Resources for Resilience: BC Community Foundations

January 11th, 2014

Sea to Sky Region Community Foundations North Shore Community Foundation West Vancouver Community Foundation Bowen Island Community Foundation Squamish Community Foundation Sunshine Coast Community Foundation Community Foundation of Whistler

Plus, Vancouver Foundation

Local, independent public foundations with 3 key roles:

1. Grant across a broad range of community interests and sectors

2. Work with a variety of donors to build funds across many fields of interest, as well as for specific organizations

3. Undertake activities to build community, support community organizations, create partnerships, and convene around issues and interests.

Grants Each foundation has different grant guidelines

and application deadlines Some have specific Environment Grant programs Others have specific environment funds from

which allocations are made through regular grants program

Wide range of grant funds available and varying size of grants

Grantees must be registered charities

Eg: Vancouver Foundation –Deadlines- LOI: 1/24/14; Application:3/14/14; Total available 2014: $.5m

Funds: Donor education and engagement

Community foundations help donors create lasting legacies and meet their charitable goals by: Connecting donors with community needs

and interests Helping to structure gifts in suitable ways Sharing knowledge of issues,

organizations and community Demonstrating accountability and impact

Funds: vehicles for giving Unrestricted –eg. community funds Field of interest –Vancouver Foundation, CFOW Advised – SCF Valhalla Fund Designated – WVCF Holly and Beke Burne Fund Agency endowment - Flow-through – BICF Knick Knack Nook

Environmental Sustainability Bursary; WVCF Black Creek Old Growth Environmental Fund

Example: Community Foundation of Whistler Environmental Legacy Fund

Leadership – more than money!

Workshops, training, technical assistance Community knowledge Leveraging relationships Creating connections Fostering partnerships Convening on community interests and priorities

Example: Sunshine Coast Community Foundation Water Summit

Getting started…

Get to know your local foundationLearn about grants, agency

endowments, programs, activitiesLet them know about youStay connected: engage,

communicate and participate!