Sustainable Food Systems 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

• Companies that are not registered non-profit societies, community service co-ops, social enterprises wholly owned by a non-profit, registered charities, or First Nations Bands (unless partnered with a qualified fiscal sponsor).
• Organizations whose primary activities fall under direct welfare supports such as food banks, meal programs, or provision of clothing.
• Businesses or organizations focused on food recovery or food rescue operations, including sorting, driving, and distribution.
• Entities involved in direct healthcare, employment training leading to certification, or initial settlement programs.
• Businesses acting as funding bodies for, or making grants to, other individuals, groups, or organizations.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations delivering programs in Vancouver to Vancouver residents or to Vancouver-based non-profits.

• Alignment with the principles, goals, and actions of the Vancouver Food Strategy (2013 and 2017).
• Support for coalition-building among community members, organizations, agencies, or businesses to achieve food system goals collaboratively.
• Demonstrated efforts to address systemic barriers to community access of healthy, affordable, and culturally diverse food.
• Promotion of inclusion, participation, celebration, skill-building, or community capacity-building at the neighbourhood or community scale.
• Capacity to achieve a noteworthy community impact through the number or proportion of residents served or involved.

• Step 1: Review Grant Guidelines
  • Read the Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) Grants Information Guide carefully to understand priorities, criteria, and eligibility.
  • Ensure your organization's programs align with the Vancouver Food Strategy and grant priorities.
• Step 2: Contact a Social Policy Grants Planner
  • Contact a planner, especially if you are a first-time applicant or if your previous application was not successful, to discuss your project’s alignment with funding priorities and clarify the process.
• Step 3: Gather Required Documents
  • Collect supporting documents including organization financial statements (most recent fiscal year), 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, and organization’s policy on diversity (if available).
• Step 4: Complete the Online Application via VanApply
  • Access the VanApply online portal.
  • Fill out organization information.
  • Describe the nature of work to be supported, outlining type and impact.
  • Prepare and enter a program-specific budget (high-level expenses and revenue; can upload a document if needed).
  • Upload required supporting documents.
  • Ensure all mandatory fields and tasks are complete; incomplete applications cannot be submitted.
• Step 5: Submit the Application
  • Submit your online application through VanApply by the published deadline.
• Step 6: Application Review
  • Social Policy staff review submitted applications using established criteria.
  • You may be contacted for clarification during the review period.
• Step 7: Notification of Results
  • Receive notification of staff recommendations via email one week prior to the City Council meeting where funding decisions are made.
  • Applicants are notified after Council has made the final funding decision.
• Step 8: Receive Funding
  • Successful applicants receive their funding installment as per program schedule, subject to submission of required annual progress reports and Council approval.

• Applications are accepted exclusively through the VanApply online platform; printed or emailed submissions are not permitted.
• Organizations may apply for multiple programs within a single application.
• Most recent fiscal year financial statements must be provided with the application.
• Required supporting documents include AGM minutes, board list, incorporation papers, board meeting minutes, by-laws/constitution, and, if available, a diversity policy and annual report.