The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) has announced that they now have a Community Grant Writer available for consultations and ongoing support, to help societies and community groups within the regional district.
As part of the TNRD’s Community Grant Writer pilot program, this new position will support non-profit groups in seeking out, and applying for, applicable streams of grant funding. This program is available to non-profit groups in TNRD Electoral Areas, or in other areas if they provide a benefit or service to Electoral Areas. Non-profit groups within municipalities should check with their local government for support, as many municipalities offer a similar service.
The purpose of the program is to help eligible non-profits identify possible sources of grant funding for specific projects or events for which they are seeking financial assistance, and assist with the writing of grant applications. The pilot program has been launched in response to an increase in requests for grant writing support from Electoral Area Directors and from groups in rural areas, and is possible thanks in part to a grant of $25,000 received from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).
“For non-profit community groups with limited time and resources, navigating complex grant applications can be a challenge,” says Austin Potts, TNRD financial supervisor. “The goal of this pilot program is to apply staff expertise and support local groups in seeking out and writing grants, which benefits local economies and the general well-being of our communities.”
The grant writer will meet with eligible clients for 30 to 60 minutes, receive their information, conduct research, and reach out to the group with findings. If applicable, the grant writer will then work with the group to prepare an application for any grant funding opportunities.
Potts notes that there is a “ton” of grant money available for non-government organizations such as non-profits that goes completely unsubscribed, and the community grant writer can help organizations find it.
“There’s so much funding left on the table that we can’t apply for, but that could help these groups, who are wondering ‘Is there anything out there for us?’” says Potts. “So we’re saying ‘Tell us more about your organization and we’ll help you find money that’s available.’ People have no idea these grants exist, and a big part of this program is to bridge that gap.”
He says that making the grant application process as painless as possible is another goal of the program.
“You probably don’t have to look at the grant application. Once we’ve identified that, say, these three grants are a possibility for what you want to do, we can ask if you want to go for them. If you say yes, we’ll go ahead and fill out the paperwork. The goal is to make it so easy for non-profits that you don’t need to know all the components. We fill it out, we get your sign-off, and we can even submit it on your behalf.”
Potts adds that some application forms are very long, and that non-profits may not be aware of what information or keywords the grant bodies are looking for. “You might not know what to highlight in your grant application, but we do. We frame the application in such a way that the funder will look at the application and say ‘This is a great fit for the program.’”
Non-profit groups interested in consulting with the TNRD Community Grant Writer are encouraged to email grants@tnrd.ca for more information.
