NOTE (Feb 1, 2022): there are NEW changes to the 2022 Gaming Community Grant Program (see below for a copy of Gaming's summary of changes for the 2022 year). For your reference, I have gone through the new 2022 Guidelines document, and have highlighted all NEW changes (from 2021 guidelines) & I encourage everyone to review these changes before preparing your application this year:

I have uploaded my Gaming grant worksheets here (see links below) for anyone to download and use; they also reflect changes to the 2022 (online) application form, so I encourage you to review these, even if you choose not to use my worksheet format.

First, you will need to determine if your organization will be submitting a "Regular" or "Renewed" form (the latter is Gaming's name for a "Short" form). For instructions on which form you can/should use, see section 5.3 (page 27) of the Guidelines; alternatively you can check your online account to see whether it presents you with the option to use the "Renewed" application form options this year.

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:

Last but not least, there are changes to the 2022 Gaming guidelines, regarding eligible/not eligible expenses to be included/excluded on your Program budget documents. I have updated my program budget templates with this information - again, you are NOT required to use my forms (these are ones I have created and are NOT Gaming's; you should use a format that follows your own internal Program budgeting and works best for your organization); but I encourage you to read the instructions for budget guidelines changes:

What’s New in the 2022 Program Guidelines:

From pp5-6 of the new 2022 Guidelines document:

The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to impact communities across the province, and British Columbia’s not-for-profit sector remains an instrumental partner in ensuring essential services and programming continue to be delivered during this challenging time.

Since the pandemic began 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. These COVID-19 response measures were continued for the 2021 grant year and will remain for the 2022 grant year as well. These temporary changes are necessary to ensure not-for-profit organizations can continue to provide vital services in communities across the province.

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 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 2022 Program Guidelines and application requirements include:

• Section 2.3: Human and Social Services sector application period amended to permit organizations to apply for funding beginning June 1, 2022. Note that the 2022-23 grant year will be the last year for the amended application period. For the 2023-24 grant year, the application period will return to the regular intake window of August 1-November 30.

• Section 3.3: 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.

• Section 4.1: Program eligibility requirement for on-going programs to have been delivered for 12 months at the time of application will not be enforced for return applicants whose programming was impacted due to COVID-19.

• Section 4.3: 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.

• Section 6.1: Eligible use of grant funds will allow Community Gaming Grant funding to be used to create new paid positions in 2022.

• Appendix IV, V: Organization to complete section on application to detail how program(s) were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide the current balance of the gaming account as of the date of application.

Other key changes to the 2022 Program Guidelines and application requirements include:

• Section 6.1: Eligible use of grant funds will allow a maximum of 15% of an organization’s total Community Gaming Grant toward organizational costs. These costs do not need to be related to the direct delivery of the program.

• Section 4: Programs that have been delivered for less than 12 months may be eligible for funding, as part of a new pilot for the Community Gaming Grant program beginning in 2022-23. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to deliver the new program and meet all other eligibility criteria.

• Section 3.3: Organizational Financial Eligibility criteria that organizations who earn more than $250,000 in net revenue through licensed gaming activities are ineligible for the grant has been removed. There are no longer restrictions on revenue raised through licensed gaming activities.

• Section 3.3: Organizational Financial Eligibility criteria around restricted funds has been amended:

• The timeframe for restricted funds has been increased. Internally restricted funds will be considered unrestricted after having been reserved for more than five years, and internally restricted funds for building and land development costs will be considered unrestricted after seven years.

• Clarification to policy that restriction of funds must occur prior to an organization’s fiscal year end, and funds must not be restricted or transferred for the purpose of reducing the current cash assets and investments of the organization. The Branch may not accept transactions that are intended to create eligibility.