Groups Can Apply for Grants

Peter McIntyre Wednesday, 17 February 2010 10:32 107.5 KISSFM

Community groups hurt by government funding cuts, have another source of money to turn to. The Community Foundation of the North Okanagan will be handed out discretionary grants in May, with applications now being accepted.President Mike Tindall (pictured) says the board is delighted to be able to give out money again after taking last year off due to the economy. "The good news is that we're back in a position to actually begin distributing money again. We realized ten percent last year (return on investments), and the last figures I saw, we were at six percent for this year. It means we've got $220,000 that was distributed to named donees, that's the money we hold for people but it's designated for specific things, and we've got $65,000 which is discretionary, and that's what the public can apply for."

Tindall says the main criteria for being considered is you have to be a registered charity, and the successful groups will be determined by need, and whether or not they are doing anything to help themselves. Groups around the North Okanagan can apply. Applications are on their website at www.cfno.org, with the deadline at the end of March .