Grow Forward Grants

The Grow Forward pilot program is new in 2025, replacing the former Incubator Grant program. Grow Forward Grants provide funding to not-for-profit arts organizations for: 

  • Capacity-building
  • Planning
  • Mentorships
  • Sectoral initiatives
  • Significant and strategic adaptations to operations

Grant recipients can engage expertise and develop strategies to navigate challenges and opportunities. This may include projects such as: 

  • Developing mentorships for arts leaders internally or between organizations
  • Making shifts to business models and organizational structures
  • Forming strategic partnerships with other organizations, including resource sharing
  • Sectoral initiatives that benefit several arts organization in the Capital Region
  • Cross-sectoral initiatives that create collaborations with other sectors or industries
  • Planning for leadership succession from founding and longstanding leaders
  • Addressing organizational life cycle questions, including potential mergers or closures

A key feature of this new program is the ability to receive a Grow Forward Grant and a Project or Equity Grant. This supports organizations to both create great programing and address organizational development.

Grant amount: up to $5,000
Next deadline: March 13, 2025, 4:30pm

How to apply

  1. Review the guidelines and sample application for Grow Forward Grants.
  2. Contact us to confirm your organization's eligibility and request an application form.
  3. Complete the application and gather supporting documents.
  4. Sign and scan page one of Part A of the application. Include this when you send your application.
  5. Email your application to the address found on the application form by 4:30pm on the deadline.

Who can apply

Applicants MUST:

  • Be a non-profit organization in one of the following jurisdictions, based on their physical address:
    • Saanich
    • Victoria
    • Oak Bay
    • Esquimalt
    • View Royal
    • Highlands
    • Metchosin
    • Sooke
    • Southern Gulf Islands (excluding Salt Spring Island)
  • Have programming in the arts as their main mandate and purpose

Applicants MUST NOT be:

  • Individual artists.
  • Civic departments or branches (such as libraries or community centres).
  • Clubs and organizations whose main mandate involves social service, sports, religion or education.
  • Organizations receiving operating support from the CRD.
  • Organizations with overdue payments to any local government.
  • Organizations that are bankrupt, seeking creditor protection, unable to pay debts when they are due, or under court supervision.

Please see the program guidelines for mor information on eligibility.

Ineligible activities

These expenses are usually not eligible for funding:

  • Development, delivery, or touring of artistic programming
  • Fundraising activities, contests and competitions
  • Scholarships
  • Mentorships for individual artists
  • Capital expenditures
  • Elimination or reduction of accumulated deficits
  • Expenses for events or activities that have already taken place

Grow Forward Grant information sessions

If you receive a grant

Acknowledge CRD Support

You should acknowledge CRD Arts & Culture support in any promotion material related to your funded project.

Final reports

You must also send us a final report within two months of completing your project. Contact us to request final report forms.

Contact Us

Confirm eligibility and request an application form:
Tel: 250.360.3215
Email Arts & Culture

Resources