Thanks to the collective support of donors, partnerships, and programs the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan has been able to support hundreds of local charitable organizations in our collective mission to build stronger and more resilient communities.
Many of the grants made by the Community Foundation are distributed from funds established by individuals, families, businesses, and charitable organizations. We also facilitate granting programs and partnerships that can be in part funded through the government and other organizations.
Over $2 million was deployed to support 114 local charities and nonprofits in 2022!
Here is a description of the fund types and granting programs that contributed to that support:
Smart & Caring Community Fund – is a responsive grantmaking program that addresses a wide variety of ever changing social, cultural, educational, and environmental needs. Our granting committee thoroughly assesses applications based on emerging community priorities.
Designated Funds – grants are made to a selected charity or charities not just once, but every year in perpetuity.
Donor Advised Funds – offers donors the flexibility to support the charities and causes they care about most. Many donors select a portion of their granting dollars to go towards the Smart & Caring Community Fund to support ever changing community needs.
Better Together Community Response Fund – this is a non-endowed rapid response funding option to provide immediate support to the community. This fund was initiated by a group of thoughtful donors and partners as a way to flow support directly to organizations responding to an emergent need.
2022 Smart & Caring Community Fund – Granting Program
The following groups received support from the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan in 2022:
Abbeyfield Houses of Vernon Society
Archway Society for Domestic Peace
Athletics For Kids Financial Assistance (BC) Society
BC Small Wetlands Association
Brain Trust Canada Association
Caetani Cultural Centre Society
Camp Tillicum Grant, Girl Guides of Canada, BC Council
Canadian Mental Health Association Vernon and Dist.
Caravan Farm Theatre
Community Recreational Initiatives Society
Cycling Without Age via Schubert Centre Society
Enderby & District Community Resource Centre
Family Resource Centre Society of the North Okanagan
Fresh Outlook Foundation
Good Samaritan Society
Greater Vernon Museum & Archives Society
HOPE Outreach
Independent Living Vernon
John Rudy Health Resource Centre Association
Junior Achievement BC
Kindale Development Association
Knox Presbyterian Church
Mackie Lake House Foundation
North Okanagan Cycling Society via RDNO
North Valley Gymnastics Society via RDNO
O’Keefe Ranch & Interior Heritage Society
Powerhouse Theatrical Society
Runaway Moon Theatre Arts Society
Schubert Centre Society
TFL (Technology For Living)
Vernon & District Association for Community Living
Vernon Restholm Association
Vernon Upper Room Mission Society
Whitevalley Community Resource Centre
Zajac Ranch for Children
Designated & Donor Advised Funds
Abbeyfield House of Armstrong Spallumcheen Society
Allan Brooks Nature Centre Society*
Archway Society for Domestic Peace*
Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum & Arts Society
Baptist Missionary Society of Latin America
BC Lions Foundation for Children with Disabilities
BC SPCA Vernon & District Branch
BGC Okanagan*
Caetani Cultural Centre Society
Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Mental Health Association Vernon and Dist.
Caravan Farm Theatre
Community Dental Access Centre Society
Eagle Bay Camp Society
Greater Vernon Museum & Archives Society
Hope Renews Inc.
Kindale Development Association
Kingfisher Interpretive Centre Society
Learning Disabilities Association of BC
Literacy Society of the North Okanagan
Mackie Lake House Foundation
Medical Ministry International
North Okanagan Hospice Society
North Okanagan Therapeutic Riding Association
North Westside Road Firefighters Society
O’Keefe Ranch & Interior Heritage Society
Okanagan College Foundation*
Okanagan Regional Library
Okanagan Symphony Society
People Place
Potters Without Borders Association
Salvation Army Vernon Community Church*
School District #22*
School District #58
School District #83
Simon Fraser University
St. John Ambulance Society (BC & Yukon)
Sustainable Environment Network Society*
Teens Count Too Society
The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC BC)
Trinity United Church – Special Gifts Committee*
Turning Points Collaborative Society
United Way BC
University of Alberta
University of British Columbia
University of Victoria
Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre Society*
Vernon Community Arts Centre
Vernon Community Music School
Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation
Vernon Pensioners Accommodation Society
Vernon Public Art Gallery Society
Vernon Restholm Association
Vernon Science & Discovery Society
Vernon Theatrical Arts Centre Society
Vernon Upper Room Mission Society
War Amps of Canada
Better Together Community Response Fund
Good Food Box Society
Upper Room Mission
Immediate Impact Grant Distributions
Air Rescue One Heli Winch Society
Allan Brooks Nature Centre Society
Alzheimer Society of BC
Archway Society for Domestic Peace
Arthritis Society
Arts Council of the North Okanagan
BC Cancer Foundation
BC Guide Dog Services
BGC Okanagan
Caetani Cultural Centre Society
Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Mental Health Association Vernon and Dist.
Canadian Red Cross BC & Yukon
Caravan Farm Theatre
Community Dental Access Centre Society
Cowichan Valley Hospice Society
Fresh Outlook Foundation
Interior Health Authority
Kalamalka Starfish Society
Kidsport BC
Kingfisher Interpretive Centre Society
Men’s Shed Vernon Society
North Okanagan Hospice Society
North Okanagan Naturalists’ Society
Okanagan College Foundation
Olive Branch for Children
Potters Without Borders Association
Regional District of North Okanagan
Salvation Army Vernon Community Church
School District #22
Shuswap Community Foundation
Silver Star Adaptive Snow Sports
Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Central Okanagan
Teens Count Too Society
United Way BC
University of Calgary
University of Toronto
Valhalla Wilderness Society
Vernon Christian School Society
Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation
Vernon Science & Discovery Society
Vernon Upper Room Mission Society
YMCA of the Okanagan
*received 2 grants for different programs