How is the annual budget for YPC determined and where does the money come from?

The Distribution Committee (a standing committee of the Board composed of the Chairs of the advisory committees) makes the allocation with input from Vancouver Foundation program staff, taking into consideration the previous year’s demand for grants and anticipated need for funding within each Field of Interest. The money comes from annual income generated from those endowment funds which were either established as unrestricted or as directed to a specific field of interest such as youth, education, or arts.

Is there a minimum and maximum grant size?

As a general guideline, most YPC grants are from $500 to $5000.

If youth from my organization want to apply for funding a specific youth-led initiative, will it interfere with my organization’s ability to apply for funding from another Committee?

No, provided that the request is between $500 and $5000.

What is a qualified donee?

A public charity can only make grants to qualified donees which are organizations that can issue official donation receipts according to CRA standards under the Income Tax Act. These organizations include a registered charity; a housing corporation resident in Canada constituted exclusively to provide low-cost housing for the aged; the Government of Canada, a province, a territory or a municipality.

How much of a project do we normally fund and what can be considered eligible matching contributions?

In general, YPC funds no more than 50% of the budget for a project without exceeding the normal grant size range. Both cash contributions and in-kind donations of services or goods are considered valid matching components. We ask applicants to list the sources and amounts of potential and confirmed cash contributions. For in-kind donations, we require specific breakdown of the total calculation.

What are some of the conditions we can impose on a grant?

The most common condition is requiring written confirmation of sufficient funding to proceed. YPC can establish other conditions to safeguard the viability of the grant as long as they are reasonable and practical. The Program Director is given the authority to ensure that the conditions are met.

What is the process for monitoring and payment once a grant is recommended?

YPC recommendations go forward to the Distribution Committee for approval. Once approved, authorization letters are sent out with instructions on payment and reporting requirements. Depending on the nature of the project, some grants are paid out in two or more installments and some are paid out upon submission of receipts (usually for capital grants). Staff and YPC members are responsible for monitoring the grants that they assess, reviewing interim and final reports, and as available, attending project related events.