The Okanagan Prosperity Fund

Grant recipients announced!

The following thirteen organizations shared in $400,000 granted from the Okanagan Prosperity Fund in the South Okanagan Similkameen:

The Penticton and Area Access Centre
OneSky Community Resources
Princeton & District Community Services Society
Footprints Center – Penticton Indian Band and Neil Squire
Lower Similkameen Community Services Society
Princeton Family Services Society
Penticton and District Society for Community Living
Dragonfly Pond Family Society
Penticton Recovery Resource Society
South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (SOICS)
South Okanagan Women in Need Society (SOWINS)
Ooknakane Friendship Centre
Launch Okanagan (co-funded with Central Okanagan Foundation and Community Foundation of the North Okanagan)

Overview

The Community Prosperity Fund

On the inaugural B.C. Nonprofit Day, The Government of B.C. announced a $25 million investment called the Community Prosperity Fund. This investment is part of the Government of B.C.’s commitment to supporting the non-profit sector by empowering local communities to make local decisions through local community foundations.

In the South Okanagan Similkameen, Community Prosperity Fund grants will be delivered through the Okanagan Prosperity Fund, and will support organizations working to address poverty and improve social inclusion in our region.

Community Foundation North Okanagan, Central Okanagan Foundation, and Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen are uniting resources to create lasting change. By collaborating on funding through the Okanagan Prosperity Fund, we are focusing on upstream solutions that address the root causes of poverty, ensuring that social inclusion and opportunity are within reach for all in our communities.

This funding is intended to create deep impact through grants to organizations that are closely aligned with our vision for long-term change and provide upstream solutions for addressing poverty and improving social inclusion. In the South Okanagan Similkameen, a total of $400,000 in grants is available.

Capacity Enhancement: Impact Measurement

Organizations receiving Okanagan Prosperity Fund grants will also be invited to participate in a specially designed impact measurement training cohort. Understanding and demonstrating the true impact of their work allows organizations to refine their strategies and better serve their communities.

Timeline

August 26: Call for letters of interest (LOI) opens
September 13: Call for LOI closes
September 13-27: LOI are reviewed
October 7: Full application opens for invited organizations
October 25: Application period closes
October 25-November 8: Applications are reviewed
November 15: Notifications to applicants
January 2025: Grant payments and impact measurement cohort begins
June 30, 2027: Grant activities must end

How to Apply

Before you apply please download and carefully review the Fund Guidelines:

2024.08.15.OkanaganProsperityFund_Guidelines Download

On August 26, the application process will open with a call for letters of interest (LOI). Organizations may submit one LOI for funding. The LOI will be accepted through the online portals which can be accessed through each participating foundation’s website (linked below). Those organizations that are invited to submit a full application will use the same portal.

Please submit your LOI in the region where you primarily offer your programs and services. The following links will direct you to the appropriate application portal:

If your organization has already applied for funding through your local community foundation, please use your existing profile to log in. New applicants can complete a new profile by following the instructions in the portal.

Additional Support

Community Foundation North Okanagan:
Leanne Hammond
250-542-8655 Leanne@cfno.org

Central Okanagan Foundation:
Abbie Norrish
250-861-6160 ext 101 Abbie@centralokanaganfoundation.org

Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen:
Kevin Ronaghan
236-500-1243 kevinronaghan@cfso.net