Southwest Alberta organizations get federal funding
The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta and the United Way of Lethbridge and South Western Alberta on Aug. 24 announced more than $1 million in funding through the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund (CSRF).
The CSRF is a one-time investment of $400 million from the federal government that is administered collaboratively through three national funders including the Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada, and the United Way Centraide Canada.
The Community Foundation, in partnership with Community Foundations of Canada, is supporting 21 projects with a total of $610,000, while the United Way is awarding $398,319 to six projects.
Successful projects range from technology upgrades to fund development strategies to Indigenous language revitalization.
“We are happy that we were able to bring the CSRF initiative to our community,” said Community Foundation Executive Director Charleen Davidson in a press release.
“We received over 40 applications, which clearly revealed the need for additional resources in our charitable sector as we continue along the post-pandemic recovery spectrum.
“This funding will help the successful applicants adapt service delivery, develop new strategies, and purchase new equipment; ultimately this funding will increase the capacity of our sector to better serve our community. We extend our gratitude to the Government of Canada for their support.”
United Way executive director Jaci Zalesak in the release said “the successful applicants represent a variety of organizations from across southwestern Alberta.”All these organizations have been impacted by the effects of COVID-19 and we are excited to see how they will generate their plans into positive impacts for their organization and the communities they serve. This funding is really going to transform these organizations.”
The charitable sector, including charities, non-profits, and Indigenous governing bodies, is critical to the wellbeing of the community, however, it has been struggling since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and it continues to struggle due to increased demand for services, reduced revenues and fundraising dollars, and a need to modernize technology, says the Community Foundation.
The CSRF was designed to help the charitable sector adapt, modernize, and be better equipped to improve the efficacy, accessibility, and sustainability of the community services that they provide.
“Community service organizations are at the heart of communities like Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta, creating a sense of belonging from coast to coast to coast. The Community Services Recovery Fund will enable these organizations that serve our diverse communities to adapt and modernize their programs and services and to invest in the future of their organizations, staff, and volunteers. Together, we can rebuild from the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic and build a more just and equitable future for those in Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta.”
Organizations and projects that received funding include:
• Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation, $70,000: To install high-speed internet and purchase computer equipment to allow for the delivery of consistent online educational programming for the first time.
• Claresholm Community Centre Association, $19,800: To modernize meeting spaces with improved facility wifi and cell service, allowing for greater efficiency and rental opportunities.
• New West Theatre Society, $31,500: To hire a consultant to develop and implement strategic practices that will help the organization grow and diversify revenue opportunities.
• Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue Society, $51,013: To hire a consultant to research and implement digital systems for internal data management, training, and documentation.
• Southern Alcare Society and Industries, $10,000: To develop a website that will disseminate information about programs and streamline the application process.
• Fort Macleod Historical Association, $40,000: To hire a consultant to develop and implement a multi- year fund development strategy.
• Family Centre Society of Southern Alberta, $15,000: To modernize and improve efficacy of communication and marketing, adapt to an increasingly digital domain, and raise awareness of the Family Centre’s work to secure new donors.
• L’Arche Association of Lethbridge, $13,412: To upgrade the IT hardware and network equipment so that staff have the tools they need to operate and the ability to have both in-person and online meetings.
• Ability Resource Association, $50,000: To upgrade the IT Infrastructure by converting the on-site servers to the Cloud, purchasing new computers, and making data more accessible.
• Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization, $27,000: To modernize by moving away from operating with paper and excel systems to a more effective digital world.
• Southern Alberta Self Help Association, $49,500: To implement innovative technology, including an improved security system, new data management system, and technology for increased client access to mental health support.
• Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club, $16,000: To modernize internal operations through the purchase of updated technology, computer hardware, and financial software.
Napi Friendship Association, $15,000: To purchase new computers and financial software and to hire a consultant for staff training on the updated software.
• Womanspace Resource Centre, $14,700: To hire a consultant to develop a strategic plan that will enable Womanspace to enhance services, develop new policies, and further develop community collaborations to better serve women in Lethbridge and the surrounding area.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge and District, $40,000: To hire support staff to review fundraising plans and help implement new strategies that will allow the organization to continue its work in the community.
• Young Women’s Christian Association of Lethbridge & District, $50,000: To implement software to streamline the organization’s administration of payroll and human resources components.
• Nord-Bridge Senior Citizens Association, $29,725: To elevate and evolve their current fundraising strategy and explore new avenues of fundraising to attract new donors and members.
• Taber & District Community Adult Learning Association, $20,000: To work with IT professional services to modernize staff computers, interactive classroom technologies, and IT infrastructure more effective data security and ever greening processes.
• Nanton Quality of Life Foundation, $13,000: To update policies and procedures, bylaws, and communication strategies and plans based on pandemic learnings for improved staff and client support.
• Heritage Crowsnest Society, $19,350: To create a policy and procedure manual that will serve the organization for years to come.
• Kainai Food Bank Society, $15,000: To review and enhance the current policies and data collection software to increase services in the community and ensure everyone in need receives services. United Way of Lethbridge and South Western Alberta:
• Volunteer Lethbridge, $73,500: To develop a new operating model that allows Volunteer Lethbridge to analyze and adapt to member organizations and community volunteers.
• Friends Society of the Sir Alexander Galt Museum & Archives, $84,750: – To create three illustrated language workbooks and flashcard sets: Blackfoot, Michif and Cree. These tools will provide a framework for Indigenous language revitalization, an aspect of the Galt’s community impact objectives: reconciliation, inclusion and providing a safe gathering space in-person or online.
• Lethbridge Food Bank Society, $20,000: To distribute weekly food supplements to the un-housed population of Lethbridge. The funds for the project will be used to renovate a portion of the building to create a service window and window box for quick and easy disbursement to the aforementioned population.
• Southern Alberta Ethnic Association, $98,400: To document SAEA members and events through the use of audiovisuals to highlight the individual and collective stories of diverse cultural members in Lethbridge. The program would allow SAEA to better document its membership presently & historically, appeal to/educate the broader community, and attract new cultural members.
• Raymond District Futures Society, $96,000: To realign the mental health program, create a drug awareness program for rural youth and reach out to Indigenous peoples and communities to offer them participation in the program. The new curriculum staff training and resources will be modernized and adaptable.
• Pincher Creek & District Historical Society, $25,669: To complete digitization of the archives. Beginning with the Pincher Creek Echo. The Pincher Creek & District Historical Society is a regional organization, physically residing in a remote area presiding over the most complete archival collection in the South Canadian Rockies, becoming relevant by bringing the documents to life.