The Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies and the Kimberley and District Community Foundation announced roughly $140,000 in funding to support local charities on May 19, 2020.
The funding is available for charities who are responding to the COVID-19 crisis and is under a new partnership with Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Centraide Canada and the Canadian Red Cross. The funding comes under the umbrella of the Canadian government’s Emergency Community Support Fund, which set aside $350 million for such efforts.
“We’re looking forward to flowing funds quickly to ensure no one in our region is left behind,” said Lynnette Wray, executive director of Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies. “It’s an honour to work with the Kimberley and District Community Foundation to provide this important support to our communities, which include Kimberley, Cranbrook, Elkford, Sparwood, and Fernie, as well as the surrounding rural areas.”
Charity organizations who are providing support to people affected by COVID-19 will be eligible to apply for funding. Approximately $40,000 of the total will go through the Kimberley and District Community Foundation while $109,120 will be flowed through the Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies.
According to Josie Cale, Kimberley and District Community Foundation board president, “this is a vital step in the fight against COVID-19. Local charities and nonprofit organizations have been working tirelessly to support those who need it most right now. This additional funding is a much needed boost to their efforts.”
As of May 19, charities are able to complete funding applications. The grants received can be used for a variety of purposes, including to cover staffing needs or to ensure appropriate resources are available. The funding will be issued on an ongoing basis through July 2020.
In order to be eligible for the funding, there are several eligibility criteria that the organization must meet. For example, qualified donees must be either a registered charity, a registered Canadian amateur athletic association, a registered Canadian municipality, or a registered municipal or public body performing a function of government in Canada.
Furthermore, the specific projects that are requesting the funding must meet another set of criteria. According to Community Foundations of Canada, “eligible projects will clearly address a pressing social inclusion or wellbeing need caused by COVID-19, serve one or more vulnerable groups, and be carried out in a short time frame with a reasonable budget before March 31, 2021.”
For further information about the specifics of the funding or how to apply, visit Communityfoundations.ca and view the page on the Emergency Community Support Fund.
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