Vancouver Foundation Announces $1 Million in New Funding for Arts and Culture

On April 9, Vancouver Foundation launched In Our Hearts to announce the second phase of the Community Response Fund, an ongoing support fund founded by the Foundation along with Vancity, United Way Lower Mainland, and the City of Vancouver. Currently just under $6-million and growing, it addresses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BC charities. First launched on March 18 to provide essential support to frontline organizations, the fund is now expanding its scope with a new injection of $1-million in additional funding from Vancouver Foundation to offer vital support to the arts and culture sector.

“The first phase of the Community Response Fund has already provided much needed funding to more than 30 frontline organizations severely impacted by this crisis,” said Kevin McCort, CEO of Vancouver Foundation. “But we also know that our community’s strength and vitality is dependent on other pillars like arts and culture organizations who are also devastated by the pandemic. This is why we are launching a second stream of funding for these types of charities who are just as important in uniting us and will play a pivotal role when our community recovers from this crisis.”

The additional $1-million injected into the fund today seeks to move beyond immediate reaction, providing charitable groups with resources to build long-term resiliency in anticipation of continued and prolonged disruption. As it does so, it also opens the program eligibility to include arts, culture, and other community programming that are not considered frontline human services — but who are just as important to the social fabric that ties our community ecosystem together.

Local businesses and business leaders are invited to provide essential community support through contributions to the program. Rize Alliance and lululemon are stepping up as corporate champions. They’re joined by Tom Shepansky, founder of Rethink Canada and a champion among individual donors. And The Polygon Gallery, a nonprofit champion in the arts and culture space. Each of these community-minded champions – corporate, individual, and non-profit organization – is challenging others to step up and share what’s in their hearts.

The partnership extends its special appreciation to Global BC and Vancouver Sun, who have carried the important message of the fund as its official Media Sponsors.

For more information or to donate to the fund visit vancouverfoundation.ca/covid19.

For more information about how to participate in the In Our Hearts campaign, visit: vancouverfoundation.ca/whats-new/in-our-hearts.

To apply for this fund, click here.