[BC-Wide] Participatory Action Research Grants (deadline: Oct 13, 2026)

This funding supports health-related research projects that use a participatory action research (PAR) method. PAR projects are co‑designed and co‑led by community members and researchers to understand the root causes of pressing issues that negatively affect people's physical or mental health, or clearly defined community‑level health outcomes. 

For this program, PAR projects must focus on a specific health issue or outcome and clearly describe how it affects people's health, explaining the direct link between the issue and its impact on health and well-being.  

Projects may include social determinants of health only if their direct impact on a health outcome is central to the research. The link to health must be clear, well explained, and supported by a logical causal pathway. 

Projects that examine social determinants without clearly connecting them to a specific health outcome are not eligible.

Types of grants

We offer two grant streams to reflect the various stages of participatory action research: Convene and Investigate.  

Convene grants are short‑term grants (up to $25,000 for up to one year) that help teams come together to unpack a clearly defined health issue or health outcome. These grants support early work to understand what is driving the issue, including the system behaviors that have created it or are keeping it in place. The goal of a Convene grant is for the research team to develop research questions and a viable research project plan. 

Investigate grants are multi-year grants (up to $100,000 per year over three years, for a total of up to $300,000) that help teams answer a research question, analyze their findings, and share knowledge in a way that supports the community and others to take action on a health issue.   

To find out more about which grant fits your work, download the application guide and visit website for more information such as key dates, elgibility, and how to apply instructions.

Information sessions  

Register to attend one of our information sessions to learn more about eligibility and connect with the granting team. You will need a Zoom account to register. 

• Sept 10, 2026 at 11 am to 12 pm PT: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pTMIgyGUSxOwttGhoHZy8A
• Sept 23, 2026 at 2 to 3 pm PT: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_12WtyM6pRbu3QAYDaCVSrQ