Banff Community Foundation selected for Kick Start grants

From the Rocky Mountain Outlook
January 10, 2008

By Dominique Carrier - BANFF

A local granting agency typically accustomed to giving money to other community organizations was recently given a boost after being chosen to receive a national environmental grant.

The Banff Community Foundation (BCF) has been selected to receive one of 15 "Environmental Kick Start" grants provided by The McConnell Family Foundation/Community Foundations of Canada.

"It's a tremendous opportunity for us as a granting agency in the valley; we will ask, what's the appropriateness, how do we be effective in environmental granting, how do we lead, and how do we live that life?" said Lorraine Widmer-Carson, executive director.

The BCF is a national organization, belonging to the community foundations of Canada. It essentially serves communities of Banff National Park.

"One of the real things we do is give out money, but in order to do that, we need to bring money in, so we have to apply for grants too," said Widmer-Carson.

Since 2004, the foundation has distributed over $125,000 in support of more than 60 projects. In 2007 alone, the BCF gave over $50,000 over two granting cycles.

The BCF works with donors to assess the needs of community agencies and consists of a volunteer advisory committee and a board of directors.

With the recently awarded money, the BCF will hire an Environmental Research Assistant, who will help define and communicate the role of its foundation to local environmental concerns in Banff National Park.

"They will help to advise what is an appropriate role for a community foundation, what are the kinds of activities we should be undertaking, said Widmer-Carson.

"Looking at our internal practice and helping us to cut down on our electricity, our water, our paper consumption, so that we'll try to be modelling best practice."

As a condition of accepting the Environmental Kick Start grant, the BCF is committed to raising an additional $30,000 of new funding to support environmental goals.

"We must pledge that we will match the money, so we receive $15,000 in the next two years. We have to develop a fund of another $30,000 which will be used for environmental grants," said Widmer-Carson.

With the Kick Start grant, the BCF will develop a plan that demonstrates leadership in environmental stewardship and establishing best business practices. It will also help the BCF increase its environmental grant-making activities.

"We'll be able to potentially host some open houses or community group conversations, community consultation processes, we'll talk to our environmental partners, organizational in the area, and determine what are the gaps, what are the overlaps, said Widmer-Carson.

"This money will not flow to other agencies, this will be used for our own internal strategic planning."

Over the last year, the BCF has seen a slight increase in grant applications, as well as an increase in the amount of funds being requested. The BCF moved into a new office in October in Bear Street Mall, and has seen a significant increase in their assets.

"The total assets of the foundation have now grown to be about $5 million dollars, which is huge, that's tremendous growth in a year," said Widmer-Carson.

The Banff Community Foundation Winter 2008 grant applications are due January 21. For more information and applications, please visit www.banffcommunityfoundation.org.