Strong applications will present a collaborative project proposal that aligns with SIP mission and values, and one or more of the priority themes or open themes, with a preference for projects that are First Nations led or co-led. Applicants should make it clear how their project will contribute to the growth of innovative silviculture by improving knowledge of these systems in BC. 

Successful applicants will have thoughtful consideration for the 5 Project Elements, as described in the Innovation in Action Grant Guide (available under “Important Downloadable Resources”).

Applicants are eligible to submit one application to each of the grant types. Successful grantees will still be able to apply for grants in subsequent years. The application of individuals or groups to multiple grants will not impact application review.

No, the Innovation In Action grant cannot be used to cover basic activities included in the stumpage system (such as layout, roads, logging and reforestation). It is intended to target additional activities applicants may not otherwise have time or resources to complete, but that are critical to knowledge creation and knowledge sharing on innovative silviculture. This could include prescription planning, research and monitoring design, equipment needs, data collection of data on multiple values beyond what is required for cutting permit issuance, developing knowledge sharing products, and extension of results.

If you require resources to initiate and build collaborative relationships with rights holders, interested stakeholders, industry partners or government, and these relationships do not already exist, then you can apply for the Building Capacity stream.

One of the values of the SIP grant program is to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the forestry knowledge space. As a result we have focused grant calls on First Nations led or co-led projects and supporting individuals that identify as members of marginalized groups through capacity building within a proposal meritorious framework. If you have concerns about accessibility of the grants, we will work with applicants to address barriers and improve access to support equity, diversity and inclusion.

We recognize the need for future grants to support other large interdisciplinary projects, and we are actively looking ahead to support future grant opportunities.

We understand that extension is likely a new term for many folks, but it is also an opportunity for applicants to share the successes (and failures!) of your project. To us, extension means we want to hear your stories of collaboration and learn more about your findings in accessible and digestible ways. Extension materials can be fun and engaging (e.g., videos, blogs, art) and/or more technically focused (e.g., extension notes, infographics, prescriptions) or even interactive (e.g., field tours and sharing with communities of practice). We welcome a range of extension activities and encourage you to get creative when considering how lessons learned from your project can be communicated to others. 

The choice of grant depends on how you will be interacting with the training. If you are applying as an individual to access training opportunities to implement innovative silviculture, then select the Building Capacity grant. If you are embedded in a collaborative team that wants to access training to broadly support the team to increase overall project success, then apply to the Innovation in Action grant. If you are designing a training workshop, then apply to the Innovation in Action grant. 

The SIP grants portal is hosted by Good Grants (goodgrants.com), an online grants management software. If you are being asked for 2FA authentication information, you have already used your email address to create a Good Grants account to apply for another grant in the past! This grant would have required you set up 2FA authentication by downloading an authenticator app, such as Google Authenticator or iPhone Authenticator, to retrieve the code from Good Grants. The SIP grants portal does not require 2FA authentication, so if you are using an email address that has never been used within the Good Grants system, you would not be asked for this information.

The easiest solution is to check to see if you have an authenticator app installed on your phone that would be receiving these codes from Good Grants.

Still no luck? If you changed phones or have since deleted the authenticator app from your phone, you will have to contact Good Grants to regain access to your account by resetting your 2FA. To do so, you can submit a help ticket with Good Grants here: https://help.goodgrants.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new They usually respond quickly, and are very friendly and helpful! Unfortunately the SIP is unable to help you with this technical support issue.

Don’t remember setting up an account, or forgot your password? If you forgot your account password, click on the “Forgot password link” once you enter your email. and click Submit. Check this email address (including your junkmail) for the forgot password email. Good Grants also has a guide for applicants that shows how to do this with screenshots: Ultimate guide for applicants

If the above solutions won’t work for you (or you are submitting a last minute application and are short on time!), alternatively you can set up a new account using a different email address.

Only one profile is able to access and edit applications within the grant portal. It is important to note that the grant application questions can be downloaded as a PDF through the grant portal for circulation and collaboration.

For the Innovation in Action Grant, letters of support are required when partnering and co-creating projects with First Nations. We do not require reference letters for the Capacity Building Grant, but a letter of support from an employer or demonstrating an acceptance letter into a program makes for a stronger application. 

Lead applicants need to be located and working within BC, including conducting research within BC. A project partner can be located at an institution or organization outside of BC but funds will not be distributed outside of the province.

We understand the challenge of uncertainty of timing around cultural or prescribed burns. We encourage applicants to consider the many other values that can inform project objectives and project success, outside of a successful burn occurring. Consider how your project can demonstrate meaningful progress surrounding the burn process, and potentially other multiple values, that can be separate from the success of the burn itself. 

The cap of the Innovation in Action Grants is $50,000 total (not $50,000/year).

Grants are open to people from every career stage and we do not require credentials in order to apply for grants. A student can lead an Innovation in Action grant as part of their studies, but we encourage partnerships and remind folks to consider the timelines and reporting requirements required for each grant. A PhD student could apply for a Capacity Building grant to support their personal skill development, such as conference attendance, workshop attendance, field visits and more.

When completing an application in the grants portal, under the Diversity tab you will be asked if the project is First Nations led, co-led and/or co-created. Projects that answer “no” or “unsure” will then be asked to describe how the project otherwise involves or supports Indigenous peoples, communities and organizations and/or considers and/or upholds Indigenous knowledge and values. This gives applicants an opportunity to describe their alignment with the values of the Silviculture Innovation Program. Please read the grant guidelines for more information on SIP values and grant alignment. 

We encourage partnerships and collaboration. It should be noted however that funds cannot be awarded directly to the Government of BC. For example, a First Nation can be the grantee and the recipient of the funds and government partner could provide in kind support, and be captured as a project partner. For consultants, we encourage co-leading or co-creation of the project. It can be clarified in the application portal that the application has multiple project leads.