Staff Report to Community Advisory Committee - 2026 Grant in Aid Funding Requests

Staff Report to Community Advisory Committee

DATE: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
DEPARTMENT: Finance
SUBJECT: 2026 Grant in Aid Funding Requests

Executive Summary

Annually, the City provides an opportunity for eligible organizations to apply to the City for funding, via a Grant in Aid. The Community Advisory Committee reviews applications, deliberates, and provides recommendations to Council working within the allotted budget.

Background

The City of Langford’s Request for Funding Policy POL-0147-FIN (the “Policy”) attached to this report as Attachment 1, outlines criteria for consideration of Grant in Aid requests. As noted within the Committee Terms of Reference and as directed by Council, these requests appear before the Community Advisory Committee prior to consideration by Council.

Grant in Aid applications were last reviewed by the Committee in January 2025.

2025 Budget deliberations took place after the 2025 Grant in Aid budget had been allocated and distributed. Council then approved a 2026 Grant in Aid budget increase of $15,000 to be funded through taxation. The resolution also instructs that this budget is to increase by $2,500 annually for the next five (5) years funded through taxation. The resulting 2026 Grant in Aid budget is $100,000.

2026 applications were due by December 15, 2025, and have been appended to this report as Attachment 3.

Commentary

A summary of the Grant in Aid requests has been compiled and attached to this report as Attachment 2. In addition, and as noted above, complete application packages for each requestor have been included for Committee review as Attachment 3. It is worthy of noting that not all applicants that applied for funding last year reapplied this year. This is typical from year to year as events, organizations, and initiatives change.

One application was received after the Policy deadline of December 15th, and the applicant was encouraged to apply for funding in 2027.

The Policy sets a maximum request value of $10,000 per application. For each request, the Committee can recommend that Council give the full amount requested, a portion of the amount requested, or deny funding.

The Policy specifies that preference will be given to applications from organizations based in Langford or those that provide a service directly to Langford residents. Additionally, funding cannot be used by the receiving organization to issue grants to another entity or individual.

The City advertised the Funding Requests Program in the following ways:

• City’s social media
• City’s website
• Banner at the top of the City Website
• Electronic billboards

The Grant in Aid webpage has had minor updates throughout the year, and a revised version of the application form was prepared and published on the website based on feedback from the Committee, staff, and applicants. The following amendments were made to the form:

• Addition of a text box on the first page for applicants to include a brief description of what the funds will be used for (if awarded)
• All text boxes now have a character limit
• Disclaimer attached to Question 11 (contact information for volunteer opportunities) noting information supplied for this question will not be redacted

In addition to the updated form, the City has set up the FundingRequests@Langford.ca email to receive applications and respond to inquiries.

Through feedback from the Committee, Attachment 2 (Grant Summary) was revised to make new applications more obvious.

Financial Implications

The allocated Grant in Aid budget in the 2026-2030 Financial Plan in 2026 is $100,000. The application request total is $229,600, which exceeds the City’s allocated budget by $129,600. Given that the 2026 Grant in Aid budget is $100,000, the Committee will need to work within this budget or recommend

If the Committee recommends that Council increase the Grant in Aid budget above $100,000, the result would be an increase in property taxes.

Legal Implications

There are no known legal implications associated with this report.

Strategic Plan Alignment

6d - Support the Efforts of Community Organizations to Expand Services to Youth, Seniors, and Other Underrepresented and Marginalized Groups.

Options

Option 1

THAT the Community Advisory Committee recommend that Council approve the following funding applications for the 2026 year: a. (Organization Title): $_____________
b. (Organization Title): $_____________
c. (Organization Title): $_____________
d. Etc.

AND THAT the following funding applications for the 2026 year be denied: a. (Organization Title): $_____________
b. (Organization Title): $_____________
c. (Organization Title): $_____________
d. Etc.

OR Option 2

THAT the Community Advisory Committee recommend that Council not approve the 2026 Funding Requests.

Submitted By

SUBMITTED BY: Curtis Staniforth, Manager of Budgets and Revenue

Concurrence: Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance
Concurrence: Melisa Miles, Manager of Legislative Services
Concurrence: Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development
Concurrence: Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
Concurrence: Leah Stohmann, RPP, MCIP, Director of Community Planning and Development
Concurrence: Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works
Concurrence: Marie Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services
Concurrence: Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Concurrence: Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer

Attachments

• Attachment 1: City of Langford Request for Funding Policy (POL-0147-FIN)
• Attachment 2: 2026 Grant in Aid Request Summary
• Attachment 3: All 2026 Redacted Application Packages