School Food Grants

Who is eligible?

• Registered non-profit societies
• Community service co-operatives
• Social enterprises wholly owned by a non-profit
• Registered charities
• First Nations Bands

Who is not eligible

• For-profit companies that are not registered charities, non-profit societies, community service co-ops, or social enterprises wholly owned by a non-profit.
• Organizations operating outside of Vancouver or not serving Vancouver residents or Vancouver-based non-profits.
• Programs or organizations in the early development stage (less than 18 months of operation) or with time-limited projects (operations of three years or less).
• Companies involved primarily in food recovery or food rescue operations, including sorting, driving, and distribution.
• Organizations whose activities fall primarily under the mandate of other governmental departments (e.g., direct healthcare, health treatment, employment training leading to certification, or initial settlement programs).

Eligible geographic areas

• Programs delivered in Vancouver or adjacent to Vancouver school settings.
• Organizations serving Vancouver residents or Vancouver-based non-profits.

• Provision of healthy, nutritious, and culturally appropriate school-day meals in a non-stigmatizing manner.
• Piloting of approaches and food service models that reflect and respect the local school context and leverage local knowledge, skills, and relationships.
• Support for the goals and actions of the Vancouver Food Strategy, including food access, diversity of voices and inclusion, and resilience.
• Alignment with the vision and principles of the Coalition for Healthy School Food as endorsed by Vancouver City Council.
• Demonstrated noteworthy community impact and cost-effectiveness relative to other school meal programs.

• Step 1: Review Guidelines and Contact Grants Planner
  • Read the School Food Grants information sheet and familiarize yourself with program objectives and required documentation.
  • If you are a new applicant or have previously been unsuccessful, contact a Social Planner using the provided phone number or email to discuss your alignment with funding priorities.
• Step 2: Gather Required Documents
  • Collect necessary organizational documents: Annual General Meeting minutes, Annual Report (if available), Board of Directors list, Incorporation documentation, minutes of the most recent board meeting, organization by-law/constitution, policy on diversity (if available), and financial statements for the most recently-completed fiscal year.
• Step 3: Prepare Application on VanApply
  • Access the VanApply online platform.
  • Complete tasks as requested, including Organization Information, Nature of Work, program-specific budget (either in a provided table or uploaded document), and upload all required supporting materials.
• Step 4: Submit Application
  • Ensure all required fields and documents are completed and uploaded on VanApply; incomplete applications cannot be submitted.
  • Submit the application online via VanApply before the specified deadline.
• Step 5: Application Review and Follow-Up
  • Await assessment by Social Policy staff. If clarification is needed, a planner may contact you.
  • Monitor for email notification regarding staff recommendations and upcoming City Council consideration.
• Step 6: Funding Decision and Disbursement
  • Council reviews and approves funding recommendations.
  • Successful applicants receive notification and the initial funding instalment following Council approval.
  • Submit required progress reports via VanApply for continued annual funding allocation.

• Applications are accepted exclusively through the VanApply online platform.
• Word limits in the application form have been removed except for one specific field.
• If you have previously applied and were not successful, discussing your project with a Social Planner before reapplying is recommended.
• Annual progress reports must be submitted through VanApply as a condition for continued funding.