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The Comox Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) is pleased to announce that over $275,000 will be available in the form of grants for registered charities and not for profit organizations in 2021-2022.

“We have taken a very deliberate approach to our granting program this year – the pandemic has exacerbated the inequities experienced by many in our community, and we plan to add our support and voice to the many organizations working to address these complex issues,” said Christine Helpard, CVCF’s President.

“Our intent is to direct our community’s funds where they are most needed, and we are thankful for the honest and forthright advice we received from individuals who are witnessing first-hand the immense challenges our most vulnerable neighbours continue to face,” she added. “We are also committed to incorporating principles of community-based decisions and trust-based philanthropy within our granting program.”

Earlier this summer, CVCF hosted conversations with representatives from local charitable and not for profit organizations to understand their needs and priorities for the coming year, as well as to hear their thoughts on the major issues facing the community as a whole. In response to what we heard, CVCF will be adopting a four-pronged approach to granting for 2021-2022:
• $75,000 to address housing insecurity and homelessness
• $20,000 to assist with charitable/not for profit sector development and sustainability
• $50,000 to support recreation and social programming for adults with diverse abilities
• $130,000 directed to Community Enrichment Grants

Further details about the granting program follow:

Housing insecurity, housing affordability and homelessness were identified as the most important issues facing our community at this time. To that end, CVCF is committing $75,000 to address housing insecurity, and is working the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness to identify a process to best tackle this issue. Information on this process will be available in the coming weeks.

CVCF also heard that charitable and not for profit organizations continue to struggle as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the charitable sector, as a whole, is in need of training and development for staff and Board members. CVCF is committing $20,000 to support a series of training opportunities beginning October 2021, as well as the resources to organize the training and coordinate informal gatherings to promote the sharing of information and collaboration within the sector.

CVCF is committing $50,000 to support recreation and social programming for adults with diverse abilities. The Developmental Disabilities Fund was established in 2013 to promote the well-being and enrich the lives of adults with diverse abilities living in the Comox Valley. That fund now realizes over $30,000 in income annually and CVCF has contributed additional funds to bring the total amount available to $50,000. Grant amounts will be determined by the organizations who deliver recreation and social programming for this adult population.

Finally, $130,000 will be available through CVCF’s regular Community Enrichment Grant program. Applications will be accepted through to September 23, 2021. As mentioned above, grant requests related to housing insecurity and support for individuals who are unsheltered, as well as for social and recreation programming for adults with diverse abilities will be addressed outside of this granting process. Click here for more information and to apply.

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Volunteers pack LUSH Valley’s Good Food Boxes.

The Comox Valley Community Foundation is pleased to announce that it recently distributed $134,170 in the form of grants to 11 organizations to assist with the community’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The 2021 COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants will assist those most impacted by the ongoing pandemic, through promoting food security, supporting initiatives to address homelessness, and boosting resources available for children and youth.

“The need in our community remains great and our agency partners continue to work tirelessly to provide programs and services to the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Matt Beckett, President of the Comox Valley Community Foundation. “The pandemic has exacerbated the fundamental inequalities that exist in our community, and we are very thankful for the Comox Valley Regional District’s continued support in addressing these issues.”

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) contributed $100,000 from its Provincial Safe Restart Funds and the Comox Valley Community Foundation funded the balance from the Robert & Florence Filberg Fund for child welfare.

Recipients of the $134,170 include:

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The Comox Valley Community Foundation will launch its 2021 COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants, available to all local charities and not-for-profits, beginning February 11, 2021.

The focus for the 2021 grants will remain on pandemic response and supporting those most impacted by the ongoing pandemic. Specifically, grants will support food security, homelessness, children and youth initiatives. While still focused on supporting vulnerable populations, 2021 grants are intended to also contribute to the longer-term sustainability of the organization or program, as well as address root causes.

“The need remains great within the Comox Valley, with the pandemic continuing to disproportionately impact the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Matt Beckett, Comox Valley Community Foundation President. “The pandemic has exacerbated issues and fundamental inequalities that were always there, and we are pleased to be able to roll out this program to both offer immediate relief and address longer-term requirements, with the assistance of the Comox Valley Regional District.”

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) has contributed $100,000 from its Provincial Safe Restart Funds to the Comox Valley Community Foundation to support the 2021 COVID-19 Emergency Response. The Comox Valley Community Foundation has also committed $60,000 from the Robert & Florence Filberg Funds for child welfare and religious organizations. It is expected that grants will be in the hands of successful applicants by mid-March.

“Promoting food security and supporting initiatives to address homelessness in the Comox Valley helps those members of our community that have been impacted the most by the pandemic. By partnering with the Comox Valley Community Foundation, we’re able to see the results right here where we all live,” said Jesse Ketler, Comox Valley Regional District Board Chair. “Supporting organizations who are helping resolve issues locally creates a more resilient home for everyone.”

The application deadline is February 25th at 12:00 noon. Click here to apply.

To supplement the funds available, the Comox Valley Community Foundation has once again opened its COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for donations from individuals and organizations. All donations made to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund will be granted in full to charities working on response efforts in our community. Donations may be made here

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The Comox Valley Community Foundation recently invested an additional $51,170 in grants towards six local charities supporting populations experiencing heightened vulnerability as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants are part of the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF).

Recipients and projects include:

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, community-based charities and nonprofit organizations have been working tirelessly to provide emergency support, in particular to individuals and communities experiencing heightened vulnerability,” said Matt Beckett, President of the Comox Valley Community Foundation. “We know the need for funding is still significant and we’re continuing to advocate for broader recovery and stabilization support for the charitable sector.”

The ECSF is a $350 million Government of Canada fund that is being implemented with Community Foundations of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and United Way Centraide Canada, in partnership with local foundations across the country. Its goal is to provide support to charities and non-profit organizations serving vulnerable Canadians.

“Canadian charities and non-profit organizations play a vital role in our communities and continue to do so in the face of real challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our government is pleased to support these organizations through the Emergency Community Support Fund so that they can continue to help the most vulnerable members of our communities during these difficult times.”

– Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

“I am very glad to acknowledge this critical funding to a Vancouver Island organization. The Comox Valley Community Foundation has been instrumental in supporting local priorities for 25 years. This funding will further enable the Foundation to support the many community organizations supplying essential services across the Comox Valley, helping those who need it most.”
– Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver

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Canadian Tire Courtenay’s Owner Bert Heeringa and General Manager Keith Pistell displaying the donated sanitizer.

Canadian Tire Courtenay has donated 2400 litres of sanitizer to the Comox Valley Community Foundation for distribution to local not-for-profits organizations.

“Sanitizer is an absolute necessity for local charities as they continue to provide services and programming for residents of the Comox Valley during this second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Bert Heeringa, Owner/Operator Canadian Tire Courtenay. “Recognizing that the purchase of sanitizer is an extra expense for many community organizations with already tight budgets, we wanted to assist them in reducing their costs and instead allow them to direct their funds in support of their clients and mission.”

“The Comox Valley Community Foundation is very happy to be able to support this initiative as it is yet another example of our community stepping up to assist our front-line agencies respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Matt Beckett, President of the Comox Valley Community Foundation. “The use of sanitizer contributes to good hand hygiene, clean surfaces and is invaluable to the many organizations in our community needing to ensure safe service.”

The sanitizer is packaged in 1 litre and 4 litre containers. Organizations may submit a request by visiting the grants CVCF website and completing the online form. The deadline for submitting a request is December 3.

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$51,170 in funding available for Comox Valley charities supporting COVID-19 response

Comox Valley Community Foundation today announced it will be provide $51,170 to support local charities responding to COVID-19 as part of an ongoing partnership with Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Centraide Canada and the Canadian Red Cross, funded through the Government of Canada’s $350M Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). This vast national effort is a second round of funding that aims to support vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Comox Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) is among the many community foundations across Canada that are taking part.

“As infection rates start to rise again in communities across the country, ongoing support is vital in the fight against COVID-19,” says Matt Beckett, CVCF President. “Local charities and non-profit organizations are pillars in this community. For over six months, they have been working tirelessly to support those who need it most but the reality is, they’re struggling with increased demand at the same time as revenues have decreased. We’re thrilled to be able to flow additional emergency funding their way through the ECSF but we also see the need for stabilization support for the sector, so they can continue their good work in our community over the long haul.”

The Emergency Community Support Fund was initially announced on April 21, 2020 by the Prime Minister of Canada. It is part of a broad series of emergency response measures by the Government of Canada. A first round of funding was disbursed through the community foundation network across Canada in June and July. As part of the first round CVCF awarded $121,850 to 14 organizations.

Starting October 5, 2020, CVCF will be accepting applications for funding from qualified donees. The deadline to submit an application is October 30, 2020. Grants can be used for a variety of purposes, including to cover staffing or resource needs, purchase assistance and more. Charities and community organizations are invited to visit www.cvcfoundation.org for eligibility and application details.

“Charities and non-profit organizations are at the heart of our communities, helping the most vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 crisis. The Government of Canada is pleased to support these organizations through the Emergency Community Support Fund so that they can continue their invaluable work,” said the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

Since April 2020, CVCF has supported emergency pandemic response through grants to not for profit organizations totaling close to $400,000 to ensure everyone in our beautiful Valley has what they need to live safe and healthy lives during these challenging times. In addition, CVCF is continuing with its Community Enrichment Grants, which will be awarded in January 2021. All told, CVCF will be distributing over $1 million to local charities and not for profits this fiscal year.

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The Comox Valley Community Foundation is pleased to announce that it recently distributed an additional $21,095 in grants to four organizations to assist with the community’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

CVCF launched its COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants program at the onset of the pandemic. The grants were intended to offer resources for the community where they were needed most, with a focus on access to food, shelter, supplies and care for our community’s most vulnerable.

“This latest round of funding brings CVCF’s investment in our community’s COVID-19 response to over $350,000,” said Matt Beckett, President of the Comox Valley Community Foundation.

‘This is a number of which we are extremely proud and we are very pleased to have been able to support our local charities and not-for-profit organizations as they transitioned the delivery of their programs and services in response to the pandemic and its impact on our most vulnerable neighbours,” added Beckett.

Recipients of the $21,095 include:

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The Comox Valley Community Foundation is pleased to announce that it recently distributed an additional $52,500 in grants to 11 organizations to assist with the community’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

CVCF’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants, initially launched in March, are intended to offer resources for the community where they are needed most, with a focus on access to food, shelter, supplies and care for our community’s most vulnerable.

“The need in our community remains great and we are very happy to be able to support our agency partners as they transition the delivery of their programs and services in response to the pandemic and its impact on our most vulnerable neighbours,” said Matt Beckett, President of the Comox Valley Community Foundation. “With this latest round of grants, CVCF will have invested $211,900 in our community’s COVID-19 response, with more to come.”
“We are so thankful for the support we have received from our donors, many first-time donors to the CVCF, and recently First Credit Union, which has made these grants possible,” Beckett added.

Recipients of the $52,500 include:

Applications for funding from charities and non-profit organizations are still being accepted. The next deadline for applications is July 23, with the fourth and final round of grants expected to be released mid-August.

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The Comox Valley Community Foundation is pleased to announce that it recently distributed an additional $57,400 in the form of grants to 12 organizations to assist with the community’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

CVCF’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants, initially launched in March, are intended to offer resources for the community where they are needed most, with a focus on access to food, shelter, supplies and care for our community’s most vulnerable.

“The need in our community remains great and our agency partners continue to work tirelessly to provide supports and services to our vulnerable neighbours,” said Matt Beckett, President of the Comox Valley Community Foundation. “With this latest round of grants, CVCF will have invested $159,400 in our community’s COVID-19 response, with more to come.”

“We are so thankful for the support we have received from our donors, many first-time donors to the CVCF, and the Comox Valley Regional District and Courtenay Rotary Club, which has made these grants possible,” Beckett added.
Recipients of the $57,400 include:

Applications for funding from charities and non-profit organizations are still being accepted. The next deadline for applications is June 4, with the third round of grants expected to be released at the end of June. The CVCF will continue to receive and consider applications for as long as we have funds remaining.

To supplement the funds available, the Comox Valley Community Foundation has opened a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for donations from individuals and organizations. All donations made to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund will be granted in full to charities working on response efforts in our community. Donations in May will be matched by Vancouver Foundation, up to a maximum of $30,000, and may be made online at https://cvcfoundation.org/giving/make-a-donation/.

CVCF also recently announced its participation in the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) program, which will see $121,850 available to Comox Valley charities in support of their work with vulnerable populations. Both granting programs, the CVCF’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants and the ECSF, will run concurrently and charities and non-profit organizations are encouraged to contact the CVCF to discuss which program best suits their funding needs.

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