Project grants available for registered charities in the Central Okanagan

Twice a year, the Central Okanagan Foundation offers grants to charities in the Central Okanagan to help them implement meaningful initiatives in our community.

Applications are currently being accepted for the current round of project grants, with a deadline of October 1st.

The process is quite simple! Charities can easily apply for either a project grant in the fall and spring, or a multi-year grant in the spring. A volunteer committee then reviews the applications and determines who will receive the discretionary funding.

Grants are distributed to charities that benefit eight key areas:

• Arts and Culture

• Heritage and Historical

• Environmental

• Animal Welfare

• Health and Community Services

• Children, Youth and Families

• Education

• Global Initiatives with Local Benefits

The Central Okanagan Foundation’s grants have already assisted an appreciable number of charities in the area. Just this spring, $92,578 in project grants was awarded to nine different charities, and $435,000 in multi-year grants was awarded to 12 different charities.

Among the recipients of the spring grants were the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition Community Action Network, Kelowna Community Resources, Okanagan Regional Library, Theatre Kelowna Society, Okanagan Humane Society, Okanagan Immigrant Collective Society, BC Schizophrenia Society, Elevation Outdoors and many more. You can view the full list of recipients and how the grants will be spent here.

That’s a lot of cash — but where does it all come from? The funds for the grants are the result of the investment income from Central Okanagan Foundation’s Community Endowment Fund, to which anyone can donate. No contribution is too small!

Contributing to the Community Endowment Fund is a great way to make a difference in the community, no matter how much or little you have to give. The best part is that because it is an endowment fund rather than a simple donation, your contribution will continue grow and help others for generations to come.

Hard-working charities and supportive organizations like the Central Okanagan Foundation truly make a positive difference in our communities. If you would like to learn more about COF’s grants and how to apply, click here (and remember to act fast, as the fall deadline is October 1st!). If you would like to learn more about how to donate, click here.

Community Foundations are charitable organizations dedicated to improving communities in specific geographical areas. Central Okanagan Foundation does this by pooling the charitable gifts of donors to create endowment funds and using the investment income to make grants.

The Central Okanagan Foundation supports registered charities within the Central Okanagan Region. This encompasses the District of Lake Country, City of Kelowna, City of West Kelowna, and District of Peachland.

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