The Municipality of North Cowichan is a local government in British Columbia that administers an annual Grant-in-Aid program to support community-serving non-profit organizations. This program, enabled under Section 263(1)(c) of the Local Government Act, allows Council to provide financial assistance for the benefit of residents across North Cowichan.
Role of the Grant-in-Aid program
The Grant-in-Aid program provides municipal funding to registered societies and qualifying associations that operate within the municipality or deliver services that primarily benefit North Cowichan residents. Grants can be used for capital projects, ongoing operating needs, or one-off special events, giving community groups flexibility to address local priorities.
Funding priorities and sectors
North Cowichan targets several key categories through this program:
- Tourism initiatives that attract visitors and support the local visitor economy
- Economic development projects that strengthen local businesses and employment
- Social and environmental services that support community well-being and sustainability
- Sports groups, including assistance with travel for high-level competitions representing North Cowichan
- Arts and culture organizations, festivals and cultural programming
Each year, Council approves a list of recipient organizations and grant amounts through the municipal Financial Plan, with examples including historical societies, chambers of commerce, arts councils, social service agencies and community associations.
General eligibility and assessment
Applicants must generally be located in North Cowichan or primarily serve its residents, show sound financial and administrative management, demonstrate financial need, comply with municipal bylaws, and be registered under the BC Society Act or Cooperative Association Act. Applications that meet these mandatory criteria are then evaluated on program or project quality and merit, organizational capacity, and community engagement and impact, using detailed scoring criteria set out in the municipality’s Grant-in-Aid Policy.
Program administration and cycle
Organizations must apply annually using the official Grant-in-Aid application form, typically due by October 15. The Committee of the Whole reviews eligible applications and makes recommendations to Council, which confirms funding through the adoption of the annual Financial Plan. Limited funds may also be reserved for extraordinary, one-time requests received mid-year.
Grants are generally disbursed after the Financial Plan is adopted, usually after May 15. Council may place conditions on funding, such as requiring receipts or reports on how the money was used, and can invite recipient organizations to present outcomes at Council meetings. Through this structured process, North Cowichan’s Grant-in-Aid program acts as a key municipal tool to support non-profit initiatives and community development across the region.