Cultural Operating Funding (COF)

• Applicants must have a minimum operating expense budget of $150,000, as shown in the most recent actual financial statements.
• Organizations with an average operating budget of $200,000 or more are considered more competitive within the program.
• Eligible applicants can access up to $500 for assistance costs when completing their grant application if they are Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing, or live with a disability.

• The applicant must be a non-profit society or community service co-op legally registered and in good standing with BC Registries Services, or a registered charity with the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA).
• The organization must be physically located in Vancouver and deliver its programs and services within Vancouver.
• The organization must have an established mission and a history of consistent annual delivery of arts and cultural programs or services in support of the mission for at least three years.
• The organization must have paid professional and experienced leadership in artistic or administrative roles.
• The organization must have an existing funding relationship with the City of Vancouver, either by currently receiving Cultural Operating Funding or having received three grants from specific City of Vancouver programs (CASC, Cultural Indigenous, or Cultural Equity grants).

Who is eligible?

• Vancouver-based professional non-profit arts organizations
• Vancouver-based professional non-profit cultural organizations
• Non-profit societies focused on arts or culture
• Community service co-ops engaged in arts or cultural activities
• Registered charities delivering arts or cultural programming

Who is not eligible

• For-profit businesses of any kind.
• Organizations not legally registered as non-profit societies, community service co-ops, or charities.
• Companies not physically located in Vancouver or not delivering programs/services within Vancouver.

Eligible expenses

• Compensation for artists and cultural workers at standard industry rates.
• Costs for paid professional leadership in artistic or administrative roles.
• Expenses supporting accessibility and equity policy implementation.
• Costs related to developing, creating, producing, presenting, and disseminating artistic work.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations physically located in Vancouver.

• Priority given to organizations with explicit commitments to equity in their mission, programs, practices, and governance.

• Applicants with commitments to equity in their mission, programs, and practices are prioritized for new funding opportunities.
• Support of up to $500 is available for applicants who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or living with a disability to assist with application completion costs.
• Application timelines are set annually and subject to change; applicants should verify key dates.
• Organizations who submitted a previous EOI but were not selected remain on the list for consideration for the following intake year.