Vancouver Foundation increases grants to help address provincial shortfall
March 11, 2010
For 2010, the Foundation will provide $800,000 in grants to arts and culture groups — more than double its contribution in 2009.
For 2010, the Foundation will provide $800,000 in grants to arts and culture groups — more than double its contribution in 2009.
In education, $600,000 has been allocated for 2010 — an increase of 22% over last year, and grants to children, youth and family projects have been increased by 9% from 2009, making a total of $900,000 available this year.
Grant allocations to other areas — such as environment, health and medical education and research, and animal welfare — will be finalized in early summer when the Foundation issues calls for proposals in those areas of interest.
“Vancouver Foundation is stepping up to the plate,” said CEO Faye Wightman, “We’re doing what we can to fill the need created by the recession in 2009, and the recent round of belt-tightening by the provincial government. We know in particular that many arts and culture groups are experiencing a real financial strain.”
In the fall of 2009, Vancouver Foundation released a report called Weathering the Storm. It was the first definitive study to examine the effects of the economic downturn on charities in BC. The study found that almost every charity in the province was affected in some way by the economic downturn in 2009. However, certain organizations – smaller charities, arts and culture and environmental groups – were the most negatively impacted by drops in their revenue base.
“Many organizations told us they expected 2010 to be harder than 2009,” said Wightman. “And unfortunately that’s proving to be true. We have responded by increasing the amount of support to these areas of granting.”
Decisions on grants in these areas will be made by early June. Vancouver Foundation will hold a second round of granting for six other areas of interest later this year.
With more than 1,200 funds, and assets of $722 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 $785 million to BC charities.
For more information:
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