The Prince George Community Foundation announced today that it will provide $45,000 to local organizations working to support women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse individuals working towards a future grounded in equity, inclusion, and justice. The fund is part of a partnership with Community Foundations of Canada, funded through the Government of Canada. The Prince George Community Foundation is one of a few local community foundations across Canada that are taking part.
Qualified charities in Prince George can apply for up to $40,000 in funding, while the remaining $5,000 will be disbursed through the South Cariboo Community Enhancement Foundation in 100 Mile House. The PGCF is pleased to work in partnership with the SCCEF on this initiative.
“To ensure a just recovery and a more inclusive future, it is more pressing than ever to invest in women, girls, two-spirit people and gender-diverse people. We’re pleased to be taking part in this funding initiative as we help to advance equality in our community,” said Mindy Stroet, Director of Development, with the PGCF.
The Fund for Gender Equality is part of a five-year initiative to advance gender equality in Canada, led by a collaboration between participating community foundations, Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with support from the Government of Canada.
From November 3 to 30, 2020 the PGCF will begin accepting applications for funding from organizations at the “heart” of the women’s movement, with a focus on organizations that have demonstrated a long-term commitment to empowering women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people through their mission, activities, or partnerships. Grants can be used for a variety of purposes, including to pilot new initiatives, to address long-standing community needs, or to support a just recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. The initiatives themselves may touch on a wide range of areas that are affected by gender equality, including food insecurity, income inequality, racial injustice, domestic violence, and many more. In particular, the Fund will prioritize initiatives and organizations that are ‘self-led’—those that are led by the same groups that they focus on serving. Applications will be reviewed in December and it is expected that funding will be issued in January 2021. Charities and community organizations are invited to visit the foundation website for eligibility and application details.
“At Community Foundations of Canada, our purpose is to “relentlessly pursue a future where everyone belongs,” said Andrea Dicks, Community Foundations of Canada President. “To create communities of true belonging, we need to advance gender equality across the country. Investing in women is not just the right thing to do, it is the strategic choice. By funding women-led and women-serving organizations, we can deliver double the impact—support decent work for female staff and support outstanding programming at community-led organizations that also serve women, girls, Two-Spirit people and gender-diverse people. We’re grateful for the financial support from the Government of Canada and the leadership of local community foundations like the Prince George Community Foundation who are taking part in these efforts.”