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After two years of pandemic restrictions, organizations serving people in need have been struggling, and the federal government has responded. 

In the new year, $400 million dollars will be distributed to 106 charitable community foundations across the country. Those foundations will disperse money in their given regions to charities, non-profits and Indigenous governing bodies to help them recover after the COVID pandemic.

“The exciting part is this will be the largest grant we’ve given out for one project,” B.C. Interior Community Foundation executive director Wenda Noonan.

Since the early phases of the pandemic there has been an increase in demand for charitable services, reduced revenues, declines in charitable giving due to the rising cost of living and a greater need to make use of digital tools as part of adapting and modernizing charitable operations, according to a community foundation media release.

Almost $400,000 will be given to charities in ten communities in the Kamloops and surrounding area.

“Each year we give out money to disperse but that goes to everything,” Noonan said. “This one is specifically for non-profits, charities and Indigenous groups and it’s for them, for operations to help them recover from the last two years.”

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The Central Okanagan Community Foundation located in Kelowna will also be dispersing funds to charities in the Okanagan but can’t provide a dollar amount yet.

“This is a new funding stream and we only have an estimate, but we will be allocating funds and we are very excited about it,” director of grants and community initiatives Cheryl Miller said.

The $400 million national Community Services Recovery Fund is a one-time investment delivered by three National Funders, Community Foundations of Canada, Canadian Red Cross and United Way Centraide to “help a broad and diverse range of charities, non-profits and Indigenous Governing Bodies adapt and modernize” in their pandemic recovery.

“Charities and non-profits are at the forefront of addressing communities’ needs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” B.C. Interior Community Foundation president Kathy Humphries said in the release. “However, many of them are struggling to recover and adapt their services to the changing needs of the Thompson, Nicola and South Cariboo region.

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“Through the Community Services Recovery Fund, B.C. Interior Community Foundation will be able to give organizations the support they need to serve our community.”

The fund is designed to strengthen services and resources where they will have the most impact.

“Because of the National Funders’ strong connections with local organizations, they will ensure funding is distributed efficiently to organizations that provide services to communities in need across Canada,” said the minister of families, children and development Karina Gould in the release.

The process for charitable organizations to apply for funding launches on Jan. 6, 2023, and more information can be found here.

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