The Real Estate Foundation of BC’s Board of Governors approved $1,230,700 in grants at their June meeting. This funding will support research, education, and policy analysis on topics like food security, sustainable transportation, and water stewardship.

To date, REFBC has awarded over $90 million in grants to non-profit organizations working to strengthen communities and protect land and water in British Columbia.

Summer 2019 grants are listed alphabetically, below.

Aqua Forum will host an AquaHacking Challenge to bring water leaders and tech innovators together to tackle freshwater challenges in the Okanagan Basin. ($175,000)

BC Institute of Technology (BCIT) will establish an Ecocity Centre, which will help local governments measure their footprints and develop strategies to reduce ecological impacts. ($250,000)

Community Connections (Revelstoke) Society will work to improve food security by recommending changes to community plans and bylaws, coordinating education and resources for local farmers, and supporting community engagement. ($76,950)

The David Suzuki Foundation will work with Metro Vancouver to research policy and planning strategies and engage the public on low-carbon transportation options. ($150,000)

The District of Lake Country will develop a community agricultural plan to protect farmland, encourage local agriculture, and support the local economy. ($20,000)

The District of Saanich will pilot a program with homeowners to retrofit home heating systems to increase their efficiency and reduce emissions. The District will pay for upfront costs and homeowners will repay through their energy savings. ($95,000)

The Regional District of Central Kootenay will explore watershed governance models and researching strategies for managing water use in challenged watersheds. ($18,750)

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and the En’owkin Centre will develop educational materials for young children on water science that incorporate Indigenous history and perspectives. ($60,000)

The SFU Centre for Dialogue will reconvene the Moving in a Livable Region program, which aims to strengthen land use and transportation planning in the Lower Mainland through research, public engagement, and smart policy. ($150,000)

SHIFT Collaborative will highlight the intersection between climate change, community health and equity and the need for strengthening collaboration. ($20,000)

West Coast Environmental Law Association will work with local communities to develop governance strategies for adopting natural infrastructure to manage sea level rise in the Lower Fraser. ($120,000)

Wildsight will host the Columbia River Field School, an immersive experience for high school students to learn about water resource issues, watershed governance, and the Columbia River Treaty. ($15,000)

Young Agrarians will develop a transition toolkit to support retiring farmers who want to pass their business, land, and knowledge on to a new farmer. ($80,000)

Looking for project funding?

The next General Grant application cycle opens in August and closes on September 5, 2019.

The next Real Estate Industry Grant application cycle opens in November and closes on December 4, 2019.

For information on eligibility and funding priorities, visit refbc.com/grants or email our team at grants@refbc.com to tell us about your project.