About Community Gaming Grants
In 2011-12, it is anticipated that about 6,000 community organizations will receive Community Gaming Grants, allowing them to support a broad range of programs and services:
- human and social services
- youth arts and culture
- fairs, festivals and museums
- public safety and
- students extra-curricular activities
- What are Community Gaming Grants?
- Who is currently eligible for Community Gaming Grants?
- How much Gaming Grant funding can community organizations receive?
- Who administers the Community Gaming Grant program?
- What programs are eligible for Community Gaming Grants?
- Where does gaming revenue go?
- Why are Community Gaming Grants being reviewed?
- What legislation currently governs Community Gaming Grants?
-
What are Community Gaming Grants?
Community Gaming Grants provide funding to organizations to deliver programs to communities. Organizations must meet specific criteria and be accountable for the funds they receive.
-
Who is eligible for Community Gaming Grants?
Non-profit community organizations that directly deliver programs to their community may be eligible for a program grant. A program is defined as an ongoing service or activity designed to achieve one or more defined objectives.
Eligible organizations must be:
- not-for-profit;
- operate primarily for community benefit and provide programs that benefit the community;
- have voluntary and broadly based membership involved in the management and control of the organization and its programs;
- deliver programs established and maintained by its volunteers;
- have board members who are democratically chosen by, and from within, its volunteer base;
- meet the Province’s standards for financial accountability.
- For a full list of criteria, please download Guidelines, Applying for a Community Gaming Grant
-
How much Gaming Grant funding can community organizations receive?
Community organizations can be funded to a maximum of $100,000 annually. This includes any combination of program costs and minor capital project costs. Province-wide programs can be funded to a maximum of $250,000 annually.
Each application is assessed on its own merit, and within the context of available funding and demonstrated community need.The amount approved may be limited if the amount requested raises federal and provincial government funding to more than 75 per cent of the total program cost.
The remaining 25 per cent may be satisfied in a variety of ways, such as fundraising, municipal contributions and in-kind support. This will ensure communities support funded programs. -
Who administers the Community Gaming Grant program?
As of March 14, 2011 the responsibility for administration of community gaming grants was moved from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
The branch administers the Community Gaming Grants program and determines which organizations will receive grants, the grant amounts and makes grant payments to approved applicants.
Gaming enforcement and licensing responsibilities remain with PSSG.
-
What programs are eligible for Community Gaming Grants?
Eligible programs provide a direct service to the community and are responsive to that community’s needs and issues. Grant applicants must demonstrate how the programs for which they seek funding meet eligibility criteria and have benefitted, and will benefit, others. These programs must fall within one of the following sectors:
Arts and Culture
Programs that enhance performing arts, media arts, or visual arts, literature, heritage or culture for youth 18 years and under in the broader community. Also fairs, festivals and museums, which include cultural or heritage programs and/or displays of broad community interest suitable for all ages.
Sports for Youth and People with a Disability
Programs that enhance sports participation for youth 18 years and under and people of all ages with a disability.
Human & Social Services
Programs that significantly contribute to the quality of life in a community, including assisting the disadvantaged or distressed, promoting health or enhancing opportunities for youth. Service organizations and service clubs (see section 3.4) are included in this sector.
Public Safety
Programs that enhance and support public safety initiatives, disaster relief and emergency preparedness within British Columbia.
Parent Advisory Councils
All public and independent school parent advisory councils (PACs) are eligible to receive $20 per student annually. All district PACs (DPACs) are eligible to receive $2,500 each year.
To download criteria and application forms, please visit the Public Safety and Solicitor General website.
-
Where does gaming revenue go?
Gaming generates more than $1 billion in revenue per year for the B.C. government.
In 2011/12
- $687.5 million went to the province’s general revenues
- $147.3 million went to health special account
- $82.3 million went to host local governments with a casino or community gamining centres
- $120 million went to charities and non-profit organizations through Community Gaming Grants, which was increased by a further $15 million announced by the Premier in March 2011.
-
Why are Community Gaming Grants being reviewed?
- legislation
- funding formula options
- criteria and eligibility
- processes around applying or and receiving funding
- options for a multi-year funding model and
- future role of government in managing community gaming grants
-
What legislation currently governs Community Gaming Grants?
Allocation of Community Gaming Grants are included in Section 41 of the Gaming Control Act:
Grants to Eligible Organizations
-
(1) Subject to there being an appropriation under the Financial Administration Act, and as directed by the general manager, on application to the general manager in the required form, grants may be made to organizations that meet the prescribed standards of eligibility.
(2) A grant under subsection (1) to an eligible organization must be in an amount that the general manager considers appropriate, given the objects and purposes of the eligible organization applying and its intended use for the amount to be granted.
(3) The general manager may attach conditions to a grant under this section that may provide differently for different types of organizations or for particular organizations.
(4) and (5) [Repealed 2010-21-97.]
-
To see how your community has benefited from community organizations, download the Gaming Revenue Granted to Community Organizations - 2009/10 Report.
For more information about gaming revenues and expenditures, please visit the Public Safety and Solicitor General website.
In 2008-09, the provincial government provided $156 million in community gaming grants.
The worldwide economic downturn in 2008-09 saw a government deficit of $495 million in the 2009 budget. As a result, government reviewed all programs and made difficult decisions about how and where to allocate limited resources.
Community Gaming Grants were reduced from $156 million to $120 million in 2009-10, and many groups that had been funding were no longer eligible. This included adult art and sport organizations.
On March 14 2011, Premier Christy Clark announced a new Cabinet and moved responsibility for managing criteria and distributing community gaming grants from Public Safety and Solicitor General to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
On March 24, 2011, Premier Clark announced an additional $15 million for Community Gaming Grants for 2010-11.
The budget for community gaming grants in 2011/12 is $120 million.
The changes in funding and shift of responsibility for gaming grants to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development provided an opportunity to launch a comprehensive review into community gaming grants, including: