Capital Project Grants

Does your organization operate in the DTES and need funding to improve its equipment, premises, or facilities to help us implement quick-start projects from the DTES Plan?

These matching grants fund projects that can help DTES residents – impact on residents who face structural barriers, in particular – to achieve better opportunities and a better quality of life.

• Current status: The 2025 DTES Matching Grant program is closed. Staff are evaluating applications and will bring recommendations for Council decision on July 9, 2025.
• Application deadline: Closed

Eligible organizations

We welcome applications from Vancouver-based organizations that are:

• Business improvement associations
• Charities registered with Canada Revenue Agency
• Community service cooperatives
• Faith-based organizations
• Registered non-profit societies
• Social enterprises wholly owned by a non-profit society

Additional eligibility criteria apply. Read the information sheet in the "How to apply" section below.

We do not fund organizations that:

• Focus mainly on health care or education (excluding childcare or out-of-school care)
• Exclude certain people or groups because of their religion, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, language, disability, or income

Types of projects

Your organization may apply for this grant if your project is located in the Downtown Eastside and is to:

• Repair or upgrade a facility to meet health and safety rules
• Build, renovate, or expand a facility to improve or expand your organization's services
• Conduct a planning or feasibility study
• Improve public space to enhance social connections

Your project must align with the DTES Plan and its Social Impact Objectives (see Chapter 1), and help implement one of the plan's quick-start projects (see Chapter 18, Implementation).

• Review the full DTES Plan PDF file (26 MB)

The funding cannot pay for already-completed projects.

How to apply

1. Review the guidelines PDF file (308 KB).

   The guidelines explain:

   • Grant purpose and summary
   • Eligibility
   • Application and review process 
   • Cost sharing
   • Payment
2. Download and complete the application form Word file (88 KB).
3. Sign the form and save it as a PDF. 
4. Gather the supporting documents.
5. Send your completed application and documents by email or mail:
   • dtes.grants@vancouver.ca
   • Planning, Urban Design, and Sustainability
     Attn: Reconciliation and Culture Change Team 
     510 West Broadway - 3rd floor

Cost-sharing grants in the range of $25,000 to $50,000 are available for social infrastructure improvement projects in Vancouver.

Exemptions for resilient retrofit projects: Grants of up to $100,000 may be available for climate resilient retrofit upgrades. Cost-sharing is encouraged but not required.

Grants are available to all eligible social-serving non-profits for:

• Health and safety upgrades
• Climate change adaptation projects to address extreme heat and poor air quality
• Accessibility upgrades
• Service expansion upgrades

Review the Social Policy - Social Capital Grants information guide PDF file (200 KB) for eligibility criteria, program priorities, and application process

Application intake

Applications are open throughout the year, subject to available funds, and can be submitted through VanApply.

Submit your complete application by the dates below if you wish to have your application brought to Council for decision:

• November 12, 2024, for Council decision in March 2025
• April 15, 2025, for Council decision in July 2025
• September 6, 2025, for Council decision in November 2025

Grants of up to $25,000 are available to provide capital funding for small social infrastructure improvement projects in Vancouver.

Grants are available to all social-serving non-profits for:

• Health and safety upgrades
• Climate change adaptation projects to address extreme heat and poor air quality
• Accessibility upgrades
• Improving or expanding services
• Planning or feasibility studies

Review the Social Policy Capital Grants information guide PDF file (200 KB) for eligibility criteria, program priorities, and application process. 

Application intake

Applications are open throughout the year, subject to available funds, and can be submitted through VanApply.

Submit your complete application by the dates below if you wish to have your application brought to Council for decision:

• November 12, 2024, for Council decision in March 2025
• April 15, 2025, for Council decision in July 2025
• September 6, 2025, for Council decision in November 2025

Grants of up to $25,000 are available to provide capital funding for small childcare infrastructure improvement projects in Vancouver. The goal is to support licensed childcare facilities serving Vancouver residents.

Exemptions for resilient retrofit projects: Grants of up to $100,000 may be available for climate resilient retrofit upgrades. Cost-sharing is encouraged but not required.

Grants are available to all Vancouver-based non-profit organizations with valid childcare licenses for:

• Health and safety upgrades
• Climate change adaptation projects to address extreme heat and poor air quality
• Accessibility upgrades
• Improving or expanding services
• Planning or feasibility studies

Review the Social Policy - Childcare Capital Grants information guide PDF file (300 KB) for eligibility criteria, program priorities, and application process.

Application intake

Applications are open throughout the year, subject to available funds, and can be submitted through VanApply.

Submit your complete application by the dates below if you wish to have your application brought to Council for decision:

• November 12, 2024, for Council decision in March 2025
• April 15, 2025, for Council decision in July 2025
• September 6, 2025, for Council decision in November 2025

Organizations may receive up to $2,500 in grants per new space to support the creation of new licensed, school-age spaces run by non-profit operators.

Eligible school-age care expansion program categories

This grant supports new school-age childcare spaces across 3 categories:

Creating New Programs

This grant supports creating new programs on public property, or on sites owned or leased by public or non-profit organizations under these categories of care External website, opens in new tab:

• Group child care — School-age (before and after school care)
• School-age care on school grounds
• Recreational care 

Expanding Existing Programs

This grant supports the expansion of existing programs. It is available to organizations with an existing school-age care license.

Relicensing Current Programs

This grant supports new spaces created by relicensing current programs in public schools or Park Board facilities under either of these license categories External website, opens in new tab:

• New school-age care on school grounds
• Recreational care

Review the School-Age Care Expansion Grants information guide PDF file (292 KB) for eligibility criteria, program priorities, and application process.

Application intake

Applications are open throughout the year, subject to available funds, and can be submitted through VanApply.

Submit your complete application by the dates below if you wish to have your application brought to Council for decision:

• November 12, 2024, for Council decision in March 2025
• April 15, 2025, for Council decision in July 2025
• September 6, 2025, for Council decision in November 2025