BIM and the B.I. Community Foundation announced in a press release Thursday, details of two new grant streams to help the community through the trials of COVID-19: Community Resiliency Grants and Responsive Neighbourhood Grants.
Community Resiliency Grants are flexible and open to organizations and individuals (no charitable partner needed). They’re aimed at solutions that “affect a broad spectrum of the Bowen population and not be redundant with other initiatives.”
Grant priorities are in areas where there’s a gap in government assistance and other relief programs, says the BIM news release. These include:
- “The availability of food, hygiene, or other basic needs (excluding housing and income benefits).
- “The provision of relevant information to promote resiliency and mitigate fear and confusion.
- “The mobilization of citizens to assist their vulnerable neighbours with the challenges they are facing from isolation.
One can donate to the BICF Resiliency Fund here and one can find more information or apply for a grant here.
Responsive Neighbourhood Small Grants, on the other hand, are grants of up to $500 for “small-scale projects that reduce social isolation” (while maintaining physical distancing).
These projects are to connect people socially, or have people sharing skills and talents with one another. Examples given in the press release include providing care packages for elderly or immunocompromised people in one’s neighbourhood, hosting a webinar or teaching an exercise class or hosting a virtual concert. The project budget can include up to $350 for honorariums for sharing these skills (this can include the applicant).
Find more information or apply here.
