Community Action Funds

Residents of Greater Victoria have always shared a strong sense of community. One where we work together and support each other as we create a vibrant, caring community for all.

Whether serving on the frontlines of this pandemic, or providing other vital services and programs, our local charities need our help now more than ever.

You can continue to support relief and recovery efforts through our new Community Action Funds.

Visit our Community Recovery Program Distributions page to see the full list of grants from 2020.

Building Community Action Together

Community Action Funds allow you to give confidently to the causes that matter to you.

Whether your passion is to support the arts, health-related issues, the environment, social justice or one of the many other cause areas in our community, when you make a gift to a Community Action Fund, you can have confidence that your gift will be put to the highest and best use.

Funds will be distributed from each of the Community Action Funds on a regular basis throughout the year, to a wide range of vital projects, programs and initiatives in the community, including the strategic initiatives of the Victoria Foundation that foster long-term community change. Priorities will be set by drawing upon the Victoria Foundation’s strong connection to community, and our history of addressing the greatest needs, opportunities and innovations within each of the fund areas. Although the broad causes will remain constant, the priorities within them will change over time, ensuring that your gift can adapt and meet the needs of our community.

There are two ways your contribution can support the Community Action Funds:

  1. Give to the broader Vibrant and Caring Community Fund allowing the Foundation to respond to critical needs as they arise.
  2. Concentrate your gift on one or more of the specific cause areas. Each Community Action Fund offers you the opportunity to focus your philanthropy on one of the complex issues faced by our community.

Click on each of the ten icons below to learn more about these funds.

Racial Equity and Reconciliation Fund

Benefits of Giving to Community Action Funds

  • Together We Can Do More: Your gift is combined with donations from other individuals, families and organizations, having maximum impact within a shared area of interest
  • Learn How To Have The Most Impact: Learn more about trends, issues and opportunities affecting your preferred areas of interest
  • You Can Give With Confidence: Rely on our partnerships within community to ensure your gift will be put towards the highest and best use
  • Have The Impact You Want: Choose the cause areas most important to you

 

Ways to Give

  • Cheque

    Send cheques to the Victoria Foundation at #200 – 703 Broughton Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1E2. Please ensure they are made out to the Victoria Foundation. Note the name of the Community Action Fund in the memo line or in a cover letter. If you are open to receiving your tax receipt by PDF, please include an email address with your donation.

  • Credit Card

    Call the Victoria Foundation at 250.381.5532 to make your credit card donation to one of the Community Action Funds. Staff will ask you for your full name, mailing address, email if available, and credit card information to process your donation.

  • Online

    Online Express is the platform that can be used to make donations to the Community Action Funds using your credit card. Using the form on this page, select your chosen fund from the drop down menu and complete the online giving form. This will allow you to receive a tax receipt instantly.

  • Victoria Foundation Fund Holders

    If you would like to donate to one of the Community Action Funds using the available to grant balance in your fund, you can do this in one of two ways:

    Donor Central: Logon to DonorCentral. Scroll to the bottom of your homepage to the ‘Grant Opportunities’ section. Simply click on the name of your chosen Community Action Fund box and grant as usual.

    Email: Send an email listing your requested grant amount, fund name, and purpose (name of the Community Action Fund) to donorservices@victoriafoundation.bc.ca

  • Publicly Listed Securities

    When publicly listed securities are donated to the Victoria Foundation, the tax on the capital gain is eliminated. To take advantage of the tax savings benefit, the donor must transfer the securities “as is” – either through an electronic transfer from the donor’s brokerage account to the foundation’s brokerage account, or in the form of a share certificate in the donor’s name delivered to the foundation.

    We will work with you and your advisors to ensure the transfer is smooth and your donation receipt is delivered to you. Simply complete the step-by-step instructions on our Donation Form for Gifts of Securities and send a copy to your broker and to the Victoria Foundation. We will look after the rest.

    You will receive a donation receipt for the fair market value of the securities based on the closing price on the date the securities are received into the foundation’s account.

    If you have share certificates, please call us to arrange for delivery of the certificates. Since a signed certificate is negotiable, please wait to sign it until you have met with us and are ready to transfer your shares to the foundation. We will arrange for your signature to be guaranteed and for the receipt to be issued to you.

FAQ

  • How will my donation be used?

    Donations to the Community Action Funds will be distributed to the areas of greatest need on a regular basis throughout the year. Current funding will be distributed with an emphasis on recovery and resilience support for local charities as we move through the next phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. This support may be for general operating costs, staffing, program adaptation, technology adaptation, and projects or programs, including relief efforts. Funding may also support the strategic initiatives of the Victoria Foundation that foster long-term community change.

  • How are distributions made through the Community Action Funds?

    Donors can have confidence their gift is being put to the highest and best use. Through a volunteer community advisory committee, the Foundation will work closely with local charities to understand their current needs and use the community’s experience and leadership to fund opportunities that help to drive our civil society forward. Funding will be distributed to programs, projects and initiatives in the areas of greatest need on a regular basis throughout the year.

  • Can I support a specific charity through my gift to a Community Action Fund?

    No. Gifts to any one of the ten (10) Community Action Funds will support the areas of greatest need within that cause area. Donors are not able to specify a particular charity within that cause. If a donor wishes to support a specific charity or focus on one aspect of a cause, our donor services staff will be happy to assist with those grant recommendations. Contact donor services at 250.381.5532 or donorservices@victoriafoundation.bc.ca

  • Will I get a tax receipt for my donation?

    Yes. All donations will be tax receipted by the Victoria Foundation. If you give online, a tax receipt will be sent to you automatically by email. If you mail in your donation, or donate by phone, a tax receipt will be mailed or emailed to you.

  • Which Organizations have received funding from the Community Action Funds?

    Visit the Community Recovery Program webpage for the most recent updates on which organizations have received funding.

  • Can my organization apply for funding?

    Community Action Funds allocate funding to key areas of community wellbeing. Funding is allocated on a regular basis and in connection to current granting initiatives of Victoria Foundation. Currently, funds will be allocated to eligible organizations through the 2020 Community Recovery Program. Check here for more information on eligibility.

  • Where can I get more information?

    You can find a list of media stories and other information on the Community Action Funds on our What’s New page. For all other questions and inquiries, please email info@victoriafoundation.bc.ca or call 250-381-5532.

Additional Resources

Giving Guide
Types of Funds
Gadsden Initiative
Community Recovery Program

Learn more about our Community Action Funds

250-381-5532