The Parksville-Qualicum Community Foundation (PQCF) Community Fund Grants exist to uplift the charitable and community-led organizations that help our region thrive. As PQCF’s primary granting program, the Community Fund plays a central role in supporting work that responds to locally identified needs while strengthening long-term wellbeing, resilience, and connection across the Oceanside region.
The 2026 Community Fund Grant Call opens February 15 and runs through March 31, 2026. Local charities and nonprofit organizations working to support their communities are encouraged to apply.
About Community Fund Grants
The Community Fund reflects PQCF’s role as a broad-based community funder. Grants support charitable and community-led work that addresses real needs identified by the people who live and work here. Rather than prescribing rigid categories or narrow definitions of success, PQCF takes a trust-based approach to granting, aiming to reduce unnecessary administrative burden and trusting organizations to know what will make the greatest difference in their communities.
Funding can support a wide range of needs, including ongoing programs or services, new or emerging initiatives, capacity-building and organizational support, community-led or collaborative efforts, time-limited activities, and operating, program, or limited capital-related needs where appropriate.
Applicants do not need to frame their request as a formal “project.” Instead, PQCF encourages organizations to clearly explain what support is needed, why it matters now, and how it will benefit the community—using language that reflects how the organization actually works.
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants include registered charities, other qualified donees recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency (including First Nations and Indigenous governments), and non-profits or community groups working in partnership with a qualified donee sponsor. Organizations unsure about eligibility or sponsorship are encouraged to connect with PQCF before applying.
Communities We Serve
Community Fund Grants support work taking place within PQCF’s catchment area, including Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Qualicum First Nation, Nanoose Bay, Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood, Englishman River, San Pareil, French Creek, Little Qualicum, Dashwood, Bowser, Qualicum Bay, Deep Bay, and Lasqueti Island.
Grant Amounts, Timing, and Review
Applications are accepted February 15–March 31, 2026, with grants typically awarded up to $4,000. Funding is disbursed annually in May, with funds expected to be used within 6–18 months, depending on the nature of the work.
Applications are submitted through a single-stage online form designed to take under 90 minutes to complete. All applications are reviewed holistically using PQCF’s Community Fund Granting Framework by a community-led Grant Sub-Committee, with final approval by the PQCF Board of Directors.
Note: The application form being available on our website starting Feb. 15th.
Learn More and Stay Connected – Join our Free Workshop!
To learn more about how funding decisions are made, PQCF is partnering with The Old SchoolHouse Arts Centre to offer a free public workshop, Grants in Practice: How Funding Really Works, on February 19, 2026.
More Info: Grants in Practice Workshop and PQCF Annual Community Fund Grants