Community Foundation Granting Reaches $206,300.63!
News Release February 14, 2012
Community Foundation Granting Reaches $206,300.63!
Elgin County residents are most certainly generous! The many generous hearts and donors who work with the Elgin St. Thomas Community Foundation have granted $79,038.23 in 52 separate grants to Elgin County charities and scholarships to local students in 2011. This brings our total granted to date to $206,300.63 while holding our community capital intact!
“This is an incredible milestone” says Board Chair Junee Monteith. “It is a real honour to be working with such community minded people and building such wonderful legacies in Elgin County”.
The 52 Grants in 2011 covered a wide range of charities including the Caring Cupboard, Inn out of the Cold, Talbot Teen Centre, Elgin Theatre Guild, YMCA, Community Living Elgin, United Way, STEGH, and included many post-secondary educational scholarships to Elgin County students.
“Some of these grants are from unrestricted funds like our Community Fund” says Executive Director Karen Laine, “However the lion’s share of granting is from individuals or families through their Donor Advised Funds. Family philanthropy is so inspiring to me,…..a great model to teach younger generations about community,…when all the generations discuss and decide together who they will grant to this year. Very exciting.”
“The grants from the Elgin St. Thomas Community Foundation are so important to us here at the Talbot Teen Centre” says Coordinator Sherry Ball. “They are one of the few granters that provide support to fill the gaps or do innovative new programming that does not always fit in standard grant relationships.”
Any charity in Elgin County is eligible to apply for grants. The deadline for student scholarships is June 01st, and for Community Fund applications is Sept 30th each year. “We try our best to match need with donors” says ED Karen Laine. “It is always worth submitting an application, and keeping us aware of your organization’s funding needs.”
The Elgin St. Thomas Community Foundation started building endowment funds in 2005, and now holds over $789,579 in community assets.
Visit our website at www.escf.ca to see a full list of 2011 grant recipients, donors and families who’s BIG HEARTS and generosity we celebrate this Valentine’s Day!
Elgin-St. Thomas Community Foundation’s Mission is “To strengthen the community for the benefit of all by fostering the growth of community philanthropy; giving opportunities to benefactors to leave a lasting legacy for future generations; building and prudently managing community endowments; and addressing the needs of the community through strategic grant making and organizational support”.
Endowed Funds are held into perpetuity, and a portion of the interest earned each year is granted to address emerging need and support charitable activities in our community. Quickly becoming one of Canada’s largest grant-makers, collectively the 177 Community Foundations across Canada now hold over 3 billion in assets and distribute over 140 million annually.
