The Columbia Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) has been working on the long-term betterment of the community since it was established in 2001 by founding members such as Tim Strand, Emile Morin, Roger Smith, Marlene and Bruce McLaughlin, and Marla Lucas.

Board members are from different backgrounds bringing a variety of perspectives to build a legacy for the well-being of the community from Spillimacheen to Canal Flats.

Currently the CVCF has over $800,000 in charitable gifts that have been pooled, conservatively invested and the interest is given back to the community in the form of biannual grants. Grants-to-date amount to over $260,000.

Major Grant recipients include: Literacy, Youth, Seniors, Arts, Safety, Sports and Environmental groups.

How granting works: Recipients must be charitable organizations or affiliates such as hospitals, libraries, social service groups. (Grants cannot be made to individuals or businesses).

Partnerships among charitable organizations, community groups, service clubs, other foundations and local governments allow funding to effect local challenges and opportunities.

The Community Foundation’s principles:

To cultivate and grow permanently endowed legacy funds which are invested wisely for the long term benefit of the community;

To share the legacies by making effective grants from the investment earning to seed, nurture and support a broad range of community initiatives;

To provide leadership in the community by encouraging collaboration among charitable agencies, facilitating learning and convening opportunities for all.

Past presidents: Bruce McLaughlin, John Allen, Seona Helmer.

Current shared chair: Roberta Hall, Janice MacGregor.

First Donor: Bill Hay, long time valley supporter/homeowner.

Committees include Fund & Donor Development, Finance & Investment, Public Relations and Granting.

Donor contribution options

Cash or equivalents (GICs, RRSPs, T-Bills) A gift of $5,000 or more may be used to start a new fund in your name;

Publicly traded stocks and bonds;

Real Estate resulting in a donation receipt for the fair market value of the property;

Life insurance. The foundation can be named the owner and/or beneficiary of your policy to receive a donation receipt for the policy’s cash value;

Wills and charitable bequests may establish a new fund for you or your family;

Gifts of residual interest You can gift real estate, get a donation receipt for the net present value and retain the use of property during your lifetime.

The current Endowment Funds

Community Fund – an open non-designated fund used to support projects throughout the Columbia Valley

Kootenay Savings Community Fund

Opportunities for Youth Fund

Our Children’s Legacy Fund – an open, Donor Advised fund

Tom Sanders Memorial Fund

Gordon Wilder Memorial Fund

Fairmont Family Fund – is an open, field of interest fun

Bidder Bursary Fund

Ann Tilley Memorial Fund

Arnold Ellis Scholarship Fund – for secondary education in trades and technology

Advantages to potential donors

The foundation is able to manage funds in ways that are not practical for the average donor. i.e. the creation of a named scholarship fund to honour an individual in perpetuity;

Directed gift management;

Unique tax advantages;

Accumulated gifts can be professionally managed in funds;

Careful screening of potential grant recipients with accounting and reporting of dispositions.

Community benefits

Grant disbursements to a wide range of worthwhile projects;

Assessing community needs;

Finding people with innovative ideas;

Assisting in grant applications;

Identifying potential donors;

Collaborating with other charitable organizations to build on skills and strengths already in place.

For more: www.valleyfoundation.ca

Columbia Valley Community Foundation

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