The Vancouver Sport Hosting grant provides financial support for sporting events that have the potential to bring direct or indirect economic, social, health, and community development benefits to Vancouver.

A total of $55,000 is available for the year.

Basic eligibility

You may quality for this grant if:

• You represent a not-for-profit organization in existence for more than 1 year
• You are planning a not-for-profit sporting event that will take place, at least partially, in Vancouver
• Your event is not an annual or ongoing event that has received funding through this grant in the past
• Your event occurs after the deadline for grant application submissions. Retroactive funding is not available.

Grant types

This program includes three funding options. Event organizers can apply for only one grant that is best suited to their event needs and the nature of the event.

1. Major Sport Event Operating Grant
   • For large scale events with significant operating budgets and possible influence on national or international sport
   • Must have a business plan for the event
   • Funds a maximum of 30% of the total gross operating budget to a maximum of $100,000 (typical grant approvals are expected to be about $10,000)
   • Grant covers operating costs only. It cannot be used for capital projects, prize money, to advance a profit venture, or to advance the activities of the host organization
   • Multi-year funding of up to 2 years is based on a pro-rated formula over the term of the grant
2. Major Sport Event City Service Offset Grant
   • For large-scale events that require numerous city services, such as police, engineering, and parks
   • Must submit a business plan for the event
   • Funds a maximum of 50% of the event’s city services costs to a maximum of $10,000
   • Grant is applied directly to the cost of City services and is not a cash award. Any outstanding balance of the approved award that is not needed to pay for City services remains in the grant program.
3. Community Sport Event Operating Grant
   • For community-based events that have a smaller operating budget
   • Funds a maximum of 30% of total gross operating budget to a maximum of $5,000
   • Grant covers operating costs only. It cannot be used for capital projects, prize money, to advance a profit venture, or to advance the activities of the host organization

Guidelines

• Grant guidelines and assessment criteria 
• Recognition guidelines 

Apply for these grants

Start by consulting with City staff about your sporting event.

• For major sporting events, contact the Special Events Office, at right
• For community sporting events, contact the Park Board Special Events Office, at right

Depending on the scale of your project and your requirements, City staff may ask to meet with you to review your application.

Applications must be submitted on one of the official application forms. Organizations are discouraged from spending funds on the design and production of elaborate presentation materials.

• Major Sport Event Grant application
• Community Sport Event Grant application