Provincial Press Release April 7, 2021 @ 2:04pm published at 2:10pm
Twenty-one civil society organizations will benefit from $7 million in provincial funding to support community recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the new Civil Society Fund, Alberta’s government is providing $20 million over three years to expand civil society’s capacity to address social problems. This year, $7 million will support vulnerable Albertans during the pandemic and help build lasting solutions to pressing social challenges, some of which have been aggravated by the pandemic.
“We have received a tremendous response for civil society funding from organizations across the province. The successful projects will be crucial in helping to support vulnerable Albertans as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This investment is critical to ensuring the needs of all Albertans are met, while sustaining core services over the long term.” Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Community and Social Services
Civil society includes not-for-profit and voluntary organizations, registered charities, informal groups, private sector organizations and individuals pursuing social good. The Premier’s Council on Charities and Civil Society identified four main priorities to focus on in order to build capacity and move towards recovery:
Enhance system infrastructure to enable collaboration.
Advance civil society research and data to enhance cross-sector collaboration.
Prioritize organizational transformation for innovative delivery models and more collaborative approaches.
Support financial sustainability and resilience with innovative fundraising, social finance and social enterprise.
“The Civil Society Fund addresses the needs the Premier’s Council on Charities and Civil Society heard during our stakeholder engagement. I am pleased to see the diverse array of projects being funded and believe this will have a significant impact on the civil society sector.” Joel Christie, chair, Premier’s Council on Charities and Civil Society
Applications for the first year of funding through the Civil Society Fund closed in January. A cross-ministry review process, led by a committee of staff from the ministries of Community and Social Services, Seniors and Housing, Service Alberta, Children’s Services and Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women, reviewed applications for initiatives that could build civil society capacity and promote further recovery of the sector.
A full list of the successful grant recipients can be found online.
Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with precise measures to bend the curve, sustain small businesses and protect Alberta’s health-care system.
Quick facts
Alberta has more than 26,000 not-for-profit organizations, employing more than 280,000 Albertans.
Each year, 1.6 million Albertans provide 262 million volunteer hours.
Civil Society Fund grants are one-time only.
Eligible applicants can request up to $1.5 million for their project.
Successful applicants will have 24 months from the date of the grant agreement to complete their grant activities.