Strengthening Our Community, One Project at a Time

Each year, the Richmond Community Foundation awards grants to local non-profit organizations, providing the financial support that transforms projects from mere ideas into reality. The Foundation funds initiatives across a broad range of fields, from healthcare to the environment, from arts and culture to sports and recreation. What matters, above all, is that a project offers tangible, lasting benefits to Richmond residents. As you'll see, there's an abundance of such projects emanating from our community's vibrant, dynamic charitable sector.

What follows is a listing of Community Foundation grant recipients dating back to 2015. Each entry includes the organization name, project title, and grant amount, along with a brief description of the project itself. You'll notice, as well, that some entries include a link to an article with more information.

This page will be updated as new grants are announced. Mostly, though, it will serve as an archive of the Foundation's far-reaching and long-lasting community impact.

2023

Diabetes Canada | Camp Kakhamela | $5,000
Camp Kakhamela provides support and a sense of community to families who have a child living with type 1 diabetes. This grant will help remove financial barriers, so more Richmond families can participate in the camp.

Family Services of Greater Vancouver & Aspire Richmond | Cooking Skills for Adults with Disabilities | $8,000
Family Services of Greater Vancouver will partner with Aspire Richmond to run a new, 12-part program for adults with disabilities, where they'll develop cooking skills and learn about food literacy.

Pathways Clubhouse | Pathways Clubhouse Chinese Support Program | $3,800
With this grant, Pathways Clubhouse will launch a mental health support group for Chinese-speaking residents, so they can access resources, share their stories, and connect with other community members who are experiencing mental health challenges.

Rabbitats Rescue Society | Year of the Rabbit Cultural Campaign | $2,500
The Year of the Rabbit Cultural Campaign will highlight issues pertaining to unwanted, abandoned, and feral rabbits, while also emphasizing the significant support Rabbitats receives from the East Asian community.

Relay Education | Kids World of Energy Pilot | $3,500
Relay Education's Kids World of Energy workshops increase children's interest in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) through hands-on learning. This grant will provide Richmond students - especially those from low-income schools - with barrier-free access to the workshops, which cover topics like climate change and renewable energy systems.

Richmond Centre for Disability | Community Support Skills Development for Volunteering | $5,000
This grant will allow the Richmond Centre for Disability to offer a three-month training course, where volunteers - primarily students and youth - will gain skills and tools to better support vulnerable groups, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Richmond Music School Society | Digital Instruments for Community Concerts and Lessons | $5,000
With this grant, the Richmond Music School will purchase a digital piano and electronic drum set, which will allow the school to broaden its community outreach efforts and perform in front of new audiences.

Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition | Improving Road Safety for Richmond Pedestrians | $5,000
The Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition will develop and deliver a workshop based on findings from its 2022 Vision Zero Pedestrian Safety Survey. The workshop, in turn, will help inform future road safety improvements.

Richmond Women's Resource Centre | An Indigenous Lens | $2,000
Through weekly Canadian history lessons, the Indigenous Lens project will provide Richmond women, including newcomers, with an opportunity to expand their cultural awareness, and understand our country's past from an Indigenous point of view.

The Sharing Farm | Improving Garlic Processing | $5,000
Each year, staff and volunteers at The Sharing Farm spend hundreds of hours cleaning garlic, which is then either donated to the Richmond Food Bank, or sold at events like Garlic Fest, to help fund the farm's activities. With this grant, The Sharing Farm will purchase a garlic brusher, a piece of equipment that will increase production capacity and allow the farm to distribute more garlic in the community.

Zajac Ranch Society | Summer Camp 2023 | $5,000
Based in Mission, Zajac Ranch is a fully inclusive summer camp where everything is accessible for children with medical conditions and disabilities. By supporting the Zajac Campership Allowance program, this grant will help reduce fees for campers from Richmond.

2019

David Suzuki Foundation | Richmond Butterflyway | $4,000
A project to engage Richmond residents as Butterfly Rangers, where they'll work with their neighbours and the municipal government to plant pesticide-free flowers and plants to help improve the dwindling population of butterflies and wild pollinators.

Richmond Family Place | Project Connect | $10,000
A project that brings vulnerable families together with isolated seniors, so they can foster intergenerational connections and support each other's integration into community life.

Gulf of Georgia Cannery | Sharing Farm at the Cannery | $2,750
A project in collaboration with The Sharing Farm to provide workshops and awareness events at the Cannery, with the aim of increasing food security in Richmond.

Regional Animal Protection Society | Canada's Cat Sanctuary Visitor Experience | $8,000
A project to improve the safety and accessibility of the RAPS Cat Sanctuary, ensuring a more pleasant and safe experience for the thousands of people who benefit from animal interactions every year, especially seniors and people with disabilities.

The Sharing Farm | Save Our Soil | $3,500
A project to improve soil health at The Sharing Farm through the purchase of a power harrow.

Steveston Historical Society | Making Time for Tea | $1,500
A project comprising community consultations around a new event series, which will encourage isolated and vulnerable residents to create connections with one another - and the larger community - over a cup of tea.

Richmond Therapeutic Riding Association | Horsemanship Program | $3,000
A project to introduce a Horsemanship Program at the Richmond Therapeutic Riding Association, which involves equine interactions and stable management principles, and is used as an alternative experience for clients who cannot or don't want to ride.

WEqual Foundation | Elementary School Badminton Development Project | $5,000
A project aimed at enhancing badminton education, participation, and initiatives at three Richmond elementary schools, by fostering badminton interest, awareness, and competency in children.

2018

Richmond Art Gallery Association | The Past is a Present to the Future | $5,000
A project that involves Richmond residents in the creation and production of a community-based art project led by internationally renowned Canadian artist Adad Hannah.

Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver | Targeted Volunteer Mentor Recruitment | $2,500
A project aimed at increasing the number of Big Brother volunteers in Richmond, where children often have to wait well over a year to be matched with a mentor.

Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia | Mental Health in the Workplace | $4,980
A project comprising a four-part workshop series on mental health in the workplace, for youth with disabilities who may be approaching or undertaking their first experience with employment.

Community Mental Wellness Association of Canada | Mental Wellness and Stigma Pilot Project | $2,500
A project designed to test out a collaborative initiative between CMWAC and the Stigma-Free Society to deliver educational presentations about mental wellness and stigma.

Family Services of Greater Vancouver | Growing the Reach of Richmond Family Friends | $7,500
A project aimed at expanding the Richmond Family Friends program, which supports newcomer families to settle and integrate into the community through peer mentoring and scheduled program activities.

Richmond Food Bank | Richmond Perishable Food Recovery Project | $5,000
A project aimed at rescuing usable, healthy food through education and investment in the food recovery process.

Richmond Food Security Society | Richmond Fruit Recovery Project | $7,735
A project to purchase a shed and fruit-picking tools for the Fruit Recovery Program, which, since 2004, has delivered tens of thousands of pounds of fruit to vulnerable Richmond residents.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation | Enhancing Teaching Capacity of the Richmond Farm School | $5,000
A project to upgrade the tools and tool shed at the Richmond Farm School, which provides practical education to people from all walks of life on the art and science of farming.

Richmond Poverty Response Committee | Communities Mobilizing for Justice | $5,000
A project aimed at providing support and training to people experiencing poverty, so they can learn and practice advocacy and leadership skills.

Richmond Chinese Community Society | Collaboration in Harmony | $2,500
A project in collaboration with the Minoru Seniors Society to identify leaders of isolated senior groups in Richmond and connect them to community resources.

Canadian Red Cross Society | New Pressure Washer for the Richmond HELP Program | $1,500
A project to purchase a new, heavy-duty pressure washer to clean medical equipment, which the Richmond HELP office loans to community members recovering from injury or surgery, transitioning to a permanent dependency on a mobility device, or receiving in-home palliative care.

The Sharing Farm | Community Cobb Oven Family Days | $900
A project aimed at creating family-friendly cooking and baking classes based around The Sharing Farm's cobb oven.

Richmond Women's Resource Centre | Rebrand & Refresh | $5,000
A project to update the Richmond Women's Resource Centre's logo and overall brand, in an effort to help the organization better connect and engage with the community.

Young Entrepreneur Leadership Launch Pad | Yell & Richmond Youth: Stories of Leadership, Community Building & Innovation | $2,500
A project to create three video shorts, each featuring one Richmond youth leader, to showcase stories of youth leadership and innovation in Richmond.
View the Yell & Richmond Youth Video Series

2017

Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia | Adapted Martial Arts Program | $2,200
A project to deliver an adapted martial arts program for 20 children and youth with cerebral palsy, allowing them to increase their physical mobility, strengthen underused muscles, and build self-confidence.
Read More About the Adapted Martial Arts Program

Gulf of Georgia Cannery | Cannery Youth Leadership Program | $4,990
A project to offer a leadership training program for Richmond youth aged 15 to 19, with a focus on tourism, cultural resource management, marketing and communications, and event management.

HUB Cycling | Bike to Shop Days | $3,350
A project that encourages people to ride their bicycles more often in order to make communities more sustainable, cultivate positive connections between community members, and increase overall health and happiness.

Richmond Society for Community Living | Shifting Our Perspective of Perfection | $5,000
A project to host a photography exhibit showcasing the unique beauty of families who have children with special needs.

The Sharing Farm | Bee Camp | $1,925
A project to host a five-day camp for children aged 9 to 12, so they can learn about the vital importance of honeybees and other native pollinators in our ecosystem.

The Sharing Farm | Week Long Greens | $1,000
A project to purchase 100 plastic totes, so leafy greens harvested at The Sharing Farm can be stored longer and distributed to more clients at the Richmond Food Bank.

St. Alban Anglican Church | Peace Labyrinth & Meditation Garden | $6,000
A project to build a garden around the Richmond Peace Labyrinth, further beautifying a site used for meditation, quiet reflection, and community celebrations.

Steveston Historical Society | Songs in the Snow | $5,000
A project to hold a winter community concert series in the Steveston Town Square Park, where Richmond residents can enjoy vintage-themed activities, crafts, refreshments, and entertainment.

Chimo Community Services | Holistic Wellness Plan | $830
A project in partnership with Thompson Community Association to connect women and children impacted by domestic violence to recreation, fitness, and respite opportunities.

Hamilton Community Association | Hamilton Night Out | $1,500
A project to expand the 2018 edition of Hamilton Night Out, an event that celebrates Richmond's - and the Hamilton community's - distinct and vibrant cultural diversity.

The Sharing Farm | Speedy Seeding | $3,027
A project to improve efficiency and yields at The Sharing Farm through the purchase of a Paper Pot Transplanter.

2016

Steveston Historical Society | Fisherman's Park Mural | $10,000
A project aimed at completing a series of murals on a building in Fisherman's Park, located in front of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.
Read More About the Fisherman's Park Mural

Steveston Historical Society | Walking Tour Vignettes Community Consultations | $2,500
A project in partnership with the Steveston Museum to conduct community consultations around the possibility of presenting a series of heritage vignettes in Steveston Village.

Atira Women's Resource Society | Rental Housing Inventory | $5,000
A project in collaboration with Chimo Community Services and other agencies to create a web-based platform for displaying rental housing data.

Richmond Society for Community Living | Not-for-Profit Space Needs Assessment | $2,500
A project to complete the preliminary work for a citywide assessment of non-profit space and facility needs.

Richmond Food Security Society | Growing Garden Gear | $8,500
A project aimed providing Richmond Community Gardeners with new tools they can share amongst themselves.

Richmond Poverty Response Committee | Eliminating Barriers for People Experiencing Poverty | $10,000
A project to create a self-advocacy network for people experiencing poverty, so they can push to eliminate barriers to services and support.

Richmond Hospital Auxiliary | Wise Webbie Workshops | $3,310
A project that uses free workshops to introduce seniors to various forms of technology.

Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society | War Canoe Project | $15,000
A project to engage at-risk youth and young adults in designing, building, and racing a C 15 War Canoe.

Pathways Clubhouse | Visual Art Therapy Course | $2,285
A project to host a 10-week Visual Art Therapy Course for adults living with mental illness. 

Steveston Historical Society | Walking Tour Vignettes | $15,000
A project that celebrates Steveston's past through the presentation of heritage vignettes, featuring costumed interpreters from Hugh McRoberts Secondary School.

2015

City Centre Community Association | AllWays Youth Program | $2,500
A project providing a safe space for LGBTQ2 youth, where they can participate in activities and openly explore and discuss questions related to gender and identity.
Read More About the AllWays Youth Program

Community Mental Wellness Association of Canada | Senior Support Program | $2,500
A project in partnership with St. Alban Outreach and Advocacy to help seniors who are suffering from mental health issues.

Richmond Art Gallery Association | For All Is For Yourself - RAG Youth Outreach | $10,000
A project that brings together high school students, artists, and Gallery staff to share skills, interests, and ideas about a pressing ecological problem: the collapse of honeybee colonies.

The Sharing Farm | Filling Winter Greens Gap for Low-Income Families | $6,000
A project aimed at growing greens during the winter months, so the produce can be distributed to low-income residents through the Richmond Food Bank and other means.

Richmond Society for Community Living | Grade 13 Transition Program | $10,000
A project that offers improved support for students with a disability, or other specialized support needs, who are preparing to leave high school.

Cerebral Palsy Association of BC | Dance Without Limits for Children with Disabilities | $2,000
A project offering a therapeutic recreation program for children and youth with cerebral palsy, where the activities lead to reduced stress, improved health, and an enhanced quality of life.

Richmond Family Place | Food Fun and Families | $5,000
A project that provides cooking and food-growing lessons to children and vulnerable families accessing the Richmond Food Bank.

Richmond Mental Health Consumer & Friends Society | 20 Years of Wellness Art Show | $2,000
A project to organize an art exhibition featuring work from artists with lived experience of mental illness.

SQx Dance Company | Interactive Dance Awareness Programming from K - Grade 7 | $1,500
A project to deliver interactive dance programs at Richmond schools, with the goal of promoting fitness, creativity, and fair play.