Annual general meeting will be held March 28

Yorkton and District Community Foundation (YDCF) is working with community foundations across Canada to provide funding to local charities and non-profit organizations through the Community Services Recovery Fund, a collaboration between Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada, and United Way Centraide Canada.

The fund is a $400 million investment from the government of Canada to support charities and non-profits as they focus on how to adapt their organizations for pandemic recovery. Eligible organizations include non-profit organizations, Indigenous governing bodies and registered charities in Canada.

Applications are now open. The deadline for applications is February 21. 

Since the early phases of the pandemic, charities, non-profits and Indigenous governing bodies have struggled with increased demand for their 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 their operations. 

Funding from the Community Services Recovery Fund will enable these organizations to invest in their own organizational capacity to: 

• Adapt the way they deliver services to support the needs of their staff and volunteers;
• Buy equipment such as computers and software;
• Create new ways of working, such as developing new fundraising approaches;
• Provide support for staff and volunteers, such as staff training, supports for mental health and wellbeing; and
• Develop plans to receive funding from diverse sources.

As a result, these organizations will be better equipped to improve the efficacy, accessibility, and sustainability of the community services they provide.

The fund is being administered through three national funders: Community Foundations of Canada including YDCF; the Canadian Red Cross, and United Way Centraide Canada, who are working together with their combined national reach and local expertise to deliver the fund from coast to coast to coast.

Those applying may apply only once for funding which will fall into three categories: investing in people, systems and processes and program and service innovation and redesign. The online application process includes the ability for applicants to determine which category applies to their project.

Local applicants may apply for projects that fall in any of the three categories, but only those in the systems and processes categories will be adjudicated by the YDCF. Applications for local projects must be for a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $100,000. YDCF has been allocated $210,000 for projects it will adjudicate. 

“Yorkton & District Community Foundation makes it easy for local people to support the charities, communities, and causes important to the donor, and to do so in meaningful and lasting ways. This is our day-to-day role.” says Sharon Tropin, YDCF founding board member.

“By participating in the Community Services Recovery Fund we extend that role to bring this federal grants program to the grassroots of Canada to benefit local charities.”

Several years ago a group of caring people from the Yorkton area noted that there were many wonderful charities doing good work, but with no coordinated way to tell people of the needs in the community and how to direct donations to the charities that can address those needs. 

Yorkton and area was missing a community foundation. 

On March 21, 2019, Yorkton & District Community Foundation, Inc. (YDCF) became a registered charitable public foundation operating under the laws and regulations governing charities in Canada, and recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency.

YDCF is not meant to replace any existing fundraising bodies in the district, but seeks to augment the resources available to local charities and secure funds for the current and future needs of the community.

We are part of a worldwide movement of community foundations whose objective is to help build stronger and more vibrant communities. In Canada we are a part of Community Foundations of Canada, a network of almost 200 community foundations from coast to coast to coast who work with donors to identify the causes and community they wish to support.