Finding funding in British Columbia: grants, loans and rebates in B.C.

Funding in British Columbia comes in layers: national programs open to all of Canada, federal business funding delivered in B.C. by PacifiCan, provincial programs, energy rebates from CleanBC, BC Hydro and FortisBC, Community Gaming Grants for non-profits, and grants from cities and community foundations. Which layer fits depends on who you are and what you want to do, so start with the British Columbia page or run the funding check.

This guide goes through each layer for businesses, non-profits and homeowners, then the five largest cities we cover. Each program we name has its own page with its current status, amounts and rules, so check the program page before you plan around it.

Who funds businesses and organizations in B.C.?

It helps to picture four levels, each with its own programs. Our post on federal, provincial and city funding layers explains how they fit together.

Federal, national. Programs open across Canada, such as CanExport SMEs, NRC IRAP, SR&ED tax incentives and Canada Summer Jobs.
Federal, regional. PacifiCan is the federal regional development agency for British Columbia.
Provincial. B.C. ministries and provincial bodies, including CleanBC and the Community Gaming Grants program.
Local. Cities, utilities and community foundations.

The funders page lists everyone whose programs appear on CanGrant.

What funding is there for B.C. businesses?

PacifiCan programs

PacifiCan delivers federal business funding in British Columbia. Two programs on CanGrant:

The Regional Tariff Response Initiative in British Columbia helps B.C. businesses hurt by tariffs and trade disruptions.
Business Scale-up and Productivity offers repayable contributions to incorporated, growing B.C. businesses that are scaling up, adopting technology or raising productivity.

These programs are aimed at established businesses with a clear growth project. Each sets its own rules on size, revenue and share of costs, so check the program page.

National programs used by B.C. businesses

Many B.C. businesses get most of their funding from national programs:

Exporting. CanExport SMEs helps pay for market development in new markets. Read export funding for your first market.
Innovation. NRC IRAP and SR&ED support research and technology work. See SR&ED vs IRAP.
Hiring. Wage subsidies such as Canada Summer Jobs and the Student Work Placement Program. See the guide to wage subsidies and hiring programs.
Loans. BDC, a federal Crown corporation, lends to businesses across Canada, including through its online small business loan.

For starting out, read funding to start a business; Futurpreneur offers start-up loans and mentoring to young entrepreneurs across Canada, B.C. included. Community Futures offices in many smaller B.C. communities also offer local loans and business advice.

Browse the B.C. pages for growth, hiring, export and innovation, or the page for B.C. small businesses. The complete guide to small business funding in Canada covers the whole picture.

Energy incentives for B.C. businesses

Utilities help businesses cut energy use. BC Hydro business incentives support efficient lighting and equipment, and FortisBC offers rebates for homes and businesses. See the B.C. energy page.

What funding is there for B.C. non-profits and charities?

Community Gaming Grants

Community Gaming Grants share provincial gaming revenue with B.C. non-profits that run programs serving the broader community. The rules on which programs qualify, how you report and how you can spend the money are detailed, so read them before you apply.

Community foundations

Vancouver Foundation offers several grant programs for B.C. charities, non-profits and community groups.
The Victoria Foundation runs a community grants program for registered charities and other qualified donees in the Capital Region.

Many foundation grants are limited to a registered charity or another qualified donee. Read the non-profit funding guide to see how your status affects what you can apply for.

Federal programs for B.C. non-profits

National programs are open to B.C. groups too, such as New Horizons for Seniors community-based projects and the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund for arts and heritage spaces.

Browse the B.C. pages for community and arts projects, or the page for B.C. non-profits.

What home energy rebates are there in B.C.?

B.C. homeowners can get help with heat pumps, insulation, windows and other upgrades from several sources:

CleanBC Better Homes is a rebate finder that brings together B.C. home energy rebates.
BC Hydro residential rebates and free programs cover some appliances, equipment and free programs.
FortisBC rebates cover some upgrades for FortisBC customers.
The federal Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program funds retrofits for lower-income households through programs in participating provinces; check the program page to see whether it applies where you live.

Rebates usually need you to follow steps in order, such as an assessment or a pre-approval before the work, and to use an eligible contractor. Read home energy rebates: before you upgrade and the home energy rebates guide, and see the page for B.C. homeowners.

What funding is there in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Kelowna and Nanaimo?

Each city page brings together local, provincial and national programs that apply there.

Vancouver. Home to Vancouver Foundation, which funds groups across B.C., plus city and provincial programs.
Victoria. The Victoria Foundation funds charities working in the Capital Region.
Surrey. Surrey cultural grants support non-profits that host arts, culture and heritage activities.
Kelowna. Kelowna cultural grants support non-profits working in arts and culture in the city.
Nanaimo. The city page lists the provincial and national programs open to Nanaimo businesses, non-profits and homeowners.

City and foundation grants usually have one or two intakes a year. Watch what is closing soon.

How do I apply for funding in B.C.?

The steps are the same as anywhere in Canada:

Read the applicant guide and the eligibility rules. Our guide on how to read eligibility rules helps.
Apply before you spend. Most programs won't cover costs from before approval. Read apply before you spend.
Build a budget of eligible costs. See the grant project budget guide.
Write clearly. See how to write a grant application and the grant application checklist.
Check stacking rules if you are combining federal, provincial and local funding. Read can you combine grants?.

After approval, read what happens after you apply and getting paid: claims and reports. And be wary of anyone who charges a fee to apply: see how to spot a grant scam.

CanGrant is independent and free. We are not the government and we don't take applications; each program page links to the funder.

Frequently asked questions

What is PacifiCan?

PacifiCan is the federal regional development agency for British Columbia. It delivers federal business and community funding in the province, often as repayable contributions for growth projects.

Are there grants for small businesses in B.C.?

Some, but most help for B.C. small businesses comes as loans, tax credits, wage subsidies, repayable contributions and energy incentives. National programs are open to B.C. businesses. See the page for B.C. small businesses.

Who can apply for Community Gaming Grants?

B.C. non-profits that run programs serving the broader community. The program has detailed rules on what qualifies; check the program page.

Can I combine CleanBC, BC Hydro and FortisBC rebates?

Sometimes, but each program has its own rules on combining with other rebates. Check each program page and confirm before you start the work.

Where do I find funding in my B.C. city?

Start with the city pages for Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Kelowna and Nanaimo, or the British Columbia page for the whole province.

This article explains how funding generally works. Each program sets its own rules, amounts and dates: check the program page and the funder’s site before you apply. A CanGrant editor hasn’t reviewed this article yet.