About Sustainable Community Grants

2010 Application Deadlines: March 5 and September 10.

Through our Sustainable Community Grants Program, ACU welcomes the opportunity to support short-term projects and ongoing programs that help to foster self-reliant, sustainable communities and neighbourhoods. Each year we invest a minimum of 2% of our pre-tax earnings (averaged over three years) to provide grants to community organizations in support of such projects and programs.

Our support is focused on three areas:

  • Community Renewal
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Co-operative Development

Grant range $500 to $5,000

Community Renewal

ACU seeks to invest in community leaders working to reduce poverty and homelessness, build assets, and foster economic self-reliance.
We give priority to community efforts that directly benefit:

  • People living in poverty (individuals and families)
  • Specific marginalized members of our community (such as Aboriginal, newcomers, youth, people with a disability)
  • Disinvested neighbourhoods.

In particular, we are interested in supporting initiatives that:

  • Create economic opportunity (such as skills, employment, self-employment)
  • Build financial knowledge, skills, and confidence (such as money management training)
  • Build community assets (such as leadership, identity and pride, safety and non-violence, community spaces, ‘green’ space)
  • Increase access to affordable quality housing
  • Increase the social and economic participation of marginalized members of the community and those living in poverty
  • Create and strengthen enterprises that add value to the community
  • Build the capacity of community leaders working to renew community.

Environmental Sustainability

ACU seeks to invest in community leaders working to create positive solutions to environmental concerns.
In particular, we are interested in supporting initiatives that:

  • Encourage action to address climate change concerns
  • Promote access to clean air, safe drinking water, and food security for all
  • Protect and restore biodiversity and threatened ecosystems.
  • Promote positive environmental action and leadership
  • Build the capacity of environmental leaders working for positive change

Cooperative Development

ACU seeks to invest in community leaders working to develop and strengthen individual cooperatives and the cooperative movement.
In particular, we are interested in supporting initiatives that:

  • Help to create and develop successful cooperatives
  • Foster cooperation among cooperatives to effect positive social, economic and/or environmental change
  • Promote the Cooperative Principles and the benefits of the cooperative model to the general public.
  • Build the capacity of cooperative leaders working to strengthen the movement

 

Who is eligible to apply?

  • Associations, societies, charities, cooperatives and social enterprises (a business that has a social, environmental or cultural purpose and uses its profits to strengthen the business or otherwise achieve its intended purpose).
  • Organizations whose missions and values are consistent with the mission and values of Assiniboine Credit Union.

We do NOT provide Sustainable Community Grants for:

  • Individuals or private businesses
  • Political parties and affiliated activities
  • Religious activities
  • Projects or programs taking place outside of Manitoba
  • Health care facilities; medical research, counseling or therapeutic services, institutional services or equipment
  • Fundraising events and capital campaigns (see Community Sponsorships)
  • Community events and conferences (see Community Sponsorships)

Application and selection process:

  • We accept applications twice a year. Our 2010 deadlines for applications are March 5, 2010 and September 10, 2010.
  • Applications must be typed and submitted on the 2010 Sustainable Community Grant Application Form. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Applications are assessed by a Community Grants Committee which makes funding recommendations to the Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility.
  • Applications are assessed primarily for their strong fit with our three focus areas and their potential to make a positive contribution to social, economic, and/or environmental change.
  • With limited funding available, when there is a need to choose between strong applicants, preference is given to:
    • Active members of Assiniboine Credit Union
    • Smaller community organizations that do not have substantial operating budgets or many other sources of funding.
  • You can expect to receive notification within 8 weeks of the application deadline.
  • The grants we approve are reported to our members and to the community.

Limitations and Conditions:

  • Only one Sustainable Community Grant per year per organization is permitted.
  • Successful applicants must submit a short report on the success of the project/program:
    • Projects: within 60 days of project completion
    • Ongoing Programs: within 12 months of application deadline
  • Organizations that have not submitted a satisfactory final report from a previous Sustainable Community Grant will not be considered for funding.
  • We expect grant recipients to appropriately recognize ACU’s contribution.

Download the 2010 Sustainable Community Grant Application Form

Download the 2010 Sustainable Community Grant Reporting Form