Central Okanagan Foundation

We are pleased to be able to support these workshops for The Breathe Project!

🚨 Grant Information Workshop – March 12, 2025 🚨 Are you planning to apply for funding from the Central Okanagan Foundation? Join us for an information session to learn about eligibility, program updates, and the application process. 📅 Wednesday, March 12, 2025 📍 Rotary Centre for the Arts – 2nd Floor Boardroom ⏰ 1:30 PM Start This session is a great opportunity to ensure your application is strong and meets funding criteria. 🔗 Register today! Contact Lisa Watson at lisa@centralokanaganfoundation.org or call 250-861-6160, ext. 7. #CentralOkanaganFoundation #GrantFunding #NonprofitSupport #CommunityGrants  

Proud to be a sponsor for this event! Registration is now open for the EVOLVE 2025 conference! In its third year, the conference will be held on April 5th at the Coast Capri Hotel.  If you are a non-profit volunteer, executive director, board member or staff, this capacity-building conference is for you! The theme for 2025, Engaging, Collaborative, Impactful, emphasizes the importance of community networking, ongoing learning, and making meaningful change in the nonprofit sector. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gwsANQ6E When: April 5th Wh0: Non-profit leaders, staff, volunteers and directors Where: Coast Capri Hotel Cost: $65 (early bird special Jan 20 – Feb 14) Register today to be the first in line for breakout session selections! City of Kelowna presents the EVOLVE conference, made possible with the support of United Way, First West Credit Union, Central Okanagan Foundation, and EQ Development Group.

Are you a student-athlete striving for excellence in both academics and sports? The Kelsey Serwa Scholarship was created to support youth who share Kelsey’s incredible passion for sport, education, and community. Kelsey Serwa is an Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Champion in ski cross. Beyond her athletic achievements, she’s dedicated to making a positive impact through education and philanthropy, earning a place in the BC Sports Hall of Fame. This scholarship is Kelsey’s way of giving back to the community that supported her journey, helping young athletes pursue their dreams while excelling in their studies. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/g_Fn2Q7k Thank you Kelsey Serwa for creating this scholarship opportunity! There will be two $2,500 scholarships available. Application Deadline: April 17, 2025

Now accepting applications for the Evan Guthrie Scholarship! The Evan Guthrie Scholarship is aimed at grade 12 student athletes. The fund is in place to recognize an athlete’s journey through sport and education. Evan Guthrie is an elite cross-country mountain bike racer who has competed on the national and international stage while completing his education. "As someone born and raised in the Okanagan, it means a lot to me to be able to support our local student athletes" says Guthrie who graduated from Mount Boucherie Secondary. There will be one $500 scholarship available. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/ggH_D-au Application Deadline: April 17, 2025

We would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Thank you to all our volunteers, donors, partners and non-profit organizations and charities that helped to make our community better in 2024! We look forward to working with you in 2025! We would also like to share that the deadline for charitable donations has been extended to February 28, 2025! For more information please check out this link: https://lnkd.in/g5Sq7v3E

🌟 Our 2024 Annual Community Report is Here! 🌟 We’re excited to share the highlights of an impactful year at the Central Okanagan Foundation. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the dedication of our partners, over $6 million in grants were distributed, supporting vital initiatives in housing, mental health, education, and so much more. ✨ Key Achievements: ●    Named one of Canada's Top 50 Equitable Funders ●    325 grants awarded to local organizations ●    $167,500 in scholarships and bursaries to empower students This report is a celebration of our community’s resilience and compassion. Together, we are building a brighter, more inclusive future for the Central Okanagan. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/gPj3iHdT Thank you CRIS Adaptive for this fabulous cover photo!

The Central Okanagan Foundation will be administering the Community Social Development Grants on behalf of the City of Kelowna . Are you a registered charity or non-profit organization based in Kelowna and interested in applying? Join us for an information session to learn about program updates that may impact the application process: 📅 Date: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 ⏰ Time: 1:30 p.m. 📍 Location: Pacific Safety Products Boardroom, Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave., Kelowna 💡 Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and ask questions! TO REGISTER: Contact Lisa Watson at ✉️ lisa@centralokanaganfoundation.org or 📞 250-861-6160, ext. 7. We look forward to seeing you there! Full application guidelines will be posted on the Central Okanagan Foundation Website in mid-December.

November 15 was National Philanthropy Day, a day to celebrate the extraordinary change that philanthropy has helped create in our world. This day is set aside every year to highlight the generosity and kindness of individuals in our community who contribute to causes and initiatives that matter. The Central Okanagan Foundation was proud to support the Association of Fundraising Professionals' National Philanthropy Day Luncheon held at the Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan Resort. Thank you for the opportunity!

Central Okanagan Foundation has been named one of Canada’s Top 50 Equitable Funders by Future of Good and Quake Lab. The Foundation ranked #24. We are extremely humbled by this recognition. We are inspired to keep getting better and doing better, for the greater good of the community. #LeadWithEquity