Grants Program

Our grants program supports projects and initiatives that advance the resiliency of our watersheds while adhering to a framework of reconciliation and pursuing collaborative relationships to steward the restoration and conservation of healthy watersheds for generations to come.

Since 2024, the WSF Grants Program has distributed $12 million to communities through two grant intakes to address urgent and long-term watershed security needs.

Overview

The program provides communities with access to critical and timely funding, supporting watershed work and partnerships in all regions of British Columbia.

Funding will meet watershed stewards where they are, encouraging collaboration among First Nations, local governments, NGOs, and community groups.

Currently, grant opportunities are divided into three Funding Streams and supports work across six Funding Themes. Together with the Grants Working Group, we are establishing a foundation of work, systems, and approaches that will evolve into a long-term, multi-year grants program.

Download the Grants Program Overview Learn more about the Grants Working Group

$ Million

Invested by the Province of B.C. in 2023 to establish the Watershed Security Fund, which currently generates $3-5 million annually for grants and programs

$ Million

Granted to 26 projects in the first grants intake through interest earned on the Fund

$ Million

Invested in the WSF by REFBC to support 28 projects in the second grants intake

Intake 3 Grant Applications

The third round of grant applications opened from October 6 to November 17, 2025. Funded projects will be announced in spring 2026.

Intake 2 Grant Recipients

We are thrilled to announce $7 million flowing to 28 watershed security projects.

Read the Media Release

Intake 1 Grant Recipients

Take a look at the 26 inaugural watershed security projects to received funding through the WSF Grants Program in 2024.

Read the Media Release

Funding Streams

Currently, our grant opportunities are divided into three Streams based on the project’s developmental stage, organizational relationship to First Nations, and maximum grant size.

The widespread needs for watershed funding across the province far exceed available funds. Organizations are eligible to make one application per intake and can choose from one of three funding streams. With a budget of $5 million for this intake, we anticipate being able to fund 6-8 projects in Stream 1, 6-8 projects in Stream 2, and 8-10 projects in Stream 3.

Please note that in previous intakes, we’ve had to decline many very strong projects due to the high volume of applications relative to our grants budget. In Intake 3, we will prioritize strong applications for projects that were previously declined in Intakes 1 and/or 2.

Emergent, early forming, or smaller projects or those at exploratory and learning stages, partnerships and relationship building.

Scope: project design, research and planning, initial partner conversations, and readiness building.

Organizational relationship to First Nations (I4DM): anywhere along the continuum, and also outside of it, where a commitment to building understanding of relationships with First Nations in B.C. is demonstrated

Small to medium scale, further along in design, development, collaboration, and implementation than Stream 1.

Scope: community engagement, detailed research planning, partnership, and project development; smaller-scale implementation and shovel-ready.

Organizational relationship to First Nations (I4DM): some greater focus on First Nations-led, partnered, informed and beneffiting organizations and projects.

Larger scale, stronger foundation of prior work and partnerships, collaboration, and readiness to implement.

Scope: partnerships in place, plans and projects or initiatives are well-developed; implementation or shovel-ready.

Organizational relationship to First Nations (I4DM): potentially more focus on First Nations-led and partnered organizations and projects. Indigenous informed organizations and projects could also be a fit. Others may be considered, with demonstrated actions to build understanding of relationships with First Nations in B.C., and to address restoration and restitution of watershed damage caused by non Indigenous communities and industries which negatively impact Indigenous rights.

Funding Themes

Grant funding is available to support projects and initiatives that achieve actionable progress on ecosystem health, prioritizing reconciliation, healthy communities, climate resilience, and sustainable economies through the following six themes.

We recognize the holistic, interwoven aspects of watershed work and understand that most projects will connect across several themes.

Watershed Collaboration, Planning and Governance

Projects or initiatives that enable or advance collaborative approaches to watershed governance, management & planning, or support partners to act upon shared priorities for healthy watersheds.

Watershed and Ecosystems Restoration

Projects or initiatives that support and protect the natural function and health of watershed ecosystems by restoring watershed areas to their natural state.

Nature-based infrastructure

Projects or initiatives that support and protect the healthy functioning of waterways using nature-based engineered methods with a mix of hard and natural infrastructure.

Watersheds & Food Systems

Projects or initiatives at the intersection of water resources and sustainable agriculture or food sovereignty and which contribute to watershed health and food security.

Monitoring and Assessment

Projects or initiatives that gather and analyze data to understand the health and function of watersheds and eco-systems and support long term planning and management.

Land & Water-based Learning, Intergenerational Knowledge

Projects or initiatives that support environmental education, cultural knowledge exchange, and experiential learning.

Assessment Criteria and Eligibility

The WSF is committed to upholding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). UNDRIP principles and efforts toward reconciliation and reciprocity can be intentionally woven into organizational culture, practice, and project work.

Teachings from Indigenous Leaders and outcomes from previously funded work demonstrate that the most effective means of advancing UNDRIP is for Indigenous-led teams to design and direct projects to benefit their Nation and members. For non-First Nations-led project teams, up-front partnership development and co-design of project objectives with the Nation or Nations involved is a key enabler of advancing UNDRIP. Additional ways may include project activities that support the exercise of First Nations rights, incorporation of First Nations Knowledge, communications, and outreach to First Nations leadership, as well as the weaving of First Nations ceremony, training, rights and interests into budgets, planning and activities.

The review and decision-making process for grant applications will consider many dimensions of a project proposal. These are some additional considerations, which if relevant to your proposal, will help guide our review and funding recommendations:

Free, Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC)
Regional Equity
Community Connection
Economic Resiliency, Jobs, Training & Mentorship
Diversity of Interests & Collaboration

Applicants will have the opportunity to briefly describe how their project addresses any of these aspects. Descriptions of assessment criteria intentions are provided in the Application Guide.

In previous intakes, we’ve had to decline many very strong projects due to the high volume of applications relative to our grants budget. In Intake 3, we will prioritize strong applications for projects that were previously declined in Intakes 1 and/or 2. Applications will still be evaluated using the same criteria in Intakes 1 and 2, but all other things being equal, projects that have been previously submitted and declined due to limited funding will be prioritized over projects submitted for the first time.

Eligible organizations for WSF grant funding include First Nations and non-First Nations organizations in any of these categories:

Registered Non–profit
Educational Institution
Social Enterprise (C3)

And:

First Nation (including First Nation governments, Tribal Councils and others)
Local/Regional Government

Eligibility is not restricted to Canada Revenue Agency registered charities or qualified donees. In addition to those listed above, some other types of organizations may be eligible.

WSF Grants are not able to fund:

Activities that primarily provide financial benefits for individuals
Debt retirement, reserves, mortgage paydowns
Retroactive expenses (costs incurred prior to funding being approved)
Purchase of land or large-scale development of buildings
Endowments
Partisan political activities
Projects or initiatives that do not take place in what is known as British Columbia.

Applications for short-term or multi-year projects and initiatives can be submitted.

Ways to Apply

We aim to uphold grant-making practices that are approachable, accessible, adaptable, supportive, and grounded in good relationships, trust and partnerships.

Download the Application Guide Watch the Webinar Recording Read the Grants Program FAQs

The third intake for grant applications is now closed. Program staff is now reviewing applications and will announce the new funded projects in spring 2026. The next intake is anticipated to open in fall 2026.

For the third intake, program staff offered the following three ways to apply. Those who previously submitted applications to the Watershed Security Fund could resubmit their applications for the same project via a customized link with pre-filled information.

Online Portal • Intake closed

The online portal enables our Grants Program team to process applications more efficiently.

Next intake anticipated for fall 2026

Word Document

If you are in an area without reliable access to the internet, applications can be filled out in the Word document below and submitted by email to grants@watershedsecurityfund.ca.

Application Form Budget Form

*Please note that these documents will download directly to your downloads folder on your computer.

Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Phone Call Conversation

If additional support is needed to submit your application, contact our Grants Program staff, who will complete your application based on your dialogue and/or other supporting documents (such as an application for the same project submitted to another funder). Your application will be sent to you to confirm what was shared before it is finalized.

To set up your conversation with a Grants Program staff member, please email us at grants@watershedsecurityfund.ca or call us at 604-343-2620 ext 101. *

*Please note: We do not have the capacity to review and provide feedback on applications in advance of the application deadline. Applications via a conversation with our Grants team will take place between October 20, 2025 and November 1, 2025. Please coordinate the time with our team well in advance so that we can schedule the call, review, and finalize the application content before the November 17, 2025, deadline.

Need More Guidance?

If you are interested in applying for a grant and are not sure about where to begin, we’re here to support you!

We’re pleased to offer a variety of resources, including an application guide, webinar recordings, and upcoming webinar opportunities. If your questions remain unanswered after reviewing these materials, we encourage you to contact our program staff before submitting your application.

Download the Application Guide Watch the webinar Recording Join our newsletter for Program reminders Email Us