Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF)

The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) is a Canadian charitable foundation established in 1988 as part of the legacy of Rick Hansen’s Man In Motion World Tour. Headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, the foundation works across Canada and in partnership with other organizations to remove physical and attitudinal barriers so people with disabilities can fully participate in their communities.

RHF operates a portfolio of accessibility and inclusion programs that combine technical expertise with direct financial support. Its grants and funding initiatives target schools, municipalities, Indigenous communities, non-profit organizations and other qualified donees that are improving the accessibility of the built environment or advancing spinal cord injury (SCI) research and care.

Key grant-making activities include the RBC Barrier Buster Grants Program, which offers 40 accessibility grants of up to $40,000 to Canadian schools, municipalities, community groups and non-profits for access-improvement projects such as accessible playgrounds, washrooms, entrances, trails and other physical upgrades. The foundation also administers the B.C. Accessibility Grants, funded by the Government of British Columbia, through which selected municipalities and Indigenous communities receive RHFAC ratings for multiple sites, up to $90,000 in accessibility improvement funds, and tuition grants for accessibility training.

Beyond infrastructure projects, RHF supports SCI research and care by funding partner organizations and groundbreaking programs that improve quality of life for people living with spinal cord injuries. The National Disability Initiative Working Group, co-led with Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, coordinates a cohort of grantee disability organizations benefiting from a major philanthropic investment to advance disability inclusion, accessibility and equity nationwide.

The foundation’s funding and programs reach a wide range of beneficiaries: people with physical, sensory and other disabilities, seniors, families, caregivers, and broader communities that benefit from more accessible buildings and public spaces. In education, RHF offers free school resources, ambassador presentations and the Rick & Amanda Hansen Scholarship for Youth with Disabilities, which provides financial support to students with disabilities pursuing post-secondary education. Awareness programs such as the School Program, Difference Maker Awards and classroom initiatives help cultivate the next generation of access champions.

For structured grant programs like the RBC Barrier Buster Grants, RHF publishes detailed eligibility criteria, key dates, evaluation criteria, and terms and conditions. Applicants must be Canadian registered charities, qualified donees or incorporated non-profits and are required to host community engagement events. The foundation evaluates proposals using predefined assessment frameworks, ensuring that funded projects meaningfully improve physical access and community inclusion.

RHF adheres to Imagine Canada’s standards for registered charities and discloses comprehensive Annual Reports, audited financial statements and Canada Revenue Agency T3010 filings. The organization also provides accountability information on governance, complaints handling, ethical reporting, diversity and inclusion, and accessibility commitments.

Originating from the momentum of the Man In Motion World Tour, the foundation has evolved from primarily funding SCI research and care to leading a broad national movement on accessibility. Today, its programs encompass accessibility ratings and certification (RHFAC), advisory services, training for professionals, challenge initiatives such as the Buildings Without Barriers Challenge, and multiple grant streams that incentivize communities to invest in barrier-free design.

Through these combined efforts, the Rick Hansen Foundation positions itself as a central actor in Canada’s accessibility ecosystem, leveraging philanthropy, government partnerships and technical expertise to scale up tangible, funded improvements in the places where people live, work, learn and play.