UNITED Way British Columbia – working with communities in BC’s Interior, Lower Mainland, and Central and Northern Vancouver Island – is one of the selected national funders chosen by the Government of Canada for delivering $11 million in funds in British Columbia from the recently announced Community Services Recovery Fund. From January 6 until February 21, United Way BC will be accepting applications from eligible community-serving organizations in the province.
The Community Services Recovery Fund is a $400 million investment from the Government of Canada to support charities and non-profits across Canada as they focus on how to adapt their organizations for pandemic recovery. United Way BC is working in collaboration with United Way Centraide Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and Community Foundations of Canada to distribute funding. This fund supports Community Service Organizations, including non-profit organizations, Indigenous Governing Bodies, and registered charities located across Canada.
United Way BC, along with the other selected national funders, is responsible for setting up the application process; reaching out to diverse communities across the province; and assessing applications and distributing the funding. United Way BC will accept applications to support programs and service redesign and innovation for organizations working in the following areas: arts and culture; development and housing; education and research; environment; health; law, advocacy and politics; philanthropic intermediaries and voluntarism promotion; sports and recreation, and faith-based.
United Way BC is hosting a series of online information sessions on January 9 and January 11 for community-serving organizations that are interested in applying. Registration details are as follows:
- January 9, 10 – 11 a.m.: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/uwbc-community-service-recovery-fund-csrf-info-session-tickets-482619807837
- January 11, 3 – 4 p.m.: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/uwbc-community-service-recovery-fund-csrf-info-session-tickets-482633629177
Grant information, application forms and more can be found on the United Way British Columbia website at www.uwbc.ca/csrf/.
“We are proud to be chosen as a national funder of this innovative fund, which will help community-serving non-profit organizations adapt and modernize as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Charitable organizations have provided considerable help, relief, and resources to the communities they serve during the pandemic, and this fund will ensure that work can continue,” said Michael McKnight, President and CEO, United Way British Columbia.
“United Way BC will help deliver $11 million grants to non-profit community-serving organizations in the province so they can adapt to the new normal brought on by the pandemic. We are thrilled to be directly involved in delivering these funds through a collaborative and innovative approach, designed to support Canada’s non-profit and charitable organizations so they can continue to do the vital work they do in our communities,” said Kim Winchell, Provincial Director, Community Impact and Investment, United Way British Columbia.
“The Government supports a more inclusive model of economic growth that creates opportunities for everyone in Canada as the long-term recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The Community Services Recovery Fund will strengthen the ability of charities and non-profits to deliver services and resources where they will have the most impact. Because of the National Funders’ strong connections with local organizations, they will ensure funding is distributed efficiently to organizations that provide services to communities in need across Canada,” said Karina Gould, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.