Civic Grants Program

Project update, May 8, 2024: The online survey has now closed. Big thank you to all those who shared your thoughts and feedback. Stay tuned for updates as staff work to theme and report back out on the results from this survey.

In the meantime, here are a couple of snapshots of what we heard.

For several years, the City of New Westminster has offered civic grants to community groups to support their efforts to bring liveliness to the community and services to local residents. Annually, the City gives out approximately $975,000 in grants, which includes both cash awards and in-kind awards of City services that have a cost attached to them, such as street closures, rental space in City facilities, permits, etc.

In 2019, the grants program underwent a comprehensive review to streamline the process and criteria. This review resulted in the City organizing the program into three types of grants, called portfolios, which are:

• Grants for Living, aimed at community livability and social inclusion. For example, programs that help seniors connect with their neighbours.
• Grants for Involvement, aimed at social and cultural vibrancy. For example, a street food festival.
• Community Economic Activators, which are grants that support economic development. For example, grants for a business or tourism association.

Only community groups are able to apply for a civic grant – businesses and individuals are not eligible. Community groups may only make one application per grant intake, which means they need to put all of the programs they want to request funding for into one application. The City uses an online program to receive the applications, which are then reviewed by one of three committees (one for each portfolio, as listed above). The grant committees, which are made up of community members, decide which applicants receive a grant. Mayor and Council do not decide who receives grants.

The City’s Grants Policy outlines in more detail how the process works, and the Grants Criteria are updated every year to outline what grant proposals are eligible. Usually, the grant committees prioritize applications from New Westminster-based organizations but they will consider applications from organizations not in New Westminster that have a significant impact on New West residents. Each year, the City receives grant requests well above available funding, so some applications are declined.

Interested in learning more about the City's grants program? Please visit the webpage here.

Reviewing the grants program in 2024

Now, to continue to adapt and respond to the community’s needs in a post-pandemic world, the City is considering some refinements to the grants program. We are reviewing the criteria, process, and administration of the civic grant program to continue to support the community while also aligning with the City's Strategic Priorities Plan.

We are asking community members and grant applicants to provide feedback, including through a survey, to help shape some of the refinements we plan to make.

What is the survey about?

We want to hear from community members and those who represent community groups that may be eligible to apply for grants. Survey questions ask for your thoughts on how the City should prioritize grant requests, and how the City should fund the grant budget. Other questions for those who represent a community group cover topics related to the application process, grant criteria, and reporting procedure.

Depending on which user group you may fall into, the survey will take between five and 15 minutes to complete. The survey deadline has been extended until the end of day May 6, 2024.

Next Steps

In addition to the survey, engagement will include a focus group for community groups and a discussion with the City's Arts, Culture, and Economic Development Advisory Committee. For more information on the focus group, which is not yet scheduled, please email grants@newwestcity.ca.

City staff are also conducting a municipal scan to gather best practices from other communities. Once these activities are complete, staff will make recommendations to Council for changes to the City's grants program. Staff anticipate going to Council with recommendations in July.