News
Urgent Need Granting in London and Middlesex
September 21, 2009 - By design, the Community Fund is the most proactive and flexible fund of the London Community Foundation. It exists because thousands of donors choose to invest in the changing cultural, educational, and environmental needs in our local community.
Traditionally, the Community Foundation distributes Community Fund grants through annual open calls for applications and through multi-year commitments in strategic initiatives such as neighbourhood building, environmental projects, and youth engagement.
In 2008, over $1 million of the $2.9 million of dollars the Foundation granted came from the Community Fund.
In 2008, poor market returns reduced money available for Community Fund grants. At the same time we’ve been met with unprecedented need from non-profit agencies, in particular those serving the social service sector. We’ve responded by suspending the 2009 small grant cycle in favour of a more immediate and responsive granting strategy. Multi-year funding commitments will continue to be honoured.
To date, seven non-profit organizations, including the Children’s Aid Society, Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre, Family Service Thames Valley, Glen Cairn Community Resource Centre, LUSO, Northwest London Resource Centre and South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre, have received emergency grants totalling $62,620.
These organizations serve some of the most vulnerable in our community and all focus on crisis assistance providing things like emergency shelter, abuse intervention, or basic food and necessities. They were selected as together they represent a wide geographical area and individually each has a strong and sustainable organizational capacity.
The grants were to be used to replenish food banks, restore diaper and formula supplies, stock health and hygiene products, continue breakfast programs, and/or supply other basic yet vital human needs.
Possibly up to $150,000 further in emergency urgent need grants will be disbursed by the Community Foundation by December 2009.