The Cortes Foundation is doubling the impact of the Grant-in-Aid program in 2025 by matching the SRD Funds from our Communitas Fund for community granting.

This year, the Grants in Aid program will prioritize:
– Cross-organizational collaborations and
– New initiatives that seed ongoing change or revenue potential for community causes.

The total Grants-in-Aid pool of funds in 2025 includes approximately $25,000 from the SRD and $25,000 from the Cortes Foundation’s Communitas Fund and is intended to benefit the community through support of the work of community social profits.
The average grant award is in the range of $1000 – $5000, with collaborative initiatives eligible for up to $10,000. (As this is a new hybrid program some projects may receive partial funding from each organization or initiatives not usually eligible may apply as part of a collaboration with a different lead organization). 

For questions please write outreach@cortesfoundation.ca.

Applications are DUE by midnight Sunday, November 16th, 2025, and include two parts. 

Cortes Island Community Foundation has assisted with the strategy and adjudication of the Grant-in-Aid funds since 2022.  In this process, the Foundation engages the experience of Foundation staff and board and a volunteer jury made up of community members that both use a matrix to guide their recommendations examining: organizational/project need, past funding, depth or breadth of impact, and capacity.

The final recommendation receive a final vetting by the SRD staff and if eligible are submitted to the Strathcona Regional District board by Regional Director, Mark Vonesch, for final consideration.

All the fine print: The Strathcona Regional District used Cortes tax payer money for funding the Grants-in-Aid pool of money. They set the guidelines for eligibility. Please familiarize yourself with these requirements and the application at https://srd.ca/grant-in-aid/. As well, the Community Foundation further considers the standing of an organization based on past grants received and a Grant Report is required for eligibility before applying again.

The Cortes Foundation is doubling the impact of the Grant-in-Aid program in 2025 by matching the SRD Funds.

This year, the Grants in Aid program will prioritize:
– Cross-organizational collaborations and
– New initiatives that seed ongoing change or revenue potential for community causes.

The total Grants-in-Aid pool of funds in 2025 includes approximately $25,000 from the SRD and $25,000 from the Cortes Foundation’s Communitas Fund and is intended to benefit the community through support of the work of community social profits.
The average grant award is in the range of $1000 – $5000, with collaborative initiatives eligible for up to $10,000. (As this is a new hybrid program some projects may receive partial funding from each organization or initiatives not usually eligible may apply as part of a collaboration with a different lead organization). 

For questions please write outreach@cortesfoundation.ca.

Applications are DUE by midnight Sunday, November 16th, 2025, and include two parts. 

Cortes Island Community Foundation has assisted with the strategy and adjudication of the Grant-in-Aid funds since 2022.  In this process, the Foundation engages the experience of Foundation staff and board and a volunteer jury made up of community members that both use a matrix to guide their recommendations examining: organizational/project need, past funding, depth or breadth of impact, and capacity.

The final recommendation receive a final vetting by the SRD staff and if eligible are submitted to the Strathcona Regional District board by Regional Director, Mark Vonesch, for final consideration.

All the fine print: The Strathcona Regional District used Cortes tax payer money for funding the Grants-in-Aid pool of money. They set the guidelines for eligibility. Please familiarize yourself with these requirements and the application at https://srd.ca/grant-in-aid/. As well, the Community Foundation further considers the standing of an organization based on past grants received and a Grant Report is required for eligibility before applying again.