Connect to Community Grant
About the grant
The Connect to Community Grant (C2C) offers UBC undergraduate and master’s degree students the opportunity to carry out a meaningful project in partnership with a local not-for-profit community organization.
Designed as an introduction to the grants experience, the C2C grant strives to be a dynamic learning opportunity. It challenges students to learn from the application process until project completion, without the fear of failing. We encourage students and community partners to test new ideas.
Applicants can request funds between $200 to $1,500 CAD. They must complete the project within 4 months of receiving funds.
Safety protocols for COVID-19
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all project proposals must follow UBC and BC Government public safety protocols. For more information, visit UBC’s Covid-19 Health Guidance page
Watch the recorded information session
During this session, we reviewed how to build a strong project case and put a CCEL grant application together.
Watch the recording, below:
(Passcode: O9e$k4v4)
What the grant can fund
Examples of how you can use the funding include:
- A project that you were involved in as part of a course-based or volunteer placement, or with a community organization you are already connected to
- Developing and hosting workshops based on the community’s interests and needs
- Supporting an existing community-directed initiative, such as a communications campaign, program, or an event for a particular community group
Funds can cover the cost of materials, printing costs, space rentals, snacks, and other relevant project needs.
Eligibility requirements
Before applying, all students should read the Eligibility Guidelines (PDF) to confirm that CCEL can fund your project.
Writing a successful grant application
A strong grant application has 3 parts:
- A project idea that connects to a broader social issue with an achievable and measurable impact
- A community partnership with clearly outlined roles and responsibilities
- A project plan that includes goals, objectives, a timeline, and budget
Identifying a project idea
When you apply for a grant, you need to clearly describe your project idea, which includes the problem and solutions you plan to work on.
Review the Identifying a Project Idea guide (pdf) for tips on drafting a problem statement. You can also use the brainstorming matrix in the guide to develop a strong project idea.
Find your community partner
Community partners must be a registered charity, society, cooperative, non-profit or public sector, community organization, First Nation, school, municipal, federal, or provincial government office.
Partnerships are best built by fostering a relationship with the community organization.
Learn how to build a partnership with a community organization through the Reaching out to a Community Organization guide (pdf).
Build your project plan
Now that you have a project idea and a community partnership, it’s time to write your application.
The CCEL Grants Application Toolkit (pdf) provides a detailed guide for answering each question in the grant application and can support you in developing your project plan.
Seek advising
From developing a project idea to finding a community partner, to building a project plan, the Centre for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) is available in person or online to support you and answer your questions.
Email community.learning@ubc.ca to book an advising session with CCEL staff and brainstorm your project idea or learn more about available grants.
Applying for the grant
Deadline to apply is Sunday, Feb 5, 2023, at 11:59 pm. If you’re interested in applying for a grant or curious to learn more, email the Centre for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) at community.learning@ubc.ca to book an advising session with our staff to brainstorm your impact project idea.
For more tips on how to apply for grants, check out our page below:
Prepare your application
Before you apply, review these documents:
Connect to Community Grant Application Package (google doc link) – Review the package to learn what details and supporting documents to include in your application.
CCEL Grant Application Toolkit (pdf)
CCEL Grants Partnership Agreement (pdf) – Use this document to establish project expectations, needs, and processes with your community partner.
Application Timelines
Fall applications
| Date | Description |
| September 6, 2022 | Application opens |
| October 30, 2022 | Application closes |
| Mid-December, 2022 | Winner announced |
Winter applications
| Date | Description |
| November 7, 2022 | Application opens |
| February 5, 2023 | Application closes |
| Early April, 2023 | Winner announced |
Previous Connect to Community Grant Recipients
Check out past grant winners for more ideas and inspiration!
Andrew Butt – Friends of Rose Swanson Ecosystem
Andrew is partnered with the Friends of Rose Swanson Ecosystem Stewardship (FORSES) society to promote geospatial knowledge and increase community involvement in local issues requiring the use of spatial data in the area surrounding Rose Swanson Mountain, located near Armstrong B.C. They will do this by creating a workshop template with FORSES to provide local stakeholders with the tools to share technical geospatial skills with their community.
Arian Sadigpour – Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre
Arian is working with the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society and the Skeena House, a supportive housing project in the Downtown Eastside community, to develop a myriad of events designed to address mental and physical health disparities and provide residents with the tools to succeed in their personal and professional goals. They will do this by:
- Collaborating with volunteers and community leaders to develop informed programming;
- Organizing, administering, and facilitating bimonthly events;
- Continually adapting event programming to incorporate feedback.
Deyvika Srinivasa – Gordon Neighbourhood House
Deyvika has partnered with the Gordon Neighbourhood house to develop a digital literacy and employment support program for seniors across Vancouver. Deyvika’s team seeks to provide their participants with the tools necessary to independently and confidently engage with the digital world. They will achieve this through hour-long, one-on-one sessions that have been personally adapted to meet the unique needs of elderly adults experiencing digital barriers.
Sohat Sharma and Yaksh Shah – Surrey Schools
Sohat and Yaksh work with the Surrey School District’s Welcome Centre to develop a series of interactive workshops designed to introduce refugee and newcomer youth to Canada’s post-secondary education system. The workshops will have a specific emphasis on STEM education, life during a post-secondary education, and practical career development skills. They plan to continue their impact after the workshops conclude by providing a tour of the UBC campus and pairing each participant with a UBC student mentor.
Anneke Dressulhuis – Unique Get Together Society
Anneke Dresselhuis, Kate MacLeod, Anna Shubina, and Madeline Carson-Thornill are collaborating with Unique Get Together Society (UGTS) to develop a robust social media campaign. Anneke’s team seeks to:
- Scale up their current promotional campaign developed during their INFO 250 course to a multi-month campaign;
- Support the development of new donor relationships and raise funds for the organization’s Walk for Trauma event;
- Apply theoretical concepts of social media and community development to promote UTGS’ provision of trauma services for BIPOC children and families.
Sue Rim Baek – Canadian Centre For Men & Families
Sue Rim is working with the Canadian Centre for Men and Families to expand the organization’s capacity to support men’s mental health. They are developing a coaching program that seeks to:
- Guide men through difficult situations using a solution-oriented approach in one-on-one sessions over the course of three months;
- Train ten volunteer coaches to provide ethical, effective, and equitable support to clients;
- Support men in the Vancouver community in a personal and practical manner.
William Canero – Kathara Pilipino Indigenous Arts Collective Society
William is working with the Kathara Pilipino Indigenous Arts Collective Society (Kathara Society) to develop an annual event that seeks to address a lack of existing communication channels for Pilipino community organizing efforts. They will achieve this by:
- Providing a platform for existing Pilipino non-profits and academic researchers with a focus on the Pilipino-Canadian Community to share resources and knowledge;
- Organizing a venue and monetary compensation for speakers;
- Fostering dialogue between participant organizations to further the development of community networks following the event.
Makenna Vanegas – James Cameron School
Makenna is working with the James Cameron School, which specializes in educating neurodiverse children, to inaugurate the school’s new Equity and Diversity Resource Centre with a 5-week educational program that aims to:
- Engage students in classroom dialogue and hands-on activities;
- Provide experiential learning through multicultural literature, a library field trip and an Indigenous speaker visit;
- Foster a space of acceptance and understanding through literature.
Questions?
Contact the Centre for Community Engaged Learning about community-based opportunities, programs, and resources.