Winnipeg Foundation distributes more than $38 million to community in 2017

Also announces new $1 million grants program supporting reconciliation at Annual Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The Winnipeg Foundation released its unprecedented 2017 results, celebrated the generous donors that make its work possible, and announced a new reconciliation granting stream at today’s Annual Celebration. The sold-out event was held at Neeginan Centre and brought together more than 300 people.

In 2017, The Foundation distributed $38.1 million to the community, an increase of more than $6 million from 2016. The days when The Foundation’s work solely focused on making grants are long past. It is involved in many activities that strengthen our community. To help people understand the scope of its work, The Foundation unveiled a more detailed reporting of distributions, broken into seven categories. See backgrounder for details, or view the complete Annual Highlights document.

Strength in Numbers sums up our 2017 year,” says Rick Frost, CEO of The Winnipeg Foundation. “The more ways we can support our community, the stronger our community can become. Our 2017 distributions demonstrate this, and are only possible thanks to our generous donors.”

“We are involved in many activities,” says Foundation Board Chair Justice Deborah McCawley. “We work with generous donors to support charitable causes they care about. We help ensure charitable organizations have a stable source of income year after year. We support communities throughout our province to have thriving community foundations. And much more.”

The Foundation also announced a brand-new granting stream focused on supporting reconciliation. It commits $1 million in 2018 in support of programs and projects that respond to one or more of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action. The reconciliation granting stream has been developed in response to findings in Winnipeg’s Vital Signs® 2017, which was released last October and found reconciliation is one of Winnipeg’s most pressing needs. See more at winnipegvitalsigns.org. An advisory committee and the program framework are currently being developed, with further details including how to apply for grants being released in the spring. Grants will be awarded in the fall.

“We recognize that each organization will be in a different place in their reconciliation journey, with some just beginning and others further down the path,” says Patricia Mainville, Winnipeg Foundation Board member and Chair of the reconciliation granting stream advisory committee. “However, each will demonstrate their commitment to reconciliation. We anticipate projects will address the full spectrum of Calls to Action, including the areas of education, health, justice, and child welfare.”

The Foundation also celebrated recipients of our new Multi-Year Community Grants program, and recognized the generous donors that helped make them possible. This granting stream, which was announced at last year’s Annual Celebration, provides charitable organizations with three years of programming or capacity-building support. In the 2017 pilot year, 35 organizations received Multi-Year Community Grants. See backgrounder for details.

Foundation donors Barry Garbutt and Eleanor Suderman supported one of the Multi-Year Community Grant recipients through their Circle of Life Endowment Fund. Their grant supports North Centennial Seniors Association’s Grandma and Grandpa Swim Program, which pairs seniors with preschool-aged children from five daycares in Winnipeg for weekly swimming excursions.

“Strong relationships are built between the preschoolers and their Grandmas and Grandpas,” say Foundation fund holders Barry Garbutt and Eleanor Suderman. “This is a long-standing award-winning program and we are thrilled to help it out over the next years.”

The Winnipeg Foundation, Canada’s first community foundation, was established in 1921. Built by people from all walks of life, The Foundation pools and invests gifts entrusted to it to generate grants that benefit a variety of local charitable needs For Good. Forever.

– 30 –

Media inquiries/questions, or to request a copy of the 2017 Annual Highlights document:

Richard Frost
CEO, The Winnipeg Foundation
Email Richard Frost
T: 204.944.9474 ext. 223

LuAnn Lovlin, CFRE
Director of Communications, The Winnipeg Foundation
Email LuAnn Lovlin
T: 204.944.9474 ext. 232
C: 204.781.9336


BACKGROUNDER

List of Multi-Year Community Grants Recipients

1. Agassiz Music 2018, 2019 and 2020 Chamber Music Festivals $15,000
2. Art City What the World Needs Now arts programming and healthy food $75,000
3. ArtsJunktion MB Executive Director and Community Outreach Coordinator $150,000
4. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg Big Buddy program and healthy food $90,000
5. Candace House Full-time Executive Director $105,000
6. Career Trek Career Trek Education Savings Program $60,000
7. Centre Flavie Laurent Assistant Executive Director $150,000
8. Dry Cold Production 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons $15,000
9. Elmwood Community Resource Centre and Area Association Youth in Elmwood Arts and Recreation (YEAR) after school drop-in program and healthy food $75,000
10. Green Action Centre Office Coordinator position $118,500
11. Holy Names House of Peace Administrative Coordinator $116,400
12. Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba Director of Finance position $150,000
13. Islamic Social Services Association Chief Operating Officer $150,000
14. Lake Winnipeg Foundation Finance and Administration Manager $150,000
15. Literacyworks Academic staff support $55,500
16. Manitoba Families for Effective Autism Treatment Autism early screening tool and parent intervention training $40,000
17. North Centennial Seniors Association of Winnipeg Transportation component of Grandma and Grandpa Swim Program $15,000
18. Oak Table Community Ministry Administrative Coordinator $150,000
19. Pathways to Education Canada Pathways’ Peer Helper Program, Nutrition Initiative, Summer School programs and healthy food $150,000
20. Resource Assistance for Youth Youth Street Outreach Program and healthy food $205,500
21. Sarasvàti Dramatic Theatre Productions and Repertory Office Administrator $90,000
22. Shakespeare in the Ruins Assistant to the General Manager $75,000
23. Sierra Leone Refugee Resettlement NEYSS Coalition’s Summer Learning Program, after school tutoring and healthy food $135,000
24. Sunshine House Executive Director position $150,000
25. The Canadian Community Economic Development Network Spark Manitoba programming $195,000
26. The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Winnipeg 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons $15,000
27. The Horse Connection/Urban Stable (The Horse Connection) Increasing hours for Program Director and Executive Director $75,000
28. The University of Winnipeg Foundation Bright Stars Program and healthy food at Wii Chiiwaakanak $90,000
29. The University of Winnipeg Foundation Canada Project concerts and related activities $15,000
30. The Winnipeg Rotary Club Community Service Fund Peace Days $45,000
31. The Winnipeg Singers 2017, 2018 and 2019 concert series $15,000
32. Vision Quest Conferences Youth participation at the Conference $22,500
33. Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Association Youth leadership development program and healthy food $75,000
34. Winnipeg Architecture Foundation Architecture+Design Film Festival, presented in collaboration with Winnipeg Film Group $15,000
35. Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra High school education workshops $21,000

How would you like to start?

Give Now Start Your Own Fund Contact Us