The Victoria Foundation is distributing a record-setting amount of $4.899 million to 199 organizations.
The 2023 donations are up 13 per cent since 2022 and doubled since 2018. An estimated 75 per cent of these donations are going to equity-based organizations.
Victoria Foundation CEO Sandra Richardson said that this program, and these grants, are aimed to help businesses overcome a variety of obstacles that hinder success.
These issues are outlined in the 2023 State of the Sector report, titled Safety Net, and include doing more with less, staffing concerns, uncertainty with rising costs, and that there is a feeling of hope but the future is unclear.
“The 2023 Community Grants Program will support organizations to make a lasting contribution to our community,” said Richardson in a statement.
“There are significant pressures on our region, including the non-profit sector, and the funding will help many organizations better meet these challenges.”
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The Victoria Foundation was established in 1936 and manages charitable gifts from donors whose generosity allows them to create permanent, income-earning funds. The foundation has invested over $313 million in different projects, people, and non-profit organizations to help support communities in B.C.
An organization that will be benefiting from the grants program is the Island Metis Family and Community Services Society. Melanie Hudson is the executive director and said that they will use the grant money to build a community kitchen.
“The community kitchen program aims to empower Métis youth and their families by improving food security, teaching valuable culinary skills, fostering social connections, and encouraging healthier eating habits,” Hudson said in a statement.