October 25, 2002
Brant Community Futures Development Corporation, operating as Enterprise Brant, was established under the federal government's Community Futures Program to provide local assistance that would create or maintain jobs in our community. This is achieved through providing loans, special project grants for community development, and self-employment programs.
Requests for assistance from several not-for-profit and charitable organizations looking to establish a base for their operations led to the creation of a pilot project called Community Office. The Community Office allows non-profit and charitable organizations to share costs, staffing, equipment and have an identity office. The benefits include increased efficiency of information sharing and effective utilization of limited resources.
Three partners approached Enterprise Brant and requested assistance to apply to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for funding to assist with the first two years of expenses for this project. Big on Brantford Brant (BOBB) runs community forums that focus on positive aspects of Brant County. The Grand Valley Educational Society (GVES) was formed to enhance post-secondary education in Brant County. Their biggest project to date was the fundraising campaign bringing Laurier University to Brantford. The third partner, Brantford Community Foundation (BCF), was established in 1998 to encourage philanthropy and give people an opportunity to enhance the quality of their lives and the lives of others within Brantford and Brant County. Community foundations are independent, volunteer driven, charitable organizations that aim to strengthen communities and create a sense of belonging. Permanent, income-earning funds are built within community foundations and the foundation makes grants from the earnings to support a range of local initiatives. The donated assets stay with the foundation forever to meet community needs. Grants are awarded from income on the assets.
Community foundations enable citizens to invest in the well being of their community with flexible gifting options. Donors can decide on the level of participation they wish for themselves and their families, and direct their donation in several ways depending on their interests.
Donors can choose unrestricted, field-of-interest, donor directed, and special interest funds. Donations of any size are gratefully received but donors can create a "Named Fund" with a donation over $5,000. Grants from the unrestricted fund support broad-based activities depending on the current local needs. A volunteer committee of active citizens in touch with community needs makes granting decisions.
Donor designated funds can support specific charities. The investment earnings from that fund are directed to a charity of the donor's choice. In the field-of-interest fund, a donor can specify a particular area of interest such as performing arts, children at risk, or seniors. For donor advised funds, the level of participation is greater. The donor advises the foundation each year as to which charitable organizations are to benefit from the earning of their fund.
Since becoming a part of the Community Office, the assets of the BCF have grown from $7,000 to over $1.7 million. Grants of $75,000 were made to community organizations last year and the foundation is now reviewing grant applications for 2002.
In 2001, Brantford Community Foundation grants were awarded to several local charities dedicated to improving the quality of life in our community. The largest grant was given to Operation Lift, an organization that provides transportation to seniors and the physically handicapped. Operation Lift was well established in Brantford but needed to expand services into the County of Brant. The grant from the foundation helped them with expansion expenses. As part of their service to the community, the foundation also assisted the City of Brantford with the administration of their grants program. Community Foundation volunteers reviewed and recommended that grants of $214,000 be awarded to local organizations and individuals meeting the grant criteria.
With the support of Enterprise Brant, the Community Office pilot project has flourished. Two new organizations have recently joined. The Brantford Community Foundation will soon be looking to hire an additional staff person to accomplish the increased workload. This successful project has enabled the other participants to expand their community programming by partnering and capacity building together. For more information about Enterprise Brant, contact Cindy Swanson at 519-752-4636.