It’s been a good year for the Comox Valley Community Foundation and for 45 community organizations that received grants through the organization’s annual enrichment awards.
On Tuesday at the Comox Community Centre, the foundation handed out $330,000 to local organizations, the largest amount to the most groups in a single year, explained Susan Auchterlonie, executive director of CVCF.
“The increase in allocating the amount of granting funds is wonderful. This is is also the first year where we’ve partnered with the Vancouver Foundation to administer the Robert and Florence Filberg Fund which is used to support initiatives within the Comox Valley.”
Auchterlonie added the foundation reached out to CVCF and will manage the fund this year as it will be integrated into their granting process. The fund accounts for $130,000.
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Also this year, the foundation has created an online granting system which she describes as “very user-friendly,” and help the organization review and adjudicate applications.
They noticed an increase in applications, which Auchterlonie credited to the new system, but also promotion and getting the word out within the community about the foundation.
The CVCF is an endowment-based foundation and aims to ensure the long-term vitality of the Comox Valley community by investing funds in perpetuity and using revenue generated to support charitable organizations.
They currently have $14 million in assets, and the interest from the funds is what is used throughout the year.
Some highlights this year include more recipients from Hornby Island and funding for organizations who haven’t received funding for many years, said Auchterlonie. Additionally, she noted some organizations that got funding for unique projects include Glacier View Lodge who will use the funds to purchase an ultrasound machine for on-site use - to reduce stress for its residents by reducing hospital visits.
Others include the funding for the Everyone Play Project through Courtenay Recreation which aims to abolish fees for programming for children through the organization; a new ‘Hub Scrub’ (sterilizing equipment) for the Canadian Red Cross medical equipment loan program; funds for You Are Not Alone and the Comox Valley Transition Society.
“We recognize and celebrate the people who support and have supported the community foundation,” Auchterlonie said. “We are essentially the middle ground between the philanthropists and the non-profits, and we’re privileged to be that connection.”
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