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New funding open to community service groups

The Guelph Community Foundation and United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin are both working to distribute funds locally
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Source: United Way website

NEW RELEASE
GUELPH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION/UNITED WAY
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New funding now available to Guelph Wellington community service organizations through the Community Services Recovery Fund

In November 2022, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould, announced that Community Foundations of Canada, alongside the Canadian Red Cross, and United Way Centraide Canada, had been selected to distribute funding through the Community Services Recovery Fund (CSRF). This fund is a one-time investment of $400 million to help a broad and diverse range of charities, non-profits, and Indigenous Governing Bodies adapt and modernize, so that they can support pandemic recovery in communities across Canada.

CSRF will help charities, non-profits and Indigenous Governing Bodies to acquire the tools they need so they can better support pandemic recovery in communities across Canada. Since the early phases of the pandemic, charities, non-profits and Indigenous Governing Bodies have struggled nationally 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.

The Guelph Community Foundation and United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin are both working to distribute funds locally. Applications are being accepted now until Feb. 21. Each organization is working to distribute funds through different streams, with the Guelph Community Foundation looking at Investing in Systems & Processes and United Way looking at Investing in Program & Service Innovation and Redesign. In addition, there will be funding available through the Canadian Red Cross to assist with Investing in People.

Some examples of the ways applicants can use the funding to invest in their organizational capacity include:

  • adapting the way they deliver services and programming to support the needs of their staff and volunteers
  • purchasing required equipment such as computers and software 
  • creating new ways of working, such as developing new fundraising approaches 
  • providing support for staff and volunteers, such as staff and volunteer training or support mechanisms for mental health and wellbeing
  • developing plans to receive new funding from diverse sources.

As a result of the investments provided by the Community Services Recovery Fund, charities, non-profits and Indigenous Governing Bodies will be better equipped to improve the efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability of the community services they provide for years to come. The process for organizations to apply opened on Jan. 6.

Applications must be submitted by Feb. 21, (8 pm EST). For information about the fund and a link to the application form, visit www.communityservicesrecoveryfund.ca.

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