Community Grants (formerly PCAF) provide funding to organizations and individuals who need financial help to implement a conservation project. Since 1974, the Province of BC and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation provide approximately $150,000 each year to help implement on-the-ground conservation work, with a particular focus on hands-on, community-based, and public awareness initiatives.
Preferred Community Grant projects are those that:
Eligible expenses up to $10,000 in any one year. You must match the requested funds by contributing a combination of volunteer labour (credited at $20 per hour), materials, or other allowable donations. At least half of your matching funds must be made up of volunteer labour. See the Application Rules & Guidelines document on the “Apply” tab for more information. To assist as many groups as possible Community Grants are modest, averaging about $2,500 each. The maximum total amount available over the life of a Community Grant project is $20,000.
Projects must be of a conservation nature, with priority given to projects that focus on activities that maintain, conserve or restore native (indigenous) freshwater fish and wildlife species and their habitats.
Some examples of Community Grant projects and activities that we have funded include:
Some types of projects or activities are ineligible for Community Grant funding, including but not limited to:
You can view the list of Community Grant projects funded in 2023 here.
Thank you for your interest in Community Grants. Intake for applications is now closed.
The next opportunity to apply will be mid-January 2025.
Important Update! Based on feedback from proponents and discussion with the Board Subcommittee, HCTF has updated our Policy regarding Ministry Letters of Support. Starting Spring 2023, the Ministry Letter of Support is no longer required for Community Grant applications.
If you intend to apply for further funding to continue the same Community Grant project, you must submit a new application each year and include a report, outlining expenditure details and information on the progress of your currently funded Community Grant project (see Reporting tab for more details).
As the Community Grant will not fund activities retroactively, funded project activities cannot begin until those notifications have been received. We understand that this may impact this summer’s activities, however, we hope that proponents can manage this within the five-year window allowed for the expenditure of the Community Grant. Thank you for your understanding.
Note: There is no longer a budget spreadsheet to download as it is now incorporated into Survey Apply.
2. Complete and submit your application online using the Survey Apply system.
Any questions about the application process can be sent to grants@hctf.ca.
Once your Community Grant (formerly PCAF) project has been completed, a report is required which details the activities that were conducted. If you intend to apply for additional funds, a progress report must be submitted with your new application submitted on Survey Apply by the spring due date.
You have a maximum of five (5) years for the implementation of the project and expenditure of the grant. A final report and any unused funds must be returned within sixty (60) days of completion, termination or expiration of the allowable term.
For projects submitted through Survey Apply in 2021 and onwards, the final report should be submitted through the Survey Apply system.
For projects that were approved before 2021: Download the Community Grant Report Form below and send to reporting@hctf.ca.
Please include any available photos documenting your project, news clippings, etc. as these are useful for displays, presentations and other public relations activities.