Deadline: 15-Mar-2024
The Community Foundation is seeking applications for the Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life to enhance and sustain a high quality of life in the rural communities of southwestern Alberta.
The Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life was established by local rancher William “Bill” Long and named in memory of his uncle, Henry Stewart Varley. The Varley family ranched southeast of Pincher Creek in the community of Fishburn for a century. The purpose of this fund is to provide support for a high quality of life throughout rural Southwestern Alberta, through organizations, projects, and initiatives that enhance rural communities. Grant applications to this fund are accepted twice yearly.
The Community Foundation’s Rural Life Grants Committee, comprised of Community Foundation directors and volunteers from across rural Southwestern Alberta, reviews and considers each application before making funding recommendations to the Board of Directors for final approval.
The Rural Life Grants committee considers the following key criteria when reviewing grant applications:
- Support for local organizations;
- Projects that support equity in the community;
- Projects that are responsive to emerging, versus ongoing needs;
- The breadth and/or depth of a project’s community impact; and
- Community support and/or collaboration of or on a project
Eligible Projects
- They encourage applications that prioritize support for local organizations; address equity, diversity, and inclusion; respond to emerging needs in the community; and demonstrate support from the community.
- The Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life is interested in supporting projects that demonstrate at least one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Project initiatives proposed by one or more qualified donees that encourage innovation through new approaches, new models, and new ways of making change for individuals in their communities.
- Community Collaboration –Project initiatives that encourage collaboration and community support in response to local issues.
- Education and training initiatives – Education and training initiatives that will develop and enhance the skills to strengthen organizations that support the rural community.
- Information and research initiatives – Projects that arise as the result of research and information initiatives that impact the rural community and quality of life of its citizens.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organization eligible for funding
- Are you located within their region? Their region stretches from the U.S. border north to Arrowwood, and from the B.C. border west to Grassy Lake. You must be located within this region, or carry out programming within this region to be eligible for funding.
- The Community Foundation can only grant to federally registered charities or qualified donees with a business number (BN). You can check your organization’s charitable status by visiting the Canada Revenue Agency Website. Please note that this number is different from an Alberta Societies Number. The Community Foundation cannot fund societies unless they are also federally registered.
- If you do not have a CRA BN, you may still apply for funding through a partnership with another registered charity, municipality or school district.
Ineligible
- Please be aware that the Rural Life Grants Program does not fund:
- Proposals that focus mainly on capital expenses such as new construction, renovations, large equipment items, playgrounds, parks, and vehicles
- Retroactive expenses incurred prior to the final grants decision date;
- Deficit reduction and endowment building;
- Activities thatserve primarily the membership or purposes of religious or political organizations; and
- Projects that do not benefit residents of rural Southwestern Alberta.
For more information, visit Community Foundation.
