OF LETHBRIDGE AND SOUTHWESTERN ALBERTA
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Focusing Your Support
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www.cflsa.ca
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Updated September 2012
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[email protected] 404 8th St South
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403*328*5297
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The Community Foundation has developed three programs to expand the options available when planning charitable donations. Whether it’s a new way to give, such as a Giving Circle, or establishing funds that focus on Rural Life or Youth in Action, the foundation strives to match the interests of donors with causes that matter.
However, this is just a start. Your giving is not limited to these three program initiatives. The foundation offers the flexibility to bring people and ideas together to put your donations to work in your area of interest.
A new initiative to support young people who create their own projects & initiatives.
An opportunity for a group of people to combine their charitable dollars to make a larger community impact. Read more ....
Reseeding Rural Communities
Assisting people who wish to contribute to the quality of rural life. Read more ....
Rural Life Fund: Foundation reseeds rural communities.
The community foundation is in an ideal position to assist people with their wish to contribute to the quality of rural life.
Larry Helland, a foundation board member who lives and farms in the Lomond area, has seen firsthand how the foundation is able to help people give back in their own way.
“I’ve been quite impressed how the community foundation is able to work with each person and family to meet their personal goals. The foundation isn’t connected to any one charity and is able to give unbiased information to a person interested in developing a plan to give back. The fund gives people the opportunity to focus on building rural values.”
The foundation has an extensive track record in responding to community needs and supports all areas of community life, from basic needs to arts and culture. With many years of funding projects that serve rural communities, the foundation has developed a strong knowledge base. When people are considering giving back to the communities that have given so much to their families, the community foundation is able to match their wishes with the best possible strategy.
People know that the pace of change in communities outside of Lethbridge has been quite astounding over the past fifty years. No one knows what changes the next fifty years will bring, but people are able to work with the foundation to support rural communities in the way they want. Everyone is unique when it comes to giving back. The community foundation is a neutral place where ideas can be discussed openly and an individual plan developed for giving back.
Sometimes you want to support services within a geographic area and this can be arranged, whether it is for the Pincher Creek and Crowsnest area, Vulcan County, Warner County, or any other area in the southwest. You may want to help certain age groups, whether they are young or senior citizens, or services such as recreation and literacy. The community foundation has the flexibility to customize giving for each individual.
Is it possible to help people through microloans in our own backyard? Amazingly, the answer is yes.
A special donation has been received and will be used to support rural entrepreneurship through the South West Alberta Community loan fund. This donation will assist the loan fund to get established and help people with small loans and mentorship. The foundation is pleased to be able to match a wish to give people a ‘hand up’, with a charity that will help one person at a time receive the training and support needed to prosper in the southwest.
If you would like to help support this initiative, or other aspects of rural life, the foundation is available to develop a plan.
Youth In Action: Encouraging community engagement in youth
Your community foundation is establishing a new Field of Interest Fund called Youth in Action, intended to support young people who create their own projects and initiatives.
The foundation will accept applications from youth (generally those 13 to 18) who have partnered with a registered Canada Revenue Agency charity. The charity must be willing to accept the grant on behalf of the youth group.
This program aims to encourage youth to take an active interest in supporting their community. Projects can range from a literacy program in a local school, to a cross-cultural performing arts event, to providing the local food bank with much needed items. Grants of any amount, up to $1000, will be awarded.
To assist the community foundation with the granting decisions, a youth advisory committee will be established. This committee will review the applications and provide feedback and suggestions to our board of directors.
Our next application deadline will take place in 2013. Download application here.
Giving Circles: Giving together to increase your impact
A Giving Circle is a form of philanthropy where groups of individuals direct their money into a community foundation fund and decide together where the resulting income should be donated. The Giving Circle program is an opportunity for a group of people to combine their charitable dollars to make a larger impact in their community.
If you know a group of like-minded people seeking ways to make a difference, this option could be for you. Giving Circles work for close groups of friends, service clubs, families: the possibilities are endless.
To create a Giving Circle, your group donates a minimum of $1,000 per year to the community foundation. The foundation will invest this money into a permanent fund and allow you to grant out that amount to the charitable organization of your choice. Once the Giving Circle fund reaches $10,000 the group will use the annual income to create grants.
As a Giving Circle group, you will decide how you will make your granting decisions, whether by popular vote or another method. If needed, the foundation can assist by presenting your group with grant applications it has received that match your interests.