Funding Available

The enp program provides matching grants of up to $10,000 to an average of 40 to 50 organizations annually. Grants may be used to pay for professional fees for technical assistance and/or staff costs and resources related to the planning or organizational development activity.

An enp grant may NOT be used for operations, overhead, or implementation. Nor may an enp grant be used retroactively. 

Activities Funded

Enp funds planning and/or research activities along the entire development path from opportunity identification and organizational readiness activities ($2500 - $5000) to feasibility studies, marketing plans or business plans (up to $10,000):

Sample activities:

Organizational Readiness

• Strategic planning related to business - indicators of success, targets, decision points, risk assessment
• Development of business management skills
• Board and staff training and development around business issues

Business Development

• Opportunity identification
• Market research and feasibility study
• Study tours of similar businesses
• Business plan preparation
• Marketing plan and communications strategy
• Expansion planning

Eligibility

To be eligible for enp funding, an organization must:

• be a Provincially or Federally incorporated non-profit organization.
• be a qualified donee under CRA regulations: registered charity, native band, municipality, or have a charitable sponsor.
• have its base, activities, and benefits in British Columbia. The organization must have an office in BC and the program & its benefits must be in BC. 
• attend an orientation session.
• have the organizational capacity (budget & staff) to meet the grant objectives.
• commit matching funds* in cash or in-kind.

*Enp accepts matching funds in cash or in-kind. Matching funds must be directly related to the project for which you are applying. In-kind related to direct costs of business planning and organizational development (not operating expenses). If staff time considered in-kind, demonstrate staff person will have designated time to conduct planning work (not just off side of desk).

Application Criteria

During the application review process, the enp funding committee will assess:

• whether the basic elibility criteria have been met.
• the potential impact of the business idea and/or social enterprise concept.
• the applicant's need and potential use of a market, feasibilit, and/or business plan.
• the organizational and financial capacity.

Application Process

To apply for funding, organizations are required to attend a one-day orientation session. Organizations may apply for funding directly following the orientation sessions or are eligible to submit grant applications in subsequent funding cycles. The enp program accepts grant applications two times per year, in spring and fall. The proposal review process takes approximately 6-8 weeks.

Grant Decisions

A letter is sent out to all applicants following the Funders' meeting informing them of the status of their applications. Unsuccessful Applications applicants may apply again in future rounds.

Successful applications are listed on website as well as notified by a letter of offer followed by a cheque for the grant amount. In some cases, a partial grant of the amount requested will be approved. Some applicants will be provided with a technical assistance coach if required. All successful grant applicants must submit a completion report once their grant activities are completed.