The COF's own granting program takes place twice per year in May and October. Funds from our endowments are pooled into a Community Fund and the income that is earned on these funds is what is granted out to the registered charities that apply to us. Click below for more on:
The Foundation distributes thousands of dollars of grants each year in two main ways. The first is called an allocation. An allocation is an amount sent to a charity in accordance with the terms of an endowment fund. For example; Mr. Smith may have requested in his Gift Agreement with the Foundation, to send the annual income from the fund that he has established to the SPCA. A second donor Mrs. Jones fund directs the Foundation to allocate half of the annual income on her fund to be sent to the Art Gallery and the other half to her church. As long as the designated beneficiaries remain registered charities, the Foundation will carry out the terms as laid out in the gift agreements.
The Foundation also distributes grants. These are discretionary in nature, meaning the Foundation decides which charitable groups will receive funding. The income to support these grants comes from a group of endowments that have been created to support the broader community, leaving the specific granting decisions to the Foundation's Board of Directors. The Foundation typically has two granting cycles per year.
Current grant application deadlines are May 1st and October 1st
Please contact Central Okanagan Foundation ("COF") to confirm these deadline dates and with any application questions. Prior to completing an application you must speak with COF's Grants Manager, Cheryl Miller, who can be contacted by phone at 250.861.6160 or by email at cheryl@centralokanaganfoundation.org
A registered charity (or qualified donee) can only apply once in a 12-month period. All previous granting decisions are taken into account when grant applications are reviewed. Successful applicants will receive their grants as soon as possible after decisions have been made. In some cases grants will be given at a public event, or given in person.
We ask that registered charities interested in applying for a grant please contact our Grants Manager, Cheryl Miller at (250) 861-6160.
Grantees are required to complete a COF Grant Project Evaluation in order to let us know how your project worked out. The Evaluation Report is meant to provide the grantee with useful information in assessing the success of the project. It is also meant to inform us as funders about your project. We remind you that there are always things that go well and things that don't go so well... the evaluation takes this into account and is meant to elicit constructive information for improvement in the future.
This guide is designed to assist charitable and nonprofit organizations to conduct precise and appropriate project evaluations, and then communicate and use the results of evaluation effectively. Its primary focus is to help organizations that would like to perform project evaluations by using their internal resources, and to make evaluation a part of their project management and strategic development.
Written by: Cheryl Miller, COF Grants Manager
Common grant writing mistakes usually stem from inexperience with grant writing (after all, you got into this to help the planet, not to sit around typing), or a lack of resources, like time or research skills. Many grant writing mistakes also come from a lack of familiarity with the funder.
Below are some grant writing mistakes commonly made by nonprofits, and some grant writing tips to help you avoid them.
Generic proposals. One of the most critical aspects of writing a winning grant proposal is to tailor your grant to complement the goals of the granting agency. In other words, know your grantor! What is their mission? For what purposes are they providing grant funding? What results do they hope to foster? If you forge a strong connection between your mission and that of the granting agency, your proposal will have a greater chance of being funded.
Not enough detail. As an intimate member of your organization, your level of familiarity may actually be an obstacle. For one, you are already fully committed to your cause. Further, organization executives or staff may be so absorbed in the day-to-day business of fulfilling the group’s mission that it’s hard to step back and clearly and carefully explain the big picture. Certain details of your organization and mission will be so obvious and so familiar to you that you won’t even think to include them.
However, always remember that the people reading your grant may be hearing of your nonprofit for the first time. Even if you know the grantor, or have received funding from them before, you should still provide complete information about your nonprofit.
In the organizational information section, provide concise details on your organization including: Its history and mission statement; the recipients of your services; a description of your programs; an overview of your successes; and why the grantor can trust you to use funds responsibly and effectively.
Do not address targeted problems with broad solutions. Offer explicit details about the actions you will take to address the problem.
Too much detail. While some areas will be lacking in information, inexperienced grant writers often include too much detail in other areas. While it’s important for your grant proposal to tell a compelling story, don’t get carried away with a lot of superfluous information.
In other words, don’t spend pages waxing eloquent about the problem or your ideals. Get to the point quickly and use concise, objective examples to illustrate your successes—rather than vague or subjective anecdotes.
Too much emphasis on the ‘why’—not enough on the ‘how.’ Of course, why your mission is important is important. But after stating the problems, your proposal must focus on presenting step-by-step solutions. You must approach the grant writing process like you’re a for-profit business. Your grant must include measurable objectives, and an explicit plan of action. Include what records or data you will collect, and how you will measure your program’s accomplishments. You may also be asked to provide a logic model.
Poor writing. The person reading your grant will probably have read many others that same day. This means reviewers will have little patience for bad writing. Make sure your proposal is reader-friendly, and that it tells a compelling story without being overly sentimental. Avoid jargon and buzzwords. Do say how the grant agency’s goals fit with your objectives, but never cut and paste phrases from their guidelines into your proposal. Write a clear, informative and engaging grant proposal that grantors will actually enjoy reading.
Circular reasoning. Circular reasoning is a veritable death sentence for grant proposals. Circular reasoning can be explained like this: When the problem being presenting is defined as the absence of the solution that is being offered. For example, “The problem is that our county lacks an environmental watch-dog group. Therefore, forming an environmental watch-dog group will solve the problem.” Avoid circular reasoning like the plague in your nonprofit grant proposal.
Inadequate or unrealistic cost analysis. Nonprofit organizations tend to low-ball when seeking funds, thinking that the less you ask for, the more likely you are to get it. This is not necessarily true. Agencies would rather invest more and see your objectives fulfilled than grant you less and see it wasted. Unrealistic estimates also make you look fiscally inexperienced and unknowledgeable.
In your budget section, document projected income and expenses. Also include in your grant proposal whether you have other sources of funding, or have applied for other sources. Rather than making your nonprofit seem less needy, additional funding sources may be a benefit. Most grantors will not want to be a nonprofit’s sole source of funding for a project.
Lack of quantitative data. Granting agencies want to see statistics. They want to know that your objectives and your results are quantifiable. For-profit businesses include such information as a matter of course. But nonprofit grants are often too light on hard data. To show that you are knowledgeable about your area, your grant should include historical data, statistical analysis, graphs and figures, and long-term projections whenever appropriate.
| 2011 Discretionary Grants (Spring and Fall Cycle) | |
| Alzheimer Society of BC | $ 1,000 |
| Arion Therapeutic Farm | $ 3,000 |
| Athletics 4 Kids Financial Assistance (BC) Society | $ 10,000 |
| BC Life Builders Rehabilitation Society | $ 3,000 |
| BC Teen Challenge | $ 3,000 |
| Bumbershoot Children's Theatre Society | $ 10,000 |
| Central Okanagan Community Gardens | $ 1,500 |
| Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society | $ 5,000 |
| Church Serve Canada | $ 3,000 |
| Community Recreational Initiatives Society | $ 5,000 |
| Cool Arts | $ 1,277 |
| Creator's Art Centre Society | $ 2,800 |
| Elevation Outdoor Experiential Programs | $ 1,500 |
| Ellison Community Association | $ 5,000 |
| Fresh Outlook Foundation | $ 10,000 |
| Friends of the Parrot Sanctuary | $ 2,000 |
| Hope Air | $ 10,000 |
| Inn from the Cold | $ 6,000 |
| John Howard Society of the South Okanagan | $ 5,000 |
| Kelowna and District Society for Community Living | $ 9,996 |
| Kelowna Ballet Society | $ 10,000 |
| Kelowna Canada Concerts Society | $ 1,000 |
| Kelowna Community Music School | $ 1,500 |
| Kelowna Family Services Society Centre | $ 4,525 |
| Kelowna Gospel Mission | $ 5,000 |
| Kelowna Habitat for Humanity Society | $ 3,510 |
| Kelowna Visual and Performing Arts | $ 5,000 |
| Kiwanis Music Festival Society of Kelowna | $ 2,000 |
| Lake Country Art Gallery | $ 10,000 |
| Lake Country Open Air Performance Society | $ 2,000 |
| MADD Canada | $ 1,500 |
| NOW Canada | $ 7,000 |
| Okanagan Chinese Canadian Association | $ 5,000 |
| Okanagan Historical Society | $ 10,000 |
| Okanagan Lifetime Networks Association (PLAN) | $ 2,500 |
| Okanagan Mobility Solutions 2006 Society | $ 2,000 |
| Okanagan Suicide Awareness Society | $ 4,000 |
| Okanagan Symphony | $ 7,500 |
| Peachland Historical Society | $ 2,000 |
| Project Literacy Kelowna Society | $ 6,300 |
| Reach Out Youth Counselling & Family Services Society | $ 8,200 |
| Royal Astronomical Society of Canada | $ 4,000 |
| Seniors Outreach Services Society (SOSS) | $ 5,000 |
| Summer Arts Scene for Youth (SASFY) | $ 2,500 |
| The Bridge Youth & Family Services | $ 8,500 |
| The Salvation Army | $ 8,000 |
| Reach Out Youth Counselling & Family Services Society | $ 8,200 |
| Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing | $ 8,000 |
| Wild Neighbours Society | $ 3,500 |
| Total |
$ 238,108
|
| 2010 Discretionary Grants (Spring and Fall Cycle) | |
| Science Opportunities for Kids Society | $ 3,000 |
| Reach Out Youth Counselling | $ 3,000 |
| Agur Lake Camp | $ 3,000 |
| Church Serve Canada | $ 2,500 |
| Brain Trust Canada | $ 2,500 |
| Project Literacy | $ 3,000 |
| Community Recreational Initiatives Society | $ 3,000 |
| The Clubhouse Childcare Centre | $ 1,500 |
| Kelowna & District Society for People in Motion | $ 2,500 |
| John Howard Society of the Central and South Okanagan | $ 3,000 |
| Kelowna Habitat for Humanity | $ 4,000 |
| Mental Health Assoc Kelowna & District | $ 3,000 |
| Central Okanagan Community Gardens | $ 1,000 |
| Festivals and Special Events Development Society | $ 2,500 |
| Lake Country Open Air Performance Society | $ 1,250 |
| Gellatly Bay Trails & Parks Society | $ 1,500 |
| Kelowna Community Music School | $ 1,500 |
| Summer Arts Scene for Youth | $ 2,250 |
| Central Okanagan Heritage Society | $ 3,500 |
| Central Okanagan Hospice | $ 4,000 |
| Central Okanagan Search and Rescue | $ 10,000 |
| Children's Festival Society of Kelowna | $ 4,500 |
| Hope Air | $ 10,000 |
| Kelowna Art Gallery Association | $ 5,000 |
| Kelowna Ballet Society | $ 5,000 |
| Kelowna Community Food Bank | $ 6,000 |
| Kelowna Family Services Centre | $ 4,000 |
| Kelowna Museums Society | $ 5,000 |
| New Opportunities for Women (NOW Canada) | $ 5,000 |
| Okanagan Artists Alternative Association | $ 4,000 |
| Seniors Outreach Services Society (SOSS) | $ 4,000 |
| Sing for Your Life Foundation | $ 3,000 |
| The Salvation Army | $ 3,000 |
| The Sunshine Foundation of Canada | $ 1,000 |
| Total |
$ 121,000
|
| 2009 Discretionary Grants (Spring and Fall Cycle) | |
| Kelowna Canada Concert Society | $ 1,000 |
| Kelowna Visual and Performing Arts Centre | $ 2,500 |
| Sunshine Theatre Society | $ 1,000 |
| Lake Country Open Air Performance Society | $ 1,250 |
| Peachland Centennial Steering Committee | $ 2,000 |
| Festivals Kelowna | $ 3,000 |
| Kelowna Ballet Society | $ 2,000 |
| Kelowna Community Music School | $ 1,500 |
| The Okanagan Film Festival Society | $ 1,000 |
| Kelowna Art Gallery Association | $ 3,000 |
| Generation II Dance Society | $ 3,750 |
| The Okanagan Festival Singers | $ 5,000 |
| Okanagan Artists Alternative Association | $ 10,000 |
| BC Student Leadership Conference | $ 3,000 |
| Okanagan Mobility Solutions 2006 Society | $ 2,500 |
| Kelowna Community Resources | $ 2,500 |
| Centre Cultural Francais de l’ Okanagan | $ 1,600 |
| The Bridge Youth and Family Services | $ 6,800 |
| NOW Canada | $ 2,500 |
| Astronomical Society of Canada | $ 5,000 |
| Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society | $ 5,000 |
| Silver Lake Forest Education Society | $ 1,600 |
| The Clubhouse | $ 2,500 |
| Community Recreation Initiative Society | $ 3,000 |
| Canadian Red Cross | $ 2,000 |
| Inn from the Cold | $ 2,000 |
| Kelowna Family Services Centre | $ 8,000 |
| Elevation Outdoor Experiential Programs Association | $ 1,400 |
| The Design Centre for Sustainability at UBCO | $ 3,750 |
| Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs | $ 5,000 |
| The McCreary Centre Society | $ 1,000 |
|
Total |
$ 96,150 |
A public foundation can only make grants to "qualified donees" which are organizations that can issue official donation receipts according to CRA standards under the Income Tax Act. These organizations include a registered charity; a registered Canadian amateur athletic association; a housing corporation resident in Canada constituted exclusively to provide low-cost housing for the aged; a Canadian municipality; the United Nations and its agencies; a university that is outside Canada that is prescribed to be a university the student body of which ordinarily includes students from Canada; a charitable organization outside Canada to which Her Majesty in right of Canada has made a gift during the fiscal period or in the 12 months immediately preceding the period and Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province. If you are unsure of whether you are a "qualified donee" or not contact the COF office for advice.
Central Okanagan Foundation grants are not intended to be sustaining grants to support the general operating costs of organizations committed over several years. However, through our grantmaking, it is our intention to be useful to charitable agencies at critical junctures and times of particular need which may include organizations requiring funds to reorganize their work, policy and/or practice. During these times of transition, the greatest need for funding support may be grants that enable agencies to strategically manage or adapt to changes that significantly impact their scale, mandate or core services. Committees may consider grants towards these types of activities. In addition, we also consider requests for time-limited operating/core funding for new 'start-up' agencies when it can be demonstrated that such funding will enable new initiatives to meet emerging needs not currently served by existing organizations.
Our Conflict of Interest Policy is very explicit about the need for Advisory Committee members to remove themselves from discussion pertaining to applications when they are on the board of, or employed by, the applicant organizations. In situations where the involvement is less direct, conflict of interest is most effectively avoided by declaring the bias and asking for guidance in terms of participation in the discussion. A Committee member can do this by contacting the Grants Coordinator prior to the meeting, discussing the potential conflict with the Chair, or by declaring the potential conflict to the whole Committee during the meeting.
Need our logo for your website and other materials? Grab it as a JPEG or PNG file
Central Okanagan Foundation Grant Information Workshops
To assist non-profits in applying for grants to the Central Okanagan Foundation offer Grant Information Workshops each year. The information Workshop will be focused on how to complete a Central Okanagan Foundation grant proposal, as well as eligibility and process of the grant program.
Details about the next Grant Information Workshop to come soon.
Central Okanagan Foundation
217-1889 Springfield Road., Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 5V5
Tel 250-861-6160 Fax 250-861-6156
© 2010 Central Okanagan Foundation. All Rights Reserved | Board Member Login
Site by Think. Marketing Inc.
