Community Services Recovery Fund

The BC Interior Community Foundation is working with community foundations across Canada in collaboration with the Canadian Red Cross, and United Ways to distribute the Community Services Recovery Fund (CSRF). This $400 million Fund will support Community Service Organizations including non-profit organizations, Indigenous Governing Bodies and Registered Charities located in Canada as they focus on how to adapt their organizations for pandemic recovery.

Now more than ever, charities and non-profits are playing a key role in addressing persistent and complex social problems faced by all Canadians. The CSRF responds to what charities and non-profits need right now and supports organizations as they adapt to the long-term impacts of the pandemic.

Community Service Organizations can apply from January 6, 2023, until February 21, 2023.  Visit www.communityservicesrecoveryfund.ca to find out more about how to apply, explore resources for applicants, and sign up for upcoming webinars.

Applicant Resources:

FAQs 

January 12, 2023 – How to Apply Webinar Registration

Interactive Quiz – To determine if you can apply

Giving back for Giving Tuesday

Update: The recipients of the grants are Kamloops Immigrant Services, Out of the Cold, Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge Society, Merritt Youth Soccer Association, Kamloops Film Society, Camp Grafton, Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre, Nicola Family Therapy, Kamloops Festival of the Performing Arts and Centre for Seniors Information – CSI Kamloops will each receive funding. Thank you to everyone who applied.

To celebrate Giving Tuesday, the BC Interior Community Foundation is giving $1000 each to ten different local charities.

All registered charities in the Thompson, Nicola or South Cariboo region are invited to apply for these funds and all they have to do is send us a short letter of 250 words or less.

 It’s an extremely simple process, charities are asked to outline what they would do with $1000 and email that to the Foundation. There’s no adjudication process and all qualifying letters received will go into a hat and 10 winners will be drawn on December 19. 

“We know that Giving Tuesday is aimed at getting residents to donate to local charities,” says BCICF Executive Director Wenda Noonan. “This year though, we decided that we would be making donations rather than asking for them.”

This initiative was spearheaded by the BCICF Community Projects Granting committee. They’re aware that nonprofits have limited resources and were looking for a way to give back to the sector that has given so much throughout the pandemic.

Granting chair Franca Petrucci says, “ Being part of a community is so much more than sharing space or living in the same area. It’s about supporting each other through the tough times. As a community-based funder, we are excited to be once again supporting the charities that do amazing work in our region.”

Organizations must have charitable status and send their letters on or before Friday, December 16, 2022. They can be sent by email to grants@bcicf.ca.

Help your community flourish.

Community giving is easy and we can help you do good in the communities you love. Here’s how it works:

1. DEFINE your passion: What causes do you care about most? Do you wish to address an urgent need in the community, honor the memory of a loved one or support a charity or project?

2. CREATE a fund: We will work with you to create a fund that is tailored to your interests and that will accomplish your goals. Our options are flexible: Your fund can broadly benefit the community or focus on specific issues, organizations or students.

3. DECIDE what and when to give: You can use a wide range of assets to establish a charitable fund or give to an existing fund at BC Interior Community Foundation. Based on your interests and needs, we can help you make a plan to build your fund through gifts now or in the future through your estate plan. You may choose gifts that provide income to others while also benefiting the community.

4. LET US take care of the administrative details: We keep it simple so you can focus on what makes your heart sing—your contribution to making people’s lives better. We can start establishing your new fund in as little as one day, and can coordinate gift planning with your financial and legal advisors.

5. TRACK your fund: You can trust us to be fiscally responsible, knowledgeable and dedicated to ensuring that all funds are invested responsibly. You will receive periodic updates about your fund so you can always be aware of its progress.

6. REFINE your strategy: If your family or financial situation changes or if your interests shift, we can help you adjust your giving strategy. Likewise, if the charity organization that your fund supports goes out of business or changes its mission, we’ll make any necessary changes to ensure that future grants from your fund follow your original intent.

7. DO GOOD: Your gifts are turned into grants to qualified donees, charitable organizations or to bursaries and scholarships for local students.

Click on the image to download a free copy of our Giving Guide.

Give where you live

Years ago, Colin Noble’s father left a major donation to a local charity — and in recognition, a wooden plaque was placed on the wall.

What happened to the plaque is a lesson in the power of giving. As the agency’s work impacted Kamloops, the plaque was made smaller and smaller —- symbolic of how donations can help fill the holes in the community fabric.

“In 30 years, the plaque is now one tenth the size it was originally, the Kamloops man said. “I wonder what size it will be in another 30 years and at what point does it disappear forever?”

“Buildings crumble, benches wear out, equipment becomes obsolete, cures are found, orphanages disappear and services get used up. But for those who want their name to live on forever and have their name remembered, community foundations create the perfect solution.

The legacy of Ben Franklin

We all know Ben Franklin as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. You may also know that he was a scientist, inventor and philosopher. But did you know that he was also a philanthropist, and when he died, he left a very interesting legacy for his two favorite American cities… 

Upon his death in 1790, Franklin left $2,000 to the city of Philadelphia and another $2,000 to the city of Boston.
The money was to be handled in a very particular way. He directed both governments to invest the funds and forego drawing them for 100 years and distributing them for 200 years.

The funds were invested, and after the first 100 years, and as Franklin directed, the cities began making personal loans to young tradesmen starting out in business.

When the cities received their balances after 200 years, the combined bequest had grown to $6.5 million!

In his wisdom, Franklin had much to teach us. And, did you know that if you chose to start your own endowed fund or make a gift to one of the existing endowed funds at BC Interior Community Foundation – 100% of your donation is invested?  

The principal value of your gift is never spent, while the investment earnings are distributed to charitable causes and projects. throughout our region. Your contribution, large or small, lives on in perpetuity to support the changing needs of your community.