CommunityAnnounces recipients of Reconciliation Grants program, celebrates community at Annual Celebration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. The Winnipeg Foundation’s 2018 results show that by Working together for a Cause, we can create a stronger and more equitable community. At its Annual Highlights Celebration, held today at Neeginan Centre, The Foundation released its 2018 results, announced recipients of its $1 million Reconciliation Grants program, and celebrated the incredible people who make its work possible, including donors and grantees.
In 2018, The Winnipeg Foundation issued more than 5,000 grants totaling more than $41.1 million – the most in its 97-year history! See attached backgrounder for a breakdown of these distributions, or view the complete Annual Highlights document at wpgfdn.org. It also received more than 7,700 gifts totaling $108.2 million.
“We are honoured when each donor chooses to support our community through The Foundation; every donor’s intention supports the place we all love,” says Justice Deborah McCawley, 2018 Foundation Board Chair. “We learned this year through our Stressed, Stretched and Still Standing report that many charities in our community are struggling. Our charities deliver vital services and make our community what it is; every gift is important.”
“Our 2017 Vital Signs report told us reconciliation is one of the most pressing issues facing our community. We launched our Reconciliation Grants program at last year’s Annual Celebration, and we’re happy today to announce the 20 recipients of this granting stream,” says Rick Frost, CEO of The Winnipeg Foundation. “The Foundation made a $1 million commitment for Reconciliation Grants. This was further supported by our generous community which stepped up to contribute an additional $323,000.” Please see attached backgrounder for a list of grant recipients.
To develop the Reconciliation Grants program, The Foundation convened an Advisory Committee, which identified both the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action as key documents for organizations to understand when applying for a Reconciliation Grant. See list of Advisory Committee members in attached Backgrounder. Groups could apply for up to $100,000, for projects, of up to three years.
“Three key priorities helped identify the most successful applications: a commitment to reconciliation and how applicants interpreted the Calls to Action and UNDRIP; the breadth of the project, including how many people will be impacted, as well as the diversity of those impacted; and longevity, which refers to the long-term impact of a proposed project,” says Patricia Mainville, Winnipeg Foundation Board member and Reconciliation Grants Advisory Committee Chair.
The Foundation also celebrated the incredible people who make its work possible. In 2018, The Foundation introduced its new Causes initiative, so people can clearly see how they can support their favourite Cause – and their community – through The Foundation. The Ross family supports their chosen Cause – Children, Youth and Families – in part by making and selling handmade bags. The Foundation debuted a new video telling the Ross’ story at the event, and the family spoke about the importance of making philanthropy a family activity.
“It’s important for us to teach our boys to give back to our community,” say Julie and Andrew Ross, Winnipeg Foundation donors. “We’re happy to support the community through The Winnipeg Foundation. Knowing we’re building a family legacy that will support the community feels good.”
The Winnipeg Foundation is For Good. Forever. We help people give back to our shared community by connecting generous donors with causes they care about For Good. We’re are an endowment-based public foundation, so gifts are pooled and invested, and the annual earnings are distributed back to the community Forever. Formed in 1921, we are proud to be the first community foundation in Canada.
Download a copy of this Media release and the backgrounder – Winnipeg Foundation distributes more than $41.1 million in 2018 [PDF].
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Media inquiries/questions:
LuAnn Lovlin, CFRE
Director of Communications & Marketing, The Winnipeg Foundation
T: 204.944.9474 ext. 232
C: 204.781.9336
Email LuAnn