GIVE 5

Annual fundraiser prompts businesses to give 5% of gross sales to Whistler's Community Fund

Shop Local Give Local is hosted on the first Saturday of December annually. It seeks to bring community together to support local businesses while raising funds for Whistler’s Community Fund.

In early 2021, WCF’s CEO Claire Mozes was looking for ways to connect community with local businesses while increasing the granting opportunities for charity. A direct ask during COVID seemed unrealistic. On the other hand, a fundraiser that encouraged folks to shop local during a month where people often buy gifts for loved ones made sense on many levels.

Asking organizations to give 5% of gross sales to Whistler’s Community Fund in exchange for a day reserved for local shopping was low risk for everyone. If businesses had a busy day, that business would be invited to donate more.

Why grow the Community Fund?

Every year, Whistler Community Foundation receives more grants requests than it can fill. Fundraising for Whistler’s Community Fund makes good sense, because the fund was set up in a way that provides flexibility in granting – and often supports community wellbeing programs that don’t necessarily fit into other granting streams.

Together, shoppers, businesses and our team, grew the Community Fund by more than $17,000 over the last three Shop Local Give Local days. This investment was endowed (secured indefinitely), and therefore will benefit the community in perpetuity. Plus, that investment has grown since and in 2025, it will grant 5% of the donation’s current value back to the community. After 20 years, the money will have granted back at least $17,000 of that investment — and the remaining principle will continue to grow and produce grants aimed at future generations.

With the addition of the Shop Local Give Local funds Whistler’s Community Fund today stands at more than $360,000 and will grant out at least $18,000 per year going forward.

This event has not only raised funds by way of a shop local marketing collaboration; everyone involved has brought greater awareness to the value of donating to a low-barrier endowment fund like the Community Fund.

Will your business Give 5 on December 7, 2024?

Reach out to Natalie at ndoiron@whistlerfoundation.com as soon as possible to take advantage of early marketing efforts.

Businesses Committed in 2024

Who benefits from the Community Fund?

Since 2021, the year we started Shop Local Give Local, the fund has grown by over $150,000 and granted out $45,000 to 9 charities serving Whistler through impressive programming and services. We thought we’d give you a little rundown of some of the the programming and services this fund has supported in recent years.

Mama Baby Connection by Pearl Space – Mama Baby Connection offers a safe, inclusive and nurturing space to share joys, successes, challenges and fears throughout the experience. Participants gain breathing techniques, grounding and mindfulness skills, which they can utilize through prenatal, birth and postnatal experiences.

Discover Nature by Whistler Museum & Archives – a pop-up museum based at Lost Lake featuring interactive displays, video guided nature walk, an activity booklet, and nature interpreters. Visitors to the Discover Nature museum have provided essential feedback to the program, including but not limited to: “Wow, I didn’t know that!”; “We’d stay at your table all day, if we could.”; “Without different animals, humans would be lonely souls.”

Art on the Lake by Arts Whistler – Art on the Lake is a free family-friendly multi-faceted arts festival in August that takes place on Whistler’s most popular lake, Alta Lake. It’s an experience that is immersed in nature and surrounded by local artists and musicians. Event goers are prompted to get out on the lake to tour floating art works and artists. While land lovers can keep their feet on firm ground with plenty of interesting activities.