The Envision Financial Community Endowment will be funding the following two focus areas in 2012:

Projects supporting families, children and youth at risk

• Funding will be available for a wide range of programs supported through multiple charitable avenues to address "familes, children and youth at risk."
• Types of projects that will be considered for funding include:
  • Counseling
  • Education/ classes
  • Outreach services
  • Prevention programs

Projects supporting strengthening the social service sector

• Up to 30% of available grant funding will support this focus area
• This funding is intended to support internal learning needs that address the growth of a given organization in areas of leadership, planning, teamwork, or organizational development
• Types of projects that will be considered for funding include:
  • Leadership training
  • Volunteer drives and training
  • Governance training and consulting
  • Strategic and organizational planning support
  • Internal workshops and teamwork exercises
  • Infrastructure support (e.g., office equipment)  

Applications will be considered using the following criteria:

• Preference is given to projects benefiting the communities in which Envision Financial operates (Delta, Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Hope, Kitimat, Maple Ridge, Coquitlam).
• The requesting organization should be contributing toward some of the project costs or should be raising funds from other sources, as the Foundation’s role is one of partnership.
• Proposals should be for specific projects or programs that clearly support the given focus area.
• Projects should benefit many and offer equal access.
• Organizations which have not received funding from the First West Foundation in the previous fiscal year will be given priority.

Funding Restrictions:

In general, the Foundation does not make grants for the following:

• research, surveys or studies
• conferences
• medical or scientific research
• operating costs
• deficit reduction
• retroactive expenses
• wages
• annual fund-raising drives
• to individuals
• to religious or political organizations
• sports and recreation; team or club sponsorship

Submitting a grant request: