There are several different levels of public funding available to artists and arts, culture and heritage organizations, as well as a wide range of private funding avenues.

Indigenous Funding

The First Peoples' Cultural Council offers funding to assist B.C. First Nations in their efforts to revitalize their languages, arts, cultures and heritage

Canadian Government Funding

Canada Council

BC Arts Council

BC Community Gaming Grants

Canada Summer Jobs

Department of Canadian Heritage

Creative Industries

Creative BC is an independent agency that is responsible for promoting the development of creative industries in BC.

FACTOR (the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Records)

Music BC administers the MITAP Travel Assistance Program.

Vancouver Opera Foundation controls and manages bursaries for Vancouver Opera Association.

Corporate Funding

BMO Financial Group

TELUS Community Funds

RBC Emerging Artists Project

The Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund

Education, Museums and Heritage

ArtStarts brings professional artists into BC schools for performances, workshops, residencies and exhibitions.

The BC Museums Association offers awards and bursaries.

Heritage BC heritage legacy fund.

By Discipline

The Actors' Fund of Canada

The BC Touring Council supports touring performing artists and presenters.

The Craft Council of British Columbia

Dancer Transition Resource Centre (DTRC)

The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation for visual arts.

By Foundation

Access Copyright Foundation supports the creation and dissemination of publishable Canadian works.

The Birks Family Foundation supports registered charities including arts organizations which promote the development and understanding of Canadian culture.

The Commonwealth Foundation awards funding for sustainable development projects.

The First West Foundation supports registered Canadian charities.

The Hamber Foundation provides grants for cultural, educational and charitable purposes.

The Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation provides funding to non-profit creative organizations and BC students to pursue pre-professional studies in performing or visual arts.

The McLean Foundation provides grants in a wide range of areas, including arts, conservation, education, health and welfare.

The Vancouver Foundation provides funding for innovative projects or for collaborating in groups to solve larger community issues.

Read the Instructions. Eligibility, criteria, maximum amounts, deadlines and support materials - go in eyes open.

Start Early. This includes your budget. Leave time to fully develop the project and make changes.

Get Feedback. Especially true for first timers! Get a proofreader who knows the ropes.

Make it Pop! Aim for a compelling core idea that is meaningful and well articulated.

Be honest about the difference your project will make in the community and strive to make one.

Be Inclusive. If you are not addressing the diversity that is Canada, you will be at a disadvantage.

Don't Repeat Yourself. You can't say that again!

Find Partners. A grant is always stronger when you have contributing organizations and individuals.

Own Your Timeline. Be specific about the various stages of your process.

Talk to the Grants Officer. They are your best resource! Developing this relationship is important - but don't blame them if your first attempt is unsuccessful.

(Bonus Tip: Keep Trying!)

The Alliance offers at least one grant-writing workshop every year to help you attain the tools to prepare your own grant applications.

See our Workshops page for upcoming opportunities.

For further support & training, check out these other resources:

BCIT grant writing courses

CARFAC BC workshops

Northern Development Initiative Trust grant writing support

Langara College courses

Reichert & Associates grant writing workshop

VCC proposal writing course

Abundance Fundraising
Provides services to a wide variety of non-profits with an emphasis on helping small to medium sized organizations achieve their fundraising potential.

Fieldworks Consulting
Ben Shockey & Elizabeth Quinn offer grant writing on a contract basis. 8+ years experience developing grant narratives and budgets, primarily in theatre and dance, but also in visual and literary arts. BC Arts Council, Canada Council, City of Vancouver, BC Gaming, other government funding programs and foundations. Additional experience with grassroots and major donor fundraising campaigns.

Canopy Arts
Arts administration services for non-profit organizations, specializing in arts and culture. Services include administrative training, financial management, fundraising, sponsorship development, project management, event and planning management, social media and engagement, marketing and publicity, grant and proposal writing, strategic planning.

Little Dog Creative Consulting
Services include grant writing, research and planning, arts management, capacity building, and public fundraising.

Lori Baxter Consulting
Business management services in the social profit arena, specializing in the arts, culture, and heritage sector. Services range from business planning to governance to municipal cultural planning.

Paul Gravett Consulting
Consulting and interim management for not-for-profit performing arts organizations. Services include strategic and business planning, governance and board development, market research and analysis, operational restructuring, survey design and focus groups.