Ideas that Connect Neighbours
Share your talents & create connections with a small grant up to $500.
Neighbourhood Small Grants Program
Small amounts of money have the potential to bring powerful changes into local communities. Last year, Project Leaders of the Neighbourhood Small Grants program, used their $500 grants to spread acts of kindness by doing yard work for seniors and care packages for newcomers, a riverside beautification project in Enderby planted a community garden and cleaned up a public space, and there was an outdoor movie night that drew over 100 neighbours together to celebrate, along with many more creative ideas that fostered local connections.
The Community Foundation North Okanagan is leading the Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program for the North Okanagan region, which offers small grants up to $500 to individuals for projects that connect people socially or involve sharing skills or talents.
Lisa Deargle, communications director at the Community Foundation says, “A small grant of $500, can kickstart people’s imagination and wiliness to start a project.”
“In a year where so many of our local citizens experienced hardships and all of us saw divisive topics driving wedges between our relationships, we’re hoping this program will start bringing neighbours together through their common desire to make the world a better place. A small grant has the potential to be a beautiful start to something huge.”
There is no single right way to build community connection, and this unique program is taking a more grassroots granting approach to get neighbours connecting, creating, and making lasting memories. This year the Community Foundation has $20,000 to give away. Everyone is encouraged to apply and bring their ideas to life!
“I think the most memorable part of this experience was just seeing the looks on everyone's faces as they worked on their projects, and the big smiles at the end of the class. It is amazing how you can connect with people you don't know through the power of creativity and a shared project.” An NSG Project Leader describes the most memorable experience of leading a project.
Lisa Deargle adds, “The more connected we are, the stronger our sense of belonging to our community and the more easily we can work together to make it a better place to live.”
To learn more the Neighbourhood Small Grants program and to apply online, visit www.cfno.org/neighbourhood-small-grants, or reach out to Lisa Deargle at lisa@cfno.org with any questions.
