Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC.

Overview

The Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC supports grants for community-based initiatives that create and shape meaningful outdoor recreational and nature-based experiences for British Columbians.

Public outdoor recreation relies heavily on dedicated volunteer-based organizations and community groups that maintain and build infrastructure, protect and restore the outdoors and deliver programs that make outdoor recreation available and safe to everyone. In May 2023, the Province of B.C. kick-started much-needed support by contributing $10 million to the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC, establishing the first-ever endowment fund of its kind for outdoor recreation in B.C.

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC is pleased to announce 30 grants were awarded across the province for the 2024 intake of the Outdoor Recreation Fund if BC. You can learn more about the grant recipients and their projects here.

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed on when the next intake opens.

  • The application will be open to:

    • Registered charities and incorporated non-profit organizations

    • Local governments in BC

    • Indigenous governments in BC

  • Application will be open to projects that:

    • Align with the purpose of the fund.

    • Align with one (or more) of the three priorities 

    • Are ready-to-go which means that any required authorizations are in place before applying

    • Take place in British Columbia.

    • The project takes place in natural settings—such as parks, trails, and natural aquatic areas—and does not include activities that take place in highly cultivated recreation areas (such as playgrounds, skateparks or sports fields).

    Projects that can be completed before March 2025 will be preferred.

  • A 50% matching contribution* is required. It can be fulfilled with:

    • Monetary contributions from other sources.

    • In-kind contributions which include:

      • Donated materials at verified fair market value.

      • Donated accredited professional services at verified fair market value.

      • Volunteer labour at $20/hour.

    *Projects require a matching contribution of at least 50% of the total project budget which can be provided through cash or in-kind contributions. In other words, if your organization is requesting a $5,000 grant, you are asked to provide $5,000 or more in matching contributions (in cash and/or in-kind support).

    Example:

    Grant Request: $5,000

    Matching Contribution: $5,000 (cash and/or in-kind)

    TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET: $10,000

  • The preferred grant sizes range from $2,000 to $10,000.

    If any grants are awarded outside of the preferred range, there will only be a limited number of those grants. Grant requests up to $25,000 may be considered.

  • First grant cycle

    • March 28 to April 30 2024: Application period

    • Mid-June 2024: Announcement of successful applications

    • March 2025: Grantees report on project completion

Grant Priorities

Outdoor Enhancement

Support the community groups who enhance and maintain trails, signage and outdoor recreation infrastructure.

Project Examples: Pre-authorized activities that help maintain and enhance outdoor spaces such as trails, campsites, boat launches, climbing crags, etc. Projects must deliver physical results like resurfacing, grooming, and signage.

STEWARDSHIP & EDUCATION

Foster responsible use of the outdoors through education and stewardship initiatives that minimize the environmental, cultural, and safety impacts of outdoor adventuring.

Project examples: Interpretive signage, educational programs, volunteer training, safety enhancements, cultural education, and environmental preservation of recreation areas.

INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION

Cultivate accessible, inclusive and diverse outdoor recreation opportunities by encouraging participation in outdoor recreation for under-represented groups

Project examples: Accessibility projects & equipment, programs, workshops, skill-building and creating community.

Questions and Answers

  • Registered charities, incorporated non-profit organizations, local governments in BC, and Indigenous governments in BC are eligible to apply.

  • Eligible Expenses: Expenses must be tied to the project outcomes as outlined in the application.

    Ineligible Expenses. The grant program will not fund:

    • Activities that primarily provide financial benefits for individuals

    • Retroactive expenses (costs incurred prior to funding being approved)

    • Payment to volunteers

    • Endowments, Debt retirement, reserves, mortgage paydowns

  • One application per group will be accepted. Organizations with chapters or other regional divisions, may submit one application per chapter or division. For questions on how many applications your organization is eligible to submit, please contact grants@orcbc.ca.

  • The preferred grant range is between $2,000 to $10,000.

  • The purpose of the Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC is to support grants for community-based initiatives that create and shape meaningful outdoor recreational and nature-based experiences for British Columbians.

  • For the purpose of this grant program, ORCBC considers outdoor recreation to be activities that take place in natural settings—most commonly parks, trails, and natural aquatic areas—and does not include activities that take place in highly cultivated recreation areas (such as playgrounds, skateparks or sports fields).

  • The matching contribution is calculated as 50% of the total project budget which can be provided through cash or in-kind contributions. In other words, if your organization is requesting a $5,000 grant, you are asked to provide $5,000 or more in matching contributions (in cash and/or in-kind support).

    Example:

    • Grant Request: $5,000

    • Matching Contribution: $5,000 (cash and/or in-kind)

    • TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET: $10,000

  • If your project does not align with the first grant cycle timelines, you may be eligible to apply for the second grant cycle which may open as early as Fall 2024. You can expect the priorities to remain unchanged. Stay tuned!

    For the first grant cycle, ORCBC requires projects to be ready-to-go before applying and prefers projects that can be completed by March 2025. This will help ORCBC showcase grant projects success which can in turn help attract donors, grow the fund and ultimately provide more grants.

  • After three years of research, proposal writing and advocacy, ORCBC received $10 million from the Province of BC in May 2023 to create an endowment and an annual granting program.

    The endowment has been invested and generates interest income, which is a perpetual funding source for the granting program.

  • An endowment fund is a fund that generates revenue from investment interest to fund charitable activities.

    For the Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC, this means that funds will be available every year. To ensure the fund’s longevity, only a small percentage of the fund’s total value will be used each year. For applicants, this means they can expect a grant intake every year starting in 2024.

    To maximize the impact of the Outdoor Recreation Fund and this granting program, we will seek to grow the fund through additional contributions from all levels of government and the corporate and philanthropic sectors.

Clean-up event | Vernon ATV Club photo

How can I contribute to the grant fund?

The Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC aspires to be a powerful vehicle that engages communities and supports multiple sectors simultaneously to ensure better care for recreation resources, better outdoor access for all British Columbians and healthier and more thriving communities.

To donate to the Outdoor Recreation Fund, please email info@orcbc.ca.