Whistler Community Foundation Spring Granting Fulfills $180k in Non-Profit Funding Requests
Under the three pillars of Caring Community, Learning and Environment, Whistler Community Foundation (WCF) is proud to partner with local non-profits to deliver exceptional programming in Whistler, Pemberton and area.
For Immediate Release – Whistler, British Columbia, April 13, 2021
Whistler Community Foundation is back from pandemic related granting to its annual spring call. And yet, it doesn’t mean everything is back to normal. In fact, Claire Mozes, WCF’s Executive Director is not really sure what normal is anymore.
In 2020, spring granting was flipped on its head. Grants were approved based on common criteria—and then the pandemic hit. Most non-profits who had received approvals were forced to pivot on short order, even making some programs—if not obsolete—temporarily out of commission. WCF worked with each grant recipient to offer flexibility within the parameters of each fund.
While Community Foundations across the country have been moving toward a more progressive granting model over the years, the growing gaps brought on by COVID-19 pushed the revision of granting models further ahead.
New application streams target Sustainable Development Goals
Application streams were divided into three pillars (Caring Community, Learning and Environment) and applicants were invited to submit grant ideas that aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an initiative of the United Nations. When working with non-profits, WCF encourages meeting the targets of Goal 16:
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. (United Nations, 2021)
WCF recognizes the system is complex and revision takes time, but the trend toward change is bolstered by applications like Zero Ceiling’s Organizational Decolonization.
One of the goals for Zero Ceiling is that our organization reflects the voices of the youth we serve. Our work with vulnerable youth and position in our community's non-profit sector requires Zero Ceiling and its staff to embody anti-racism and decolonization principles, and to instill these values in our community. It is our hope that creating a decolonized community creates an environment where youth can continue to succeed beyond our programs.
WCF’s grant committee also approved Point Artist-Run Centre’s Sunday Artists Sessions, which is known to be a significant contributor to the health and wellbeing (SDG #3) of the community. And this year, the committee is keen to see what comes of the plan to: reduce barriers through user affordability; increase social connections; and enrich the lives of any community members wishing to express themselves through art.
With this change in granting, the flexibility of the growing Community Fund and a motivated team of non-profits, WCF sees enormous potential for the post-COVID rebuilding of our programs—and the communities WCF supports.
Nearly $40,000 in unmet requests prompts additional granting from Emergency Fund
WCF’s call for applications drew $199,741 in requests and the proceeds from multiple Endowment Funds fulfilled 32 grants for total of $160,150. With nearly $40,000 in unmet requests, and non-profits in need WCF sought alternative means to supply applicants with funding. An additional $20,000 from the Emergency Fund was granted for a total of $180,150 at the time of writing.
Caring Community Grants 2021
Whistler
Pathways Serious Mental Illness Society, Family 2 Family Education Workshops, $1,550
The Point Artist-Run Centre, Sunday Artist Sessions, $3000
Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia, Whistler Suicide Prevention Training Project, $3000
Social Care
Zero Ceiling Society of Canada, Work 2 Live Food Security, $3000
Zero Ceiling Society of Canada, Zero Ceiling Decolonization $3000
Whistler Community Services Society, WCSS Outreach Services, $2,000
The Whistler Writing Society, Scholarship for Emerging Writer who is Black, Indigenous or person of colour, $350
Pemberton
Village of Pemberton, Pemberton Cemetery Capital Project, $3,700
Youth
Whistler 2010 Sport Legacies Society, ReBOOT Physical Education & Health Program for Youth, $3,000Whistler Arts Council, Whistler Children’s Festival: Self-Guided Cultural Scavenger Hunt, $2,000
The Whistler Writing Society, Authors in Schools Program, $1,000
Emergency Fund – Crisis Intervention Award
Howe Sound Women’s Centre, Whistler Women’s Drop in and Outreach Services, $10,000
Whistler Community Services Society, WCSS Outreach Services, $10,000 (in addition to $2,000 Social Care Grant)
Learning Grants 2021
Howe Sound Women Centre Society, Human Resources Management Certificate Program, $4,770
Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council, Leadership Development Program, $2,780
Environmental Grants 2021
Whistler Naturalists, Bird Studies, $1,700
Whistler Naturalists, Fungus Among Us, $5,000
Whistler Naturalists, Whistler Bio Blitz, $15,000
AWARE, Whistler Climate Action and Awareness Project, $15,000
AWARE, Value of Old Forest – Education Project, $4,000
AWARE, 2021 Capacity Support (including Advocacy), $25,500
AWARE, Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments, $8,500
Stewardship Pemberton Society, Feasting for Change, $8,500
Whistler Museum, Discover Nature Station, $6,800
Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council, Invasive Species – Education Outreach & Training Programs, $18,000
Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council, Invasive Species Inventory, Control & Monitoring, $19,000
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For more information, please contact:
Claire Mozes
Executive Director
Whistler Community Foundation
cmozes@whistlerfoundation.com
604-935-8080 (voicemail)
About Whistler Community Foundation
The Whistler Community Foundation is the steward of money gifted to the community and provides grants in the areas of environment, arts & culture, social service and education.
Our vision is to be impactful in supporting the charities and organizations that address evolving community needs.
Funds that Support Caring Community Grants
- American Friends of Whistler Fund
- Community Fund
- Deborah Smythe & Family Fund
- Emergency Fund
- Jill Ackhurst Social Action Fund
- Pemberton Community Endowment Fund
- Whistler Blackcomb Foundation Fund
- Whistler Employee Fund
- Whistler Youth Fund
Funds that Support Learning Grants
- Bob & Sue Adams Leadership Fund
- Kathy Barnett Memorial Fund
Funds that Support Environmental Grants
- Environmental Legacy Fund
Whistler Community Fund Feature Grant
The Point Artist-Run Centre received $3,000 for its Sunday Artists Sessions in 2021 which looks to proactively address the health and wellbeing (#3 SDGs) of the community during COVID-19.
As one of the community members who has been cut-off from collaborative arts, I know this will be an important and well attended program. The Whistler Community Foundation support for this program has been critical, given the pandemic challenges, to launching a much-needed community artist collaborative space.
The Point as painted by Christina Nick.
“The Point is dedicated to incubating artistic excellence in Whistler through arts education, affordable live/work space, and collaborative projects that engage the broad community.”
Cat Madden Trio at the 2020 9th Annual Flag Stop Theater & Arts Festival.
In 2021, The Point Artist-Run Centre plans to: reduce barriers through user affordability; increase social connections; and enrich the lives of any community members wishing to express themselves through art
Treeline Aerial performance at The Point Artist-Run Centre.
To ensure vital work in the community can continue, please consider making a monthly donation to the Community Fund.
The Community Fund supports emerging community needs in Whistler and Pemberton areas through granting to charities that serve to support the health and safety of community members.