NutritionLink Services Society Grant -- FAQ
“How to respond to an organization without a charitable number?”
You do not need to be a registered charity to apply for a grant; however, if you are not a registered charity and your application is successful, the funds will be granted to NLS and NLS will forward a cheque to your organization. It is up to you whether you apply through a charitable or non-charitable organization.
NLS will be considering applications for projects and programs that have not yet started as well as continuing ventures, and we would be happy to consider your application.
Your website says that i.e.,$14,000 will be awarded this year, with grants of up to i.e., $5,000 each. It sounds like just a few grants will be awarded provincially and this may be quite competitive. We provide a regional service that does not cover all of BC – would it still be worthwhile for us to apply for this program, given how competitive it may be?
Yes
The Grant Application information provided notes a quarterly budget – does that mean that the funds will be disbursed quarterly?
No, the funds will not be distributed quarterly
Is renovating an existing kitchen be applicable for this grant?
Yes, the type of project they are suggesting is eligible (although we cannot yet say whether they will receive a grant or not).
The NLS Grant Applications notes the total funding available is i.e.,$14,000 with no less than i.e., $5000 per grant awarded. Will you consider applications for less than i.e., $5000 or does the foundation prefer to fund one or two larger projects?
If you have needs for a smaller project, please still apply. We set the minimum more for the benefit of the applicants and so they could gauge whether it was worth it for them to apply.
Specifically we are requesting funding to continue a community kitchen program for at-risk youth in the BC which educates youth on making and preparing healthy and affordable food choices - is this a cause which you feel is currently of interest to NLS?
Yes, we encourage you to apply as this is the type of project that we will consider.
I am a Teacher at a BC School, I would like to know if schools are eligible to apply for your grant funds.
Yes
Do the applicants have to provide an audited financial statement or can they use their “financial reviews” done by a CGA?
No, audited financial statements are not required.
I am wondering if an organization applies for the NLS grant, does the program have to start in the current granting year, i.e., 2016? For example, if I apply and was a successful recipient for my agency, could the program begin in the upcoming year, i.e., January 2017 or must it commence sooner?
The funds must be used within one year from the date it was awarded. So, as long as the money is used fully in one calendar year, it is fine to start in the upcoming year, 2017.
My organization is a non-profit but not a registered charity, though have been working with a charity to develop and implement our program and would like to secure funding for them so they can continue to support us. I want to ensure that the application would be eligible before completing it.
The group is eligible to apply on their own, no need for a registered charity, providing we fund them directly. We would presumably get the funds from Van City Foundation, and pass it along to the 'non charity'. We have done this in the past. Alternatively they could get the associated charitable organization to apply, noting where the funds would be redirected to. In this case Van City would fund them directly. We would prefer them to apply directly, so the organization expending the money would be providing us details as to the purpose of the grant, and also providing a final report once the funds have been expended.
Can you confirm whether Hospital Foundations are eligible to apply for this grant on behalf of another department in a Health Authority?
NutritionLink Services Society will accept a grant application from a hospital foundation.
Would it be possible to get some feedback regarding our application as to why it was not accepted? It would be greatly appreciated so as to help inform our future grant applications.
Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to provide feedback to all unsuccessful applicants.
We welcome you to apply for next year's grant funding opportunity.
What is the maximum percentage of administrative expenses allowed per grant?
Up to 10% maximum administrative expenses allowed per grant.
You do not need to be a registered charity to apply for a grant; however, if you are not a registered charity and your application is successful, the funds will be granted to NLS and NLS will forward a cheque to your organization. It is up to you whether you apply through a charitable or non-charitable organization.
- We are not a new program but a successful program over the past two years. Does this fall into your guidelines?
- We are considering applying for one of your grants for a project we recently piloted. Are the grants applicable for projects that are already in existence?
- Are you considering only new projects or will you fund the continuation of an existing nutritional program?
NLS will be considering applications for projects and programs that have not yet started as well as continuing ventures, and we would be happy to consider your application.
Your website says that i.e.,$14,000 will be awarded this year, with grants of up to i.e., $5,000 each. It sounds like just a few grants will be awarded provincially and this may be quite competitive. We provide a regional service that does not cover all of BC – would it still be worthwhile for us to apply for this program, given how competitive it may be?
Yes
The Grant Application information provided notes a quarterly budget – does that mean that the funds will be disbursed quarterly?
No, the funds will not be distributed quarterly
Is renovating an existing kitchen be applicable for this grant?
Yes, the type of project they are suggesting is eligible (although we cannot yet say whether they will receive a grant or not).
The NLS Grant Applications notes the total funding available is i.e.,$14,000 with no less than i.e., $5000 per grant awarded. Will you consider applications for less than i.e., $5000 or does the foundation prefer to fund one or two larger projects?
If you have needs for a smaller project, please still apply. We set the minimum more for the benefit of the applicants and so they could gauge whether it was worth it for them to apply.
Specifically we are requesting funding to continue a community kitchen program for at-risk youth in the BC which educates youth on making and preparing healthy and affordable food choices - is this a cause which you feel is currently of interest to NLS?
Yes, we encourage you to apply as this is the type of project that we will consider.
I am a Teacher at a BC School, I would like to know if schools are eligible to apply for your grant funds.
Yes
Do the applicants have to provide an audited financial statement or can they use their “financial reviews” done by a CGA?
No, audited financial statements are not required.
I am wondering if an organization applies for the NLS grant, does the program have to start in the current granting year, i.e., 2016? For example, if I apply and was a successful recipient for my agency, could the program begin in the upcoming year, i.e., January 2017 or must it commence sooner?
The funds must be used within one year from the date it was awarded. So, as long as the money is used fully in one calendar year, it is fine to start in the upcoming year, 2017.
My organization is a non-profit but not a registered charity, though have been working with a charity to develop and implement our program and would like to secure funding for them so they can continue to support us. I want to ensure that the application would be eligible before completing it.
The group is eligible to apply on their own, no need for a registered charity, providing we fund them directly. We would presumably get the funds from Van City Foundation, and pass it along to the 'non charity'. We have done this in the past. Alternatively they could get the associated charitable organization to apply, noting where the funds would be redirected to. In this case Van City would fund them directly. We would prefer them to apply directly, so the organization expending the money would be providing us details as to the purpose of the grant, and also providing a final report once the funds have been expended.
Can you confirm whether Hospital Foundations are eligible to apply for this grant on behalf of another department in a Health Authority?
NutritionLink Services Society will accept a grant application from a hospital foundation.
Would it be possible to get some feedback regarding our application as to why it was not accepted? It would be greatly appreciated so as to help inform our future grant applications.
Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to provide feedback to all unsuccessful applicants.
We welcome you to apply for next year's grant funding opportunity.
What is the maximum percentage of administrative expenses allowed per grant?
Up to 10% maximum administrative expenses allowed per grant.
