$60M investment to support B.C. non-profits

Oct 30, 2023 | 1:43 PM

Organizations providing services for British Columbians will have more financial support to access.

The province is investing $60 million into the Stronger Community Services Fund that non-profits can access through two existing and two new streams.

Under the investment, $25 million will be available under the new Community Prosperity Fund, while $22.9 million will be granted through the Lighthouse Organizations Fund.

The Community Prosperity Fund will provide grants to community foundations, while the Lighthouse stream will offer financial support to large, multi-service organizations with a regional or provincial footprint that work to reduce poverty.

The existing streams, Recovery and Resiliency and LEVEL BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), will receive $7.1 million and $5 million, respectively.

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The Recovery and Resiliency program provides flexible, multi-year funding to organizations affected by the pandemic, while LEVEL BIPOC provides grants to BIPOC-led-non profits.

The province noted that all organizations receiving funding from the existing streams have been contacted.

“The work done by our province’s non-profits reflects some of the most important ways British Columbians show up for each other in tough times,” Premier David Eby said.

“That’s why our government is supporting non-profits, so they can support people struggling with challenges like global inflation, homelessness and addiction. We are committed to make sure British Columbians can count on their services for years to come.”

The investment was announced Oct. 30, which is also Non-Profit Recognition Day.

“Non-profits are the face of social supports, poverty reduction, and community empowerment in B.C.,” Megan Dykeman, Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits, said.

“Non-Profit Recognition Day is another key step in celebrating and supporting the non-profits that people in British Columbia rely on. We will continue to take action to create conditions for our partners to sustain and grow. Together, we can deliver better services.”

More than 31,000 non-profits operate in B.C. The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction stated those groups employ an estimated 335,000 people and reportedly make an economic contribution of $28 billion to the province’s gross domestic product.

by Liam Verster

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