Vancouver Foundation grants top $46 million in 2012
May 8, 2013
Vancouver Foundation and its donors provided more than 4,000 grants and distributions totaling more than $46 million to registered charities across Canada in 2012.
May 8, 2013 — Vancouver Foundation and its donors provided more than 4,000 grants and distributions totaling more than $46 million to registered charities across Canada in 2012 — a 12 per cent increase over the $41 million in grants and distributions provided the previous year.
“It’s gratifying to know that we are making a significant contribution to so many deserving not-for-profit organizations in our communities,” said Faye Wightman, President & CEO. “Still, so much more needs to be done. There are far more grant requests than dollars available. We received approximately $5 in grant requests for every $1 we granted out.”
Overall, 2012 was a watershed year for Vancouver Foundation. During the year, Vancouver Foundation:
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- was one of the first charities in Canada to be accredited under the new national Standards Program introduced by Imagine Canada;
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- released its Connections and Engagement: A survey of metro Vancouver report, measuring actions, attitudes and barriers that prevent people from becoming engaged in the life of their neighbourhood and community;
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- responded to the Connections and Engagement results by expanding its Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) program through six Vancouver partners and four cities to deepen people’s connections and engagement in their community;
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- renewed its commitment to breaking the cycle of youth homelessness in metro Vancouver by focusing on at-risk youth in government care through its Youth Homelessness Initiative;
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- signed an agreement with the City of Vancouver to establish the $2 million Greenest City Fund, granting $538,492 to 150 projects to help make Vancouver the greenest city in the world by 2020; and
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- provided almost $365,000 in matching gifts under the Matching Gift program (which matches donations of $1,000 or more for 38 funds across various fields of interest and the priority areas of Neighbourhood Small Grants and Youth Homelessness Initiative).
In British Columbia, Vancouver Foundation’s Fields of Interest that received funding in 2012 included Children, Youth & Families, Health and Medical Education/Research, Health and Social Development, Education, Disability Supports for Employment , Arts & Culture, Environment, Youth Philanthropy Council, and Animal Welfare, in addition to NSG and the Youth Homelessness Initiative.
With almost 1,500 funds, and assets of more than $814 million, Vancouver Foundation is Canada’s largest community foundation. Since it was founded in 1943, Vancouver Foundation, in partnership with its donors, has distributed more than $917 million to thousands of community projects and programs.