Ava Shabestari of the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) says a community grant from the Victoria Foundation will help the organization pioneer a transformative initiative that combats challenges in the local community. These include food insecurity, culturally sensitive mental health for racialized women, and fostering youth leaders for immigrants and refugees.
“The effort enriches lives, highlights our community’s resilience and our shared commitment to equity and empowerment,” says Shabestari.
VIRCS is one of a record 252 organizations to be granted Vital Stream funding through the foundation’s annual flagship Community Grants Program, which supports local organizations across the philanthropic sector with flexible, general operating funds.
A record-breaking $6.194 million has been granted in Vital Stream funding this year, a 26 per cent increase in funding compared to last year. $1.3 million of this funding came from the Government of BC’s Community Prosperity Fund – a one-time investment totaling $25 million for the province’s non-profit sector.
Three quarters of grants support organizations or projects that significantly benefit equity-deserving populations, including Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, women, children and youth, persons with disabilities, and newcomers.
“This record-amount of funding will help to strengthen philanthropic organizations to achieve their missions,” says Victoria Foundation CEO Sandra Richardson.
“Generous funding from the Community Prosperity Fund will also help many organizations, who continue to work under significant pressures, to better meet the community’s needs around poverty reduction and social inclusion,” she says.
Funding will support organizations increasingly under pressure
This announcement comes on the heels of the latest State of the Sector report, titled ‘Under Pressure.’ The report found that many non-profits and charities today are grappling with high costs of inflation and skyrocketing demand for services, that they often experience burnout, and that they’ve seen a decline in revenues and volunteerism, among other findings.
This year's funding is helping meet the need for growing resources, as non-profits and charities continue to experience increasing demands from community members for their services.
Dr. Grace Wong Sneddon of the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society (VCMS) says their community grant will be used to preserve Victoria’s Chinese heritage for future generations.
The funding will help to create a strategic communication plan, which includes a brand-new website with a platform to house and share videos and stories of the community. It will also enable VCMS to hire a social media manager.
“The impact of this grant will be far reaching, creating more opportunities to share intergenerational lived experiences of Chinese Canadians along with information and resources for all communities to learn together,” says Dr. Wong Sneddon.
Collaboration Grant funding to take place this Fall
The 2024 Community Grants Program has two grant streams, including the Vital Stream and the Collaboration Stream. Starting this year, the grant streams will have separate intake timelines.
Applications for the Collaboration Grant Stream will now be accepted during the Fall of 2024, with more information to be shared later this summer.
Funding from the Government of BC’s Community Prosperity Fund will also be included in the grants from the Collaboration Stream.
Visit victoriafoundation.bc.ca/community-grants-program for more information, and to see a full list of organizations that received grants this year.
