Grant and Funding Programs Offered by STAND Foundation (STAND)

STAND Foundation is a public charitable foundation focused on improving the lives of marginalized young adults in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia. Its core mandate is to provide financial support and mentorship so that youth who face social and economic barriers can access education, vocational training, and pre-employment skills programs. Since 2008 the foundation has awarded more than $550,000 in scholarships and certificate funding to approximately 1,700 students, and it manages a permanent endowment of over $1 million.

STAND delivers several forms of financial assistance. The flagship current initiative is the Pre-Employment Certificate Program, launched in 2017, which funds 250–300 industry-recognized certificates per year for students in partner school districts, including Vancouver, Surrey and New Westminster. These certificates cover practical areas such as first aid, Foodsafe, forklift training, WHMIS, customer service, cashier and barista training, traffic control, and other job-readiness skills.

Historically, STAND also operated the Alternative School Grant Program (2008–2017), which provided grants averaging about $3,000 per student to graduates of alternative school programs in Greater Vancouver and beyond. These grants enabled recipients to continue their education or enroll in technical and professional training in fields such as carpentry, plumbing, culinary arts, automotive trades, nursing, hospitality, criminal justice, computer science, business, and community outreach.

The foundation specifically targets young adults from the Greater Vancouver area who have experienced or been exposed to challenges such as crime, substance use, violence, prejudice, poverty, unstable family environments, and chronic unemployment. STAND works closely with school administrators, teachers, and counsellors to identify candidates who have overcome significant personal and family adversity and who are motivated to advance their education and employment prospects.

STAND’s programs are sustained through a permanent endowment held at Vancouver Foundation, one of Canada’s largest community foundations. More than half of the money raised by STAND has been placed in this long-term fund, whose investment income supports ongoing grants and scholarships. Vancouver Foundation manages the capital and has granted over a quarter-million dollars on STAND’s behalf, extending the reach of its programs across British Columbia.

Through its combination of direct grants, funded certificates, and mentoring relationships, STAND Foundation helps youth at risk build confidence, obtain marketable credentials, and gain a foothold in the labour market. The organization highlights numerous current and past recipients whose stories illustrate the transformative impact of this financial support on education, employment and social inclusion.