NOTE (Jan 25, 2021): there are NEW changes to the 2021 Gaming Community Grant Program (see below for a copy of Gaming's summary of changes for the 2021 year). For your reference, I have gone through the new 2021 Guidelines document, and have highlighted all NEW changes (from 2020 guidelines):

I have uploaded my Gaming grant worksheets here (see links below) for anyone to download and use.

First, you will need to determine if your organization will be submitting a "Regular" or "Renewal" form (the latter is Gaming's new name for a "Short" form). For instructions on which form you can/should use, see section 5.3 (page 27) of the Guidelines.

Once you have determined which form you are eligible/wish to use, you are welcome to use these worksheets that I've created to help prepare your application.

FEB 1, 2021 UPDATE: although not noted in the new guidelines, there is, in fact a NEW question (related to Covid-related plans) on BOTH the REGULAR & RENEWAL Forms, that I discovered when I was in their online system today, so I have updated the worksheets below, accordingly:

What’s New in the 2021 Program Guidelines:

(Released Jan 25, 2021)

From pp5-6 of the new 2021 Guidelines document:

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted communities across the province, and British Columbia’s not-for-profit sector has played an instrumental role in ensuring essential services and programming continue to be delivered during this unprecedented time.

In early 2020, the Community Gaming Grant program adapted policies and procedures to address the immediate impacts of COVID-19 on B.C.’s not-for-profit sector; several program criteria were relaxed or adapted to provide flexibility and ensure organizations continued to be eligible for funding.

Many of the COVID-19 response measures implemented by the Community Gaming Grant program will continue for the 2021 grant year. Recognizing the disruption COVID-19 has had on programming and organizational capacity, requirements around some grant criteria will be relaxed to ensure organizations can access Community Gaming Grant program funding in order to continue providing vital services across the province. These temporary changes to the Community Gaming Grant program will help organizations sustain and revive their programs and services as they come back to full strength.

In addition to the temporary policy changes to support COVID-19 re-start and recovery, the Community Gaming Grant Program Guidelines have also been updated to reflect other minor changes to policies and to improve overall readability.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Program Guidelines in their entirety to ensure they understand all eligibility and application criteria.

Temporary changes to the 2021 Program Guidelines and application requirements include:

• Human and Social Services sector application period amended to permit organizations to apply for funding beginning in June 1, 2021.

• Organizational financial eligibility criteria relating to operating surplus will not be enforced for returning applicants affected by COVID-19. Return applicants with more than 50% operating surplus will not have their funding levels negatively impacted if they are unable to meet this criterion.

• Program eligibility requirement for programs to have been delivered for 12 months at the time of application will be waived for return applicants. The 12 months requirement will also be waived for new programs responding to COVID-19-related community needs. 5

• Program financial eligibility criteria related to government funding will not be enforced for returning applicants affected by COVID-19. Return applicants with more than 75% of program funding from government sources will not have their funding levels negatively impacted if they are unable to meet this criterion.

• Eligible use of grant funds will allow Community Gaming Grant funding to be used to create new paid positions in 2021.

Other key changes to the 2021 Program Guidelines and application requirements include:

• Eligible use of grant funds will allow Community Gaming Grant funding to be used for cultural components that contribute to the inclusive delivery of a program.

• Gaming Accounts maintained by organizations in order to receive, hold and disburse grant funds must be held in British Columbia.

• Notification to applicants that publicly available materials and information on an applicant’s organization or programming may be reviewed as part of application assessment.

• Organization eligibility criteria updated to provide greater clarity on organization membership and additional information on Board of Director’s election and governance requirements.