Grants in Practice: How Funding Really Works - Feb 19, 2026

Join Executive Directors Illana Hester and Charlene Smith for a practical, no-nonsense workshop on how grants actually function in the real world.

This is not a fundraising pep talk. It is a grant-specific session designed to help you understand when grants are the right tool, when they are not, and how funders evaluate projects beyond the application form.

We will cover:

• An overview of Parksville–Qualicum Community Foundation (PQCF) grants and how they operate

• Grant vs. hustle: is your project better served by funding, earned income, or entrepreneurial effort

• When grants are about community-building, not just money

• Why collaboration and local relationships often matter before you apply

Ideal for artists, nonprofit leaders, community organizers, and anyone trying to decide whether a grant fits their next step.

Come with questions. Leave with clarity.