Our rainy-day fund needs donations, it’s pouring outside.
The Impact of the Better Together Fund
The Better Together Fund was started by the Community Foundation North Okanagan to offer support to charitable organizations outside of regular grant programs – to cut through bureaucracy to mobilize money when it’s needed most.
Each season brings unexpected weather and blows in new types of economic challenges. Many local charities continue to be asked to deliver their services with less money while still meeting the growing needs of our communities.
The Better Together Fund was started to offer support to charitable organizations outside of regular grant programs. Throughout the year many charities will need to alter their programs or start a new project to meet an unexpected community challenge. Needs and opportunities don’t appear conveniently ‘on schedule’ for structured granting cycles.
“None of us know what the next big crisis will be, or what opportunities are just around the corner. Being responsive means having the ability to take quick and thoughtful action to overcome obstacles and tackle that next challenge. We need to grow donations to the Better Together Fund and get prepared to step up,” explains Leanne Hammond, executive director of the Community Foundation North Okanagan (CFNO). “The Better Together Fund was created to cut through bureaucracy; to mobilize money when it is needed most.”
Last year through this fund, we were able to provide the money needed to bus school kids to a National Truth and Reconciliation Day event. After the initial event plan, more schools wanted to attend. Rather than limit the event to schools within walking distance, CFNO was able to step up and cover transportation costs to ensure kids throughout the district had equal opportunity to participate.
“So much in life is unpredictable.” Leanne explains, “For charities, access to funding takes time. They write grant applications, obtain letters of reference, secure board approvals, and prepare project budgets. They submit their applications during a short window of time and then wait several months for an answer. This process doesn’t make sense when you would like to respond to a time-sensitive opportunity.”
The Better Together Fund offers donors a way to support important projects that arise, right when that help is most needed. When you donate to the Better Together Fund, you are helping our community plan for the unpredictable; by pooling your resources with others you are helping us make an impact – at the right time.
After 47 years of being in relationship with our charitable partners, the Community Foundation North Okanagan understands how critical it is to have a rainy-day fund, especially when it starts pouring outside.
To make a donation and find out more about the Better Together Fund, visit www.cfno.org/bettertogetherfund or contact us at 250-542-8655 or email leanne@cfno.org.
This story was also featured here:
