Neighbourhood Matching Fund

The Neighbourhood Matching Fund is available to neighbourhood-based, registered not-for-profit organizations including Community Centre Associations, Neighbourhood Houses or First Nations Organizations.

Informal neighbourhood-based groups must apply in partnership with a not-for-profit or charitable organization.

Project requirements

Projects must be on Park Board land or other public land trustee within Vancouver’s city limits.

Before proceeding with your project, the Park Board needs an agreement from the public land trustee for the requested land use (for example City of Vancouver Engineering, Vancouver Park Board, Vancouver Public Library, or Vancouver School Board).

Contact the Neighbourhood Matching Fund for support determining the eligibility of your project location: 

Examples of eligible projects

• Building or expanding garden or greening projects such as seating, pollinator boxes, sharing or educational gardens, etc.
   Find out how to get approval for garden projects on the Resources tab.
• Building organic or arts-based fences such as structures that improve aesthetic while providing function
• Co-designing and creating mosaics
• Building creative benches with assistance from a ceramic artist
• Developing a natural or historical interpretation such as a neighbourhood or park-specific tour or interpretive walk with associated maps or resources
• Starting neighbourhood banner programs
• Building an information kiosk
• Creating a neighbourhood flower, bee, bird or other identification guide, booklet or map

 All projects must involve the creation of a lasting physical legacy that expresses something unique about the neighbourhood and provides continued community use and enjoyment. 

View previous Neighbourhood Matching Fund projects

Ineligible projects

• Celebrations, parades, and performances that don’t have a lasting physical legacy
• Items that are part of Park Board’s operation such as playgrounds, park benches, other manufactured equipment, or street trees.

Step 1: Consult a fund programmer

Before starting the application process, phone or email the Neighbourhood Matching Fund Programmer to ensure your project is eligible.

• Email: nmf@vancouver.ca for all projects.
• Phone: 604-257-8106

Step 2: Read the program guidelines

Get details on program criteria, project examples, and budget explanation in the program guidelines.

• Neighbourhood Matching Fund program guidelines (575 KB)

Step 3: Complete the application form

Fill in the application two ways: on your computer or on paper.

Attach any support materials listed in the program guidelines.

Use the checklist on the last page of the application form to confirm you have completed all of the sections, and included all required support materials.

Do one of the following:

• Complete this application form online to email  (306 KB)
• Print and complete this application form in writing to mail  (105 KB)

Step 4: Submit your application

You can submit your application by email or postal mail.

Email your electronic form:

1. Save your completed application and attachments to your computer.
2. Click Email your application to open an email message window.
3. Type your project name in the subject of your email.
4. Attach your application and all support materials to the email.

Staff will send you an email confirming that we received your application within three business days.

Mail your printed form:

If you cannot complete the application form to send via email, print it and send it to:

Attn: Neighbourhood Matching Fund
2099 Beach Ave
Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4

Previous projects

• View previous Neighbourhood Matching Fund projects

Learn how to get approval for a garden project on:

• City or Park Board property
• Vancouver School Board property   

Suggested artist fees

Artist fees vary from project to project and it is ultimately up to the artist you work with. Artists with different levels of experience may have different rates for service. Some may choose to waive their fee. We encourage you to support paying artists for their valuable services.

• View suggested artist fees (Section C.1 - C.3, Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collective website)