United Way Greater Victoria and Victoria Foundation to Distribute Second Round of Funding for Non-Profits through Emergency Community Support Fund

Additional $685,000 in funding available to Greater Victoria charities supporting COVID-19 response and recovery

 VICTORIA, BC October 5, 2020 – United Way Greater Victoria (UWGV) and the Victoria Foundation are partnering again to distribute an additional $685,000 to local non-profits through Round 2 of the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). Combined with $1.635 million in funding provided in the spring, this means a total of $2.32 million will be granted to local charities through the program. The funding will provide local charities that are adapting their frontline services to support citizens experiencing heightened vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 21, 2020, The Government of Canada announced the nation-wide $350 Million Emergency Community Support Fund to be administered in collaboration with United Way Centraide Canada, Community Foundations of Canada and the Canadian Red Cross. The Government of Canada released Round 1 of the ECSF on May 19 and today Round 2 is live.

UWGV and the Victoria Foundation will begin accepting applications from today Oct 5 to October 30, 2020, for funding from qualified donees who serve our most vulnerable. Grants can be used for a variety of purposes, including staffing or resource needs, equipment and supplies and more. It’s expected that funds will be allocated before the end of November.

Charities and community organizations are encouraged to apply for funding to support their work. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit: victoriafoundation.bc.ca/ecsf/ or uwgv.ca/ecsf. To streamline the process, organizations will apply for funding from Victoria Foundation and/or United Way through a single application process.

“Charities and non-profit organizations are at the heart of our communities, helping the most vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 crisis. The Government of Canada is pleased to support these organizations through the Emergency Community Support Fund so that they can continue their invaluable work.” – The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

“We know how important this funding has been to local non-profits given the challenges they have faced to deliver programs and services and all in the face of increased demand,” said Mark Breslauer, CEO, UWGV. “This additional investment will continue to provide urgent relief across the Capital Regional District and help more of our most vulnerable. We are extremely grateful and we know it will change local lives.”

“We know our local charities and the people they serve are struggling,” said Sandra Richardson, CEO, Victoria Foundation. “Demand for services has increased dramatically and organizations are struggling to meet these needs with their limited resources. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for this additional support, and honoured that they have placed their trust in the Victoria Foundation to ensure these dollars are put to the highest and best use.”

On Oct. 6, Employment and Social Development Canada ESDC will run information webinars for community organizations interested in applying for ECSF Round 2 grants.

English webinar: Oct 6 at 01:00 p.m. (ET)

French webinar: Oct 6 at 02:30 p.m. (ET)

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