to present a Queer film festival.

Acknowledge CRD support

You should acknowledge CRD Arts & Culture support in any promotion material related to your funded project.

• How to acknowledge funding

Final reports

You must send us a final report within two months of completing your project. You also have the option of having an interview in place of a written final report. Contact us to request final report forms or to request an interview.

• Sample Final Report Form: Equity Grants (PDF) - for information only