When we give to the environment, the environment gives back to us. That's why the program's focus from 2018-2022 is to support lighter living initiatives that encourage communities to live lighter and gain more of what matters - more time for ourselves and for connecting with others and our natural world, quality long-lasting goods, affordable lives, service to our communities, health, security and wellbeing.

Develop grants are short-term grants to help teams to unpack a complex issue and to identify the systemic behaviours that have created that issue, or that are holding the issue in place. Develop grants help teams to generate ideas for a project plan to influence or change these behaviours that can then be submitted to funders in the future. 

*Develop grants are a one-stage application. 

Test grants are multi-year grants to help project teams test their influence on systems and to learn what leads to change.

*Test grants are a two-stage application.

Scale grants are multi-year grants to help project teams extend the influence of an existing systems change project to a different scale within the system. 

*Scale grants are a two-stage application. 

*Applicants begin their application by completing the first stage of questions, and if successful, are then invited to complete the remaining questions.

The Central Okanagan Foundation supports registered charities within the Central Okanagan including Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna and Peachland in the following areas.

• Arts & Culture     • Children, Youth & Family
• Heritage & Historical     • Education
• The Environment           • Health & Community Services
• Animal Welfare              • Global Initiatives (must have local involvement and / or local benefits)

Al Maurer was the long-time City Manager for the City of Edmonton. Upon his retirement in 2009, city staff and others contributed to the Al Maurer Awards Fund to honour him and to assist public service employees with furthering their education in areas that will promote public service excellence.

The Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) is a specified purpose account administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to direct funds received from fines, court orders and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit Canada’s natural environment. 

Belcourt Brosseau Métis Awards (BBMAs) support Métis Albertans with scholarships up to $10,000 each year for post-secondary education.

Focus Grants

These grants may be used to develop projects at the idea stage, pilot a project that addresses one or more Vital Signs Issue Areas, or support initial collaboration with community partners. Focus Grants may also be used for a capital project, or to support or strengthen an existing effective project or program.

Vital Grants

These grants support evidence-based projects or programs that address one or more Vital Signs Issue Area. In general, Vital Grants support proposals to expand, replicate or adapt an existing proven project or program. Vital Grants also support the development of regional collaborations with community partners.

Collaboration Grants

By approval
You may be approved to apply for this grant if your organization is working across sectors to address long-term regional change in more than one Vital Signs Issue Area.