About the Community Foundation
1.What exactly is a Community Foundation?
2. How does the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation operate?
3. How is the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation structured?

Donating to the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation
4. Where does the Foundation get its money (who gives)?
5. Where does the money go?
6. How can I give?
7. How are Funds managed?
8. Does SCCF hold a fund raising campaign?
9. Why should I choose the SCCF for my charitable giving?

Granting to the Community
10. Who is eligible for grants from the Foundation?
11. What types of projects or activities are supported?
12. Who or what is not supported?
13. Do I need other sources of funds?
14. How does my organization apply for a grant?
15. Are there post grant requirements?

Community Leadership
16. How does the Foundation engage in community leadership?

About the Community Foundation

1.What exactly is a Community Foundation?

Community Foundations are one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic networks dedicated to building and strengthening communities in Canada.

Community Foundations:

  • pool the charitable gifts of many donors into permanent, income-earning endowment funds that benefit local communities
  • make grants from the earnings of these funds to support a wide range of local initiatives — from health, education and social services to arts and culture and the environment, sports and recreation
  • provide leadership to their communities by identifying local issues and by bringing people together from all sectors to address those issues (see About Us)

2. How does the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation operate?

The Foundation is an organization overseen by a twelve member Board of Directors, comprised of respected citizens from the Sunshine Coast and managed by a part-time Executive Director. The Board determines policy and provides direction to committees made up of Board members and other volunteer experts from the community. The skills, reputation, credibility and experience of our Board ensures the successful operation on the Foundation. (see About Us)

3. How is the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation structured?

The foundation was incorporated under the British Columbia Society Act in 2003 (S-45744) and registered as a charity with the Canada Revenue Agency in the same year. (Charitable Tax # 89608 6105 RR0001) (see About Us)

Donating to the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation

4. Where does the Foundation get its money (who gives)?

Individuals from all walks of life give many types of gifts, including cash, securities, gift by will, annuities, real estate, art work. Donors can choose to support their community broadly or designate a favorite cause or charity. Flexibility is the key. The Foundation provides many services to donors to help them make the most of their charitable gifts. Corporations also make donations to demonstrate their commitment and support for the community. Charities also place their endowment funds with the Foundation in order to benefit from greater returns on their investments. All donations receive a receipt for income tax purposes. (see Donate Now)

5. Where does the money go?

The Foundation itself is not the object of most donor’s philanthropy, but is the vehicle by which donors can fulfill their charitable objectives. We create permanent funds called endowments that are carefully invested and use the earnings from endowments to make grants to charities on the Sunshine Coast. Through our granting programs the Foundation is committed to seeding, nurturing, supporting and strengthening the community. Grants are made only to non-for-profit organizations recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as registered charities. (see our list of endoments and grants awarded to date)

6. How can I give?

Your gift, big or small, can address the community issues you care most about or you can leave it up to the Foundation to decide where your gift can be best used to help the Sunshine Coast. You can also establish your own family named fund to honor the family or the memory of a family member, or a company (business) named fund. The first step is to contact us so that you can get more information on fund types and which one(s) best suit your wishes and needs. (see Ways to Give)

7. How are Funds managed?

Our endowment funds are professionally invested through a fund manager, in diverse portfolios to ensure that they are managed wisely and profitably. All investments are subject to an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) screen.

8. Does SCCF hold a fund raising campaign?

The Sunshine Coast Community Foundation does not run a major fundraising campaign in any usual sense. The main source for donations, and thus the major focus, is through building endowments.

9. Why should I choose the SCCF for my charitable giving?

  • The SCCF’s investments are permanently endowed. Therefore the capital is intended to grow and the earnings will be available forever;
  • The SCCF itself is not the object of anyone’s philanthropy in the usual sense, but provides the vehicle to fulfill their charitable objectives;
  • The SCCF is very flexible and provides many services to help donors realize their charitable objectives. In certain endowments, donors can have as much or as little involvement as they want in how the money is distributed;
  • The SCCF can assist people who want to enjoy the tax saving advantages of charitable contributions in a particular year but are not certain which charities they would like to support. They can establish a fund quickly, obtain a tax receipt for the contributed amount, then decide later where to focus their giving from the fund;
  • The funds are pooled to generate a greater rate of return on investment. Donors are able to support specific fields of interest or specific organizations or programs, but do not have to do the administration and monitoring as it is done.
  • The SCCF will be in existence indefinitely, monitoring the changing needs of the community and making grants where they are most needed.

Granting to the Community

10. Who is eligible for grants from the Foundation?

Grants are made to non-for-profit organizations recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as registered charities or qualified donees, whose services or activities directly benefit the citizens of the Sunshine Coast. Under special circumstances, a non-charity may arrange a partnering relationship with a registered charity. (see Grants)

11. What types of projects or activities are supported?

Browse through our Grant Recipients page for a look at some of the projects that have previously received funding from the Foundation. (see Grants)

We support the following fields of interest:

  • Arts, Culture, and Heritage
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health, Wellness, and Safety
  • Social Development
  • Sports and Recreation

We also have specific funds to support fibre arts and choral music.

The concept of ‘community capacity building’ is the cornerstone of our community grants program. See our granting guidelines for details. (see Grants)

12. Who or what is not supported?

The SCCF does not support:

  • academic research intended solely for publication and without application to real world efforts
  • tours and travel outside the community
  • scholarships and bursaries
  • activities of religious organizations that serve primarily their membership and/or their direct religious purposes
  • political organizations
  • general endowments
  • core operating costs
  • building or capital campaigns
  • operating or capital deficits
  • individuals (see Grants)

13. Do I need other sources of funds?

The SCCF prefers not to be the sole funder. However, from time to time, we will provide full funding for a project but only when it is evident that there are no other avenues for funding and the project is seen by the SCCF to be high priority. (see Grants)

14. How does my organization apply for a grant?

The SCCF has a two-stage application process. The first stage is the submission of a ‘letter of intent’ to determine basic suitability. The second stage requires the submission of a more detailed formal grant application. The Foundation grants once a year, the process running from February to the end of April. (see Grants)

15. Are there post grant requirements?

Yes. First, after the grant is awarded, the recipient is expected to follow some specified performance and management procedures. And, second, the recipient must provide a report within one year after receiving the grant outlining the use made of the funds. (see Grants)

Community Leadership

16. How does the Foundation engage in community leadership?

The SCCF provides leadership in the community by identifying local issues and by bringing people together, often in partnership with other community organizations, to address those issues.