Investing in the Community

Community Investment Program

Port Metro Vancouver is committed to sharing its success with the communities it serves. Through our Community Investment Program, we strive to support the economic, social and environmental aspirations of our operating communities with a view to building sustainable futures together.

As such, we manage a dynamic and broad-ranged community investment program based on the three areas of Education, Community Enrichment and Environment. These core focus areas represent where we believe we can make the most difference in our neighbouring communities. One per cent of our net income is now dedicated to the program. As we grow, so too does our ability to support the communities in which we operate.

How to apply

Thank you for your interest in Port Metro Vancouver’s Community Investment Program. In order to make the request process easier, we have prepared a listing of guidelines and criteria. We base our Community Investment funding decisions on the degree to which organizations projects and programs meet these criteria. At times, a funding request falls within our criteria, however due to a limited budget, we are unable to provide funding.

Priority locations

The focus of our Community Investment Program is in the Vancouver Lower Mainland communities in which we operate. See Neighbouring Communities to learn more.

Priority areas

Port Metro Vancouver gives priority consideration to requests for support in the following categories: 

• Education

  Organizations or programs that improve access to and/or the quality of academic and career training for students in our operating communities within port-related disciplines such as marine education, transportation, logistics, geography, environment and agriculture.

• Environmental stewardship

  Organizations or programs that enhance knowledge of and care for the natural environment and ecological systems in our operating areas. 

• Community enrichment

  Organizations or programs that contribute to a higher quality of life in our operating communities through enhanced economic, social and cultural opportunities.

• Partnership opportunities

  We favour active partnerships of mutual benefit over passive funding relationships.

• Proponent’s track record

  In selecting our Community Investment partners, we take into account an organization’s reputation, quality of management, financial stability, inclusiveness and record of success.

• Leveraging opportunities

  We seek Community Investment opportunities that provide Port Metro Vancouver with visibility and profile,

Ineligible requests

With rare exceptions, Port Metro Vancouver does not support: 

• Organizations not registered with the government as charitable or not-for-profit 
• Capital campaigns 
• Political organizations or parties 
• Lobbyist organizations 
• Religious organizations (unless a program is open to and benefits people of all faiths) 
• Individual projects 
• Organizations already funded by the VFPA through its United Way campaign 
• Exclusive organizations that bar participation on the basis of race, religion, culture, gender or sexual orientation 
• Professional athletes, sports and recreation programs 
• Travel for organizations, service and/or students clubs, sports teams, etc. 
• 100% of a project’s budget 
• Requests to support activities outside of Canada

Submissions

To request funding from the Community Investment Program, please submit by mail, fax or email your formal request and include any applicable documentation.

Response Time

We accept funding applications throughout the year. We will notify all candidates within 60 days. Please forward your request leaving sufficient time for us to respond.