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$400M Community Services Recovery Fund application process opens

Nelson’s Osprey Community Foundation is helping to manage applications
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Volunteers with the Nelson Electric Tramway Society, who purchased a new exhaust system for their shop with assistance from Osprey Community Foundation. Photo: Submitted

Submitted by Osprey Community Foundation

Karina Gould, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, together with the Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada, and United Way Centraide Canada, have announced that the application process for the Community Services Recovery Fund is now open.

Community foundations, including Osprey Community Foundation are managing the application process alongside the Canadian Red Cross and local United Ways to reach a broad and diverse range of community service organizations, such as charities, non-profits and Indigenous governing bodies.

The Community Services Recovery Fund is a historic one-time investment of $400 million that will help community service organizations to adapt, to modernize and to be better equipped to improve the efficacy, accessibility and sustainability of the community services that they provide, so they can continue to support communities across Canada through the pandemic recovery and beyond.

Community service organizations are at the forefront of addressing communities’ needs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the early phases of the pandemic, they have struggled with increased demand for their services, reduced revenues, declines in charitable giving due to the rising cost of living, and a greater need to make use of digital tools. Many of them are struggling to recover and adapt their services to the changing needs of Nelson, Slocan Valley, Salmo Valley and North Kootenay Lake.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, these organizations have stood up for and supported our community,” says Osprey executive director Tina Choi. “We will be forever grateful for their efforts. Now, through this fund, the Osprey Community Foundation will support projects at charities, non-profits and Indigenous governing bodies that invest in their internal systems and processes, making them more resilient for the future.”

Applications for funding can be submitted now until Feb. 21, 2023. Organizations are encouraged to complete the interactive quiz to determine where and how to apply. Additional information and resources, including an applicant guide, can be found on the Community Services Recovery Fund website (https://communityservicesrecoveryfund.ca/).

For more information, visit the National Funders’ Community Services Recovery Fund website. Eligible organizations can also register for the webinar through the website. A recording of the webinar will also be made available on the website.