Vancouver Foundation
Encyclopedia
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Vancouver Foundation helps people give back to the communities they care about, in a way that is simple, convenient and lasting.
Vancouver Foundation is the largest of Canada's 174 community foundations and have been around since 1943. Their focus is on improving our communities—the places where we all live, work, play and raise our kids. The place we call home.
At the same time, local industrialist and philanthropist W.J. VanDusen knew the potential of building a permanent endowment that could benefit many charitable activities. As Director of the Vancouver Welfare Federation (now the United Way of the Lower Mainland) and Chair of its Endowment Committee, he had studied models of community foundations for several years. By 1943, he had overseen the establishment and incorporation of Vancouver Foundation. However, at the time, it was nothing more than a legal entity with virtually no capital.
Inspired by MacKay's generosity, VanDusen added $10,000 to her endowment and encouraged nine friends to match his own gift. The nine other founding families were:
The 101,000 dollars has now grown into a major charitable force with an endowment of roughly $720 million.
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Each year they grant millions of dollars to a wide variety of programs and projects across British Columbia in areas ranging from arts and culture and education to environment, animal welfare, and children, youth and families. Fields of Interests and Programs are:
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Vancouver Foundation’s Vital Signs is a multi-faceted ‘snap shot’ of the livability and wellness of participating cities and regions across Metro Vancouver. It tells the story of what it is like to live in the Metro Vancouver Region, formerly known as the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Vancouver Foundation’s Vital Signs combines data from a public opinion survey, secondary research from available data sources, and citizen grading on key aspects of community life (e.g. transportation, security, health). For each key issue area, data indicators OR ‘the facts’, are compared to citizen perceptions as captured by electronic grading.
Vital Signs serves as one of the key inputs used by Vancouver Foundation to inform strategic direction as well as positioning Vancouver Foundation with donors, agencies, government and other stakeholders as a leading knowledge resource in the community. Vancouver Foundation’s Vital Signs is also an important tool to engage and inform community dialogue around issues of importance within the Metro Vancouver Region.
Vancouver Foundation, as Canada’s largest community foundation, has a key role and responsibility for leading the dialogue on community vitality. Vital Signs has become known as an excellent mechanism for initiating and supporting that dialogue within the larger community.
Vancouver Foundation’s Vital Signs 2010 represents the fourth year of production of a Vital Signs report. Vital Signs 2006 focused on the City of Vancouver while in 2007 and 2008, the scope of Vital Signs was expanded to include the entire Metro Vancouver Region.
Vital Signs originated as a project of The Toronto Community Foundation, and now Community Foundations of Canada, the representative organization of 174 Community Foundations across Canada, coordinates the Vital Signs Reports nation-wide.
Measuring the vitality of Canadian communities in critical areas help Community Foundations:
Youth Homelessness Initiative
While many community organizations focus on crisis services such as providing beds, clothing or food, Vancouver Foundation saw an opportunity to play a pro-active role in preventing youth homelessness.
Vancouver Foundation’s Youth Homelessness Initiative helps donors support innovative projects that break the cycle of homelessness for the region’s most vulnerable young people. Studies show people who live their lives on and off the street cost society $55,000 to $135,000 a year in public services like policing, emergency services and jails.
By helping young people now, we make a major difference in their lives, while potentially saving millions of public dollars.
The programs supported by Vancouver Foundation’s donors help youth access housing, while providing support services to help them get on their feet. Vancouver Foundation has committed to giving $1.5 million over four years to support programs in this area.
Streetohome
Vancouver Foundation provided $500,000 funding to create an organization called Streetohome, along with the City of Vancouver and the Province of BC.
Streetohome takes a different tack on homelessness – raising private money to help buy more units of housing for people who are homeless. It launched in February 2009, with the goal of making it possible for all homeless people in Vancouver to have access to safe, decent, affordable housing with support services.
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Vancouver Foundation is working with the Canada Mental Health Commission on a new research project to determine how best to help mentally ill people who are homeless and struggling with addictions.
This four-year project plans to house and provide support for 300 homeless people in our city, in order to determine the most effective strategies to help them stay off the streets and reintegrate into society. Based on the Housing First philosophy, the project will provide people a place to live first, rather than requiring that they deal with their addictions or mental health issues first.
Neighbourhood Small Grants Program
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Vancouver Foundation created the Neighbourhoods Small Grants Program in recognition that strong, vibrant communities are an essential part of our province's social and economic fabric. When residents become active in their neighbourhoods, communities are strengthened from the ground up. Communities become more vibrant and safer when people feel engaged.
Since 1999, the program has been supporting resident-led initiatives that enhance local neighbourhoods. Grants can be up to $500, and are reviewed by community organizations in five different neighbourhoods in the metro Vancouver area.
Hundreds of projects have been funded over the last ten years and here are a few examples:
Downtown Eastside Small Arts Grants
Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is a hotbed of artistic activity. But many artists in this neighbourhood lack the financial means to take their work to the next level. Vancouver Foundation created the Small Arts Grants Program, in partnership with the Carnegie Community Centre, to give DTES artists the opportunity to advance their careers by expanding their portfolios and showcasing their work.
The DTES Small Arts Grants program is intended for artists who demonstrate a history of original art practice, and show a vital engagement with the DTES community. With small grants of $500 – $1,000, the pilot program is an opportunity for DTES artists to take their career to the next level.
Immigrant Employment Council of BC
Belonging and leadership for immigrants is one of Vancouver Foundation'a four core values. In 2008, Vancouver Foundation launched the Immigrant Employment Council of BC to help more immigrants find work that reflects their knowledge and experience.
The Immigrant Employment Council of BC is working closely with employers and other key stakeholders — government, labour, regulatory bodies, educators, community organizations and immigrants — to improve hiring practices, encourage new policies, and change perceptions about immigrants.
Immigrants bring a world of experience to our businesses and our community. The initiative’s goal is to help BC employers access the full potential of these workers, so that BC’s economy and communities can benefit from the skills, training and knowledge they offer.
Labour Market Partnership
The non-profit labour force dedicates itself to making important contributions to the social and economic health of our community. In order to do this successfully, the sector needs the right people with the right skills.
There are clear signs that organizations in the sector struggle to recruit and keep the talent they need.
The Labour Market Partnership, with support from The Province of BC and managed by Vancouver Foundation, is addressing human resource issues in the non-profit sector. LMP’s goal—ensure talented and skilled people continue to fill the varied missions and mandates of the many non-profits that make the province a better place to live.
Vancouver Foundation helps people give back to the communities they care about, in a way that is simple, convenient and lasting.
Vancouver Foundation is the largest of Canada's 174 community foundations and have been around since 1943. Their focus is on improving our communities—the places where we all live, work, play and raise our kids. The place we call home.
History
Vancouver Foundation started in 1943 with one person, $1,000 and a vision. Alice MacKay had saved $1,000 from her secretarial job and wanted to help homeless women trapped in a cycle of poverty.At the same time, local industrialist and philanthropist W.J. VanDusen knew the potential of building a permanent endowment that could benefit many charitable activities. As Director of the Vancouver Welfare Federation (now the United Way of the Lower Mainland) and Chair of its Endowment Committee, he had studied models of community foundations for several years. By 1943, he had overseen the establishment and incorporation of Vancouver Foundation. However, at the time, it was nothing more than a legal entity with virtually no capital.
Inspired by MacKay's generosity, VanDusen added $10,000 to her endowment and encouraged nine friends to match his own gift. The nine other founding families were:
-
-
- W.J. VanDusen
- Gordon Farrell & family
- F. Ronald Graham
- George KiddGeorge KiddGeorge Pirkis Kidd was the first Canadian ambassador to Israel in 1954 and was the ambassador to Cuba at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.He was born in Glasgow, Scotland and later moved to Canada with his parents...
- H. R. MacMillanH. R. MacMillanHarvey Reginald MacMillan, CC, CBE was a Canadian forester, forestry industrialist, wartime administrator, and philanthropist....
- W. H. Malkin
- C. T. McHattie
- Chris Spencer
- A. H. Williamson
- W. C. Woodward
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The 101,000 dollars has now grown into a major charitable force with an endowment of roughly $720 million.
Activities
Vancouver Foundation administers 1,200 funds, worth approximately $720 million, on behalf of individuals, families, corporations and charities.]
Each year they grant millions of dollars to a wide variety of programs and projects across British Columbia in areas ranging from arts and culture and education to environment, animal welfare, and children, youth and families. Fields of Interests and Programs are:
- Animal Welfare
- Arts and Culture
- Children, Youth and Families
- Disability Supports
- Giving in Action
- Endowment 150
- Education
- Environment
- Health and Social Development
- Health and Medical Education / Research
- Youth Homelessness
- Youth Philanthropy
Special Projects
Vital Signs]
Vancouver Foundation’s Vital Signs is a multi-faceted ‘snap shot’ of the livability and wellness of participating cities and regions across Metro Vancouver. It tells the story of what it is like to live in the Metro Vancouver Region, formerly known as the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Vancouver Foundation’s Vital Signs combines data from a public opinion survey, secondary research from available data sources, and citizen grading on key aspects of community life (e.g. transportation, security, health). For each key issue area, data indicators OR ‘the facts’, are compared to citizen perceptions as captured by electronic grading.
Vital Signs serves as one of the key inputs used by Vancouver Foundation to inform strategic direction as well as positioning Vancouver Foundation with donors, agencies, government and other stakeholders as a leading knowledge resource in the community. Vancouver Foundation’s Vital Signs is also an important tool to engage and inform community dialogue around issues of importance within the Metro Vancouver Region.
Vancouver Foundation, as Canada’s largest community foundation, has a key role and responsibility for leading the dialogue on community vitality. Vital Signs has become known as an excellent mechanism for initiating and supporting that dialogue within the larger community.
Vancouver Foundation’s Vital Signs 2010 represents the fourth year of production of a Vital Signs report. Vital Signs 2006 focused on the City of Vancouver while in 2007 and 2008, the scope of Vital Signs was expanded to include the entire Metro Vancouver Region.
Vital Signs originated as a project of The Toronto Community Foundation, and now Community Foundations of Canada, the representative organization of 174 Community Foundations across Canada, coordinates the Vital Signs Reports nation-wide.
Measuring the vitality of Canadian communities in critical areas help Community Foundations:
-
-
- Increase the effectiveness of our grantmaking
- Better inform donors about issues and opportunities in the community
- Assist in making connections between individuals and groups to address issues
-
Youth Homelessness Initiative
While many community organizations focus on crisis services such as providing beds, clothing or food, Vancouver Foundation saw an opportunity to play a pro-active role in preventing youth homelessness.
Vancouver Foundation’s Youth Homelessness Initiative helps donors support innovative projects that break the cycle of homelessness for the region’s most vulnerable young people. Studies show people who live their lives on and off the street cost society $55,000 to $135,000 a year in public services like policing, emergency services and jails.
By helping young people now, we make a major difference in their lives, while potentially saving millions of public dollars.
The programs supported by Vancouver Foundation’s donors help youth access housing, while providing support services to help them get on their feet. Vancouver Foundation has committed to giving $1.5 million over four years to support programs in this area.
Streetohome
Vancouver Foundation provided $500,000 funding to create an organization called Streetohome, along with the City of Vancouver and the Province of BC.
Streetohome takes a different tack on homelessness – raising private money to help buy more units of housing for people who are homeless. It launched in February 2009, with the goal of making it possible for all homeless people in Vancouver to have access to safe, decent, affordable housing with support services.
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Vancouver Foundation is working with the Canada Mental Health Commission on a new research project to determine how best to help mentally ill people who are homeless and struggling with addictions.
This four-year project plans to house and provide support for 300 homeless people in our city, in order to determine the most effective strategies to help them stay off the streets and reintegrate into society. Based on the Housing First philosophy, the project will provide people a place to live first, rather than requiring that they deal with their addictions or mental health issues first.
Neighbourhood Small Grants Program
]
Vancouver Foundation created the Neighbourhoods Small Grants Program in recognition that strong, vibrant communities are an essential part of our province's social and economic fabric. When residents become active in their neighbourhoods, communities are strengthened from the ground up. Communities become more vibrant and safer when people feel engaged.
Since 1999, the program has been supporting resident-led initiatives that enhance local neighbourhoods. Grants can be up to $500, and are reviewed by community organizations in five different neighbourhoods in the metro Vancouver area.
Hundreds of projects have been funded over the last ten years and here are a few examples:
-
-
- A free model-making workshop for kids living in a low-income neighbourhood in Burnaby.
- Local gatherings and block parties that help neighbours from diverse cultural backgrounds get to know one another.
- The creation of community gardens where people share a plot of land and grow their own flowers and vegetables.
- Supplies and training for children to participate in a lantern parade.
- A knitting circle that encourages interaction and transference of a craft between seniors and young people.
- Chinese brush painting workshops that help seniors from many cultural backgrounds to express themselves and create artwork.
-
Downtown Eastside Small Arts Grants
Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is a hotbed of artistic activity. But many artists in this neighbourhood lack the financial means to take their work to the next level. Vancouver Foundation created the Small Arts Grants Program, in partnership with the Carnegie Community Centre, to give DTES artists the opportunity to advance their careers by expanding their portfolios and showcasing their work.
The DTES Small Arts Grants program is intended for artists who demonstrate a history of original art practice, and show a vital engagement with the DTES community. With small grants of $500 – $1,000, the pilot program is an opportunity for DTES artists to take their career to the next level.
Immigrant Employment Council of BC
Belonging and leadership for immigrants is one of Vancouver Foundation'a four core values. In 2008, Vancouver Foundation launched the Immigrant Employment Council of BC to help more immigrants find work that reflects their knowledge and experience.
The Immigrant Employment Council of BC is working closely with employers and other key stakeholders — government, labour, regulatory bodies, educators, community organizations and immigrants — to improve hiring practices, encourage new policies, and change perceptions about immigrants.
Immigrants bring a world of experience to our businesses and our community. The initiative’s goal is to help BC employers access the full potential of these workers, so that BC’s economy and communities can benefit from the skills, training and knowledge they offer.
Labour Market Partnership
The non-profit labour force dedicates itself to making important contributions to the social and economic health of our community. In order to do this successfully, the sector needs the right people with the right skills.
There are clear signs that organizations in the sector struggle to recruit and keep the talent they need.
The Labour Market Partnership, with support from The Province of BC and managed by Vancouver Foundation, is addressing human resource issues in the non-profit sector. LMP’s goal—ensure talented and skilled people continue to fill the varied missions and mandates of the many non-profits that make the province a better place to live.