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The Simple Generosity Neighbourhood Grant program is now closed.
All funding for 2024 has been granted - thank you to all grantees for your support of our communities!
At Island Savings we aim to help our communities thrive. What better way to do that than by supporting local grassroots ideas, events and initiatives that are focused on building stronger and more connected communities. Through our Simple Generosity Neighbourhood Grants, we will be gifting $100-$500 grants to local volunteers, groups, and neighbourhoods that are sharing simple ideas to help create a future where everyone can flourish.
Do you have an idea to bring your neighbourhood or community together? Apply today and you could receive funding to support your idea, event or initiative that is helping to spread #SimpleGenerosity in our communities!
Apply online now through our partner Do Some Good or download a PDF application form.
If you or your initiative has received a Simple Generosity Neighbourhood grant in the last 12 months, you will not be eligible for a grant at this time.
If filling out a PDF form, completed application forms can be emailed to: simplegenerosity@firstwestcu.ca;
or mailed to:
First West Credit Union
Attn: Jackey Zellweger
184 Main Street
Penticton, BC V2A 8G7
In submitting the application form, the Applicant agrees to let First West Credit Union and its divisions (including Envision Financial, Enderby & District Financial, Island Savings and Valley First) use the information and images provided to profile this idea, event or initiative on the First West websites and social media channels.
If this application is successful, the Applicant acknowledges and agrees to the following:
Have a question that’s not on this list? Submit it to simplegenerosity@firstwestcu.ca
I want to share #SimpleGenerosity with someone who might be interested. What’s the best way to do that?
That’s great news! We’re excited that you’re excited about the program. Share #SimpleGenerosity with others in one of several ways:
I don’t see a deadline for this program, am I still able to apply?
Absolutely! We are accepting applications on an ongoing basis throughout the year until all funding has been granted in our communities. If you would like to submit an application for an idea, event or initiative that will benefit your community, please complete an application online or send a completed application form via email or mail.
I have a short video explaining my idea, event or initiative. Am I able to submit this along with my application?
Of course! If you have supporting videos or photos that help explain your idea and the community impact, we would love to see them. Please attach them to the email when you submit the application or include a link where the images or video can be viewed online.
What happens after I submit my application?
Eligible applications will be reviewed every 7-10 business days by a selection committee of enthusiastic First West employees representing each of our divisions (only those applications receiving funding will be contacted). Please submit your application a minimum of 3 weeks prior to when your event or initiative is taking place.
All Neighbourhood Grant applications will be posted online with our community partner, Do Some Good. Do Some Good is our social platform where we’ll share each great idea to raise awareness in our communities.
Can I submit more than one application?
In order to support many across our region, we ask that you submit only one application per calendar year. By submitting an application and receiving a monetary grant from the Simple Generosity Neighbourhood Grant program, you agree to complete and submit a brief event summary when your idea, event or initiative finishes. Failure to do so will make you ineligible for any future grant considerations.
Who can I call to find out if my application is going to be selected?
Waiting to find out if your application has been selected can be tough. However with the high volume of applications submitted, we are unfortunately unable to recognize every application and idea for #SimpleGenerosity in our community. We appreciate each and every application, and are so inspired by these stories, that we will be doing what we can to showcase the great contributions of all individuals and organizations.
How and when will funding be distributed?
We’ll keep it simple and present the neighbourhood grants to the lucky recipients in the form of a cheque. When funding is distributed will be determined by the nature of the idea, event or initiative and the associated timelines. If possible, we will likely have some First West paparazzi there and we’ll expect you to bring your biggest smiles!
What happens after I receive my grant?
When your idea, event or initiative is finished, we want to know how it went. You’ll be expected to provide a brief summary on how the event or initiative went and we’ll look forward to sharing a brief grant evaluation by email to complete and send back to us. Once this report is received we’ll share your success with the community through our Do Some Good platform.
Why haven’t I seen someone selected from my community yet for a #SimpleGenerosity neighbourhood grant?
We'll be selecting outstanding applications from communities throughout B.C. on an ongoing basis, in regions where First West Credit Union operates. Stay connected to our social channels and Do Some Good to be inspired by all the good things happening in neighbourhoods across B.C.
Everything is easier with a little help.
We acknowledge that we have the privilege of doing business on the traditional and unceded territory of First Nations communities.