RFAs: Downtown Event Revitalization Funding Program (Canada)

Deadline: 06-Oct-2026

The Downtown Event Revitalization Funding Program (DERF) provides grants to support public events and festivals that activate downtown Nanaimo and attract residents, visitors, and tourists throughout the year. The program helps cover eligible event costs such as artist and presenter fees, venue and equipment rentals, materials, marketing, and administration, with applications generally able to request up to 35% of the total event budget. The program is part of the City of Nanaimo’s investment in arts, culture, and heritage as contributors to economic and social development. Guided by the City Plan – Nanaimo ReImagined, DERF supports independent event and festival producers that create community value, strengthen downtown vitality, promote community pride, increase Nanaimo’s profile as a destination, and encourage innovative partnerships and collaborations, particularly events that can attract visitors during the shoulder season.

About the Downtown Event Revitalization Funding Program

The Downtown Event Revitalization Funding Program (DERF) is offered to support public events and festivals held in downtown Nanaimo. The program recognizes the contribution that events can make to: - Downtown economic and cultural vitality. - Community engagement. - Tourism and visitor attraction. - Quality of life. - Community pride. - Nanaimo’s reputation as a destination. - The local arts, culture, and heritage sector. DERF is designed to help event organizers enhance, expand, and improve existing or new public events while responding to changing community needs and opportunities. How Much Funding Is Available? Eligible applicants can generally request up to 35% of the total event budget. Requests above 35% may be considered on an individual basis. Applicants should provide a clear and realistic event budget and demonstrate how the requested funding will contribute to delivering the proposed event or festival. What Are the Funding Priorities? DERF gives priority to events and festivals that contribute to downtown Nanaimo’s vitality and cultural profile.

Funding priorities include events that:

- Activate downtown Nanaimo. - Generate community pride. - Raise Nanaimo’s profile. - Attract residents and visitors. - Encourage tourism throughout the year. - Particularly attract visitors during the shoulder season. - Foster innovative collaborations and partnerships. - Respond to changing community needs. - Take advantage of new opportunities. - Enhance, expand, or improve existing events. Who Is Eligible? Applicants must meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

Eligible applicants can include:

- Incorporated non-profit societies based in Nanaimo. - Community organizations based in Nanaimo. - Individuals based in Nanaimo, subject to case-by-case review.

Applicants must:

- Be based in Nanaimo. - Have been active for at least one year before applying. - Be in good standing. - Meet the program’s other eligibility requirements. Individuals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. What Event Costs Can Be Funded? DERF can support a range of costs associated with staging, organizing, and presenting eligible public events and festivals.

Eligible expenses include:

- Fees for artists. - Fees for entertainers. - Fees for Elders. - Fees for other presenters. - Venue rental. - Equipment rental. - Materials and supplies. - Marketing and promotion. - Administration. Applicants should ensure that requested expenses are directly connected to the proposed event. What Types of Events Are Not Eligible? The following activities are not eligible for funding: - Fundraising-based events. - Politically partisan activities. - Commercial marketing campaigns. - Religious-focused events. - Health care-focused events. - Activities taking place outside downtown Nanaimo. - Capital projects. - Deficit recovery. - Bursaries or scholarships. - Activities already funded for the same purpose through another City of Nanaimo source. The event must meet the program’s public-event and downtown-focused requirements. Where Must the Event Take Place? Funded activities must take place in downtown Nanaimo. Events or activities outside downtown Nanaimo are not eligible under the program. Organizers should clearly identify the event location and demonstrate how the event will contribute to downtown activation and vitality. Who Is Not Eligible?

The following applicants are ineligible:

- City of Nanaimo departments. - Educational institutions. - Organizations based outside Nanaimo. - Individuals based outside Nanaimo. - Applicants with outstanding balances or obligations to the City. - Applicants who have not submitted required final reports. - Applicants who have not attended the mandatory grant information session. - Other applicants that fail to meet the program requirements. Why Does the Program Support Downtown Events? Public events and festivals can contribute to Nanaimo’s cultural and economic life by bringing people into the downtown area.

The program aims to help organizers:

- Increase downtown activity. - Attract tourists and visitors. - Strengthen community connections. - Promote local culture. - Build community pride. - Improve the visitor experience. - Create opportunities for artists, entertainers, Elders, and presenters. - Encourage partnerships among community organizations. - Position Nanaimo as a year-round destination. How to Prepare an Application Applicants can prepare a strong application by focusing on the following: - Confirm that the applicant is based in Nanaimo. - Verify that the organization has been active for at least one year. - Clearly describe the proposed event or festival. - Explain how the event will activate downtown Nanaimo. - Identify the target audience and expected attendance. - Explain how the event benefits residents and visitors. - Highlight tourism and community impacts. - Explain any plans to attract visitors during the shoulder season. - Identify collaborations and partnerships. - Provide a re