The Real Estate Foundation of BC’s Board of Governors approved $2,005,010 in grants at their spring meeting. This funding supports research, education, and policy analysis on topics like freshwater protection, community planning, and building energy efficiency.

Funding will support 25 projects, including 12 projects led by non-profits in the real estate industry. To date, REFBC has awarded over $90 million to non-profit organizations in communities across British Columbia.

Spring 2020 grants are listed alphabetically, by category, below.

General Grants

REFBC’s General Grants support research, education, and policy analysis related to land use. These grants are available to any non-profit organization or community contribution company working in British Columbia.

13 projects ($1,221,290)

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District will partner with local governments to establish a multi-stakeholder committee to make recommendations to municipal councils on agricultural water supply needs. ($18,890)

CityHive will deliver civic engagement programming for youth ages 13 to 30, including a Cities 101 program, workshops, and events designed to engage young people in city planning and policy. ($90,000)

The Community Energy Association will expand the BC Climate Leaders Program, an applied education and mentorship program for locally elected officials to research and develop local responses to climate change. ($200,000)

Ecotrust Canada will partner with the Regional District of Mount Waddington to pilot a heat pump retrofit program that includes policy solutions, public events, and community capacity-building. ($150,000)

Food Eco District will encourage small-scale urban agriculture in the City of Victoria by identifying barriers, mapping possible sites (including rooftops), and creating a guidebook of best practices for farmers and building owners. ($28,000)

The Fraser Basin Council will scale up the Salmon Safe BC program, a third-party certification program that encourages development practices that limit impacts on watersheds and salmon habitat. ($95,000)

Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation will lead research on the effects of land use exemptions and subdivisions (non-farm uses) on agricultural capacity in the Agricultural Land Reserve. ($23,000)

New Beginnings Benevolent Society will train youth water ambassadors and launch an educational program on the ecological value of wetlands. ($20,000)

The Society for Children and Youth of British Columbia will expand the Urban Explorers program, which teaches children about how cities grow and invites participants to present their ideas to city planners. ($40,000)

Tsawwassen First Nation will conduct research and consult members in order to develop a comprehensive housing strategy for planning, developing, and maintaining affordable housing. The strategy will also include the creation of a Tsawwassen First Nation Housing Authority. ($76,400)

UBC Health and Community Design Lab researchers will work with public agencies to investigate the relationship between land use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air pollution, and public health. Research will inform local, regional, and provincial land use and transportation planning. ($170,000)

Watershed Watch Salmon Society will assess flood control infrastructure in the Lower Fraser, recommend sites for green infrastructure to mitigate food risks, and work with communities and governments to implement projects.  ($150,000)

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative will support West Moberly First Nation and Salteau First Nation on land use planning and conservation work to protect ecosystems and habitat connectivity in the Peace region. ($160,000)

Real Estate Industry Grants

REFBC’s Real Estate Industry Grants support research, education, and policy analysis related to real estate or land use. These grants are available to non-profit organizations within BC’s real estate community.

12 projects ($783,720)

BC Northern Real Estate Board will subsidize instructors’ travel and accommodation costs in order to support access to professional development courses for Realtors in rural and remote areas. ($7,100)

The BC Real Estate Association will update their inventory of local government floodplain mapping in British Columbia. ($31,000)

The BC Real Estate Association will create an online course for Realtors on the BC Energy Step Code and home energy efficiency, retrofit options, and benefits. ($25,000)

The BC Real Estate Association will work with the BC Lung Association to develop courses for Realtors on healthy indoor environments and radon risks. ($50,000)

The BC Real Estate Association is developing an anti-money laundering initiative, with online resources, workshops, and a peer-learning community that supports a culture of compliance. ($69,600)

The Canada Green Building Council will expand the Disclosure Challenge to include building performance data from 1,000 additional buildings. This expansion will also include updates to the platform, a building energy labelling model, and reporting on identified trends. ($120,000)

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board will produce educational videos on business practices and arbitration, explaining the roles of real estate professionals, local boards, and provincial regulators in upholding professional standards. ($30,000)

The Kootenay Association of Realtors will subsidize instructors’ travel and accommodation costs in order to support access to professional development courses for Realtors in rural and remote areas. ($5,600)

Open Green Building Society will expand the size of the Building Benchmark BC program, which helps municipalities and jurisdictions compare energy data on their building stock. ($396,100)

The Real Estate Institute of BC will host a series of learning events in locations around the province. Presenters will cover emerging real estate trends, as well as topics of local interest. ($13,320)

The South Okanagan Real Estate Board will host seminars for Realtors and homeowners on climate resilience and adaptation strategies in the Okanagan. ($30,000)

The South Okanagan Real Estate Board will host public education forums on homeownership. Workshops will cover first-time buying, incentives and stress tests, rentals, home inspections, and insurance. ($6,000)

All REFBC Grants

Looking for project funding?

The next General Grant application cycle opens in August and closes in early September 2020 (date to be confirmed).

The next Real Estate Industry Grant application cycle opens in November and closes in December 2020 (date to be confirmed).

For information on eligibility and funding priorities, visit refbc.com/grants or email grants@refbc.com to discuss your project idea.