The Regional District of Nanaimo general Grants-in-Aid Committee meets twice a year to award grant funding. Grant applications will only be considered from organizations as per the following criteria.

1. The organization must provide a social enrichment service to the community and must demonstrate that the service provided fills a need in the community, and that there is no overlapping with services already existing.

2. The organization must be local in nature, in that the grant requested is for a specific service to the residents of the Regional District of Nanaimo.

3. The organization must be a non-profit organization and provide a current year budget and full financial statements for its operation, noting any other sources of funds. The organization must state specifically the use for the grant requested from the Regional District and the breakdown of expenses for its use.

4. Grants-in-aid are supported for the following general uses:
   1. Requests showing a significant benefit to the Regional District or specific area within the Regional District including, but not limited to:
      • Promoting volunteer participation and citizen involvement;
      • The use of new approaches and techniques in the solution of community needs;
      • Activities/programs which are accessible to a large portion of the community's residents such as special events.
   2. start up costs for new organizations or new programs;
   3. volunteer training;
   4. capital costs for equipment or improvements to organization owned facilities.

5. Grants-in-Aid are provided to non-profit organizations for social programs and services in the Regional District of Nanaimo.

   The following services/functions will not be funded:

   1. annual operating expenses
   2. remuneration (wages, salaries, or other fees for service)
   3. capital improvements to rented or leased premises
   4. private enterprise

6. Applications will not be accepted from organizations having a prime base of operations in the City of Nanaimo or the District of Lantzville. Organizations based in these areas should apply through the City of Nanaimo or District of Lantzville grants-in-aid process. Any applications received from organizations from these areas will be returned to the applicant.

7. Late applications will not be accepted and will be returned to the applicant.

8. Applications that do not meet the criteria will not be accepted.