The Saskatchewan Consortium announces first round of Government of Canada’s Investment Readiness Program recipients by awarding $403,350 to 11 social purpose organizations within Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Consortium, which is a mix of community foundations, charities, cooperatives, businesses and economic development organizations came together to evaluate more than 50 applications in the first round of available funding to facilitate an opportunity for more provincial social purpose enterprises to be investment ready. More funding will be available in a second application round beginning September 8, 2020.
The Consortium awarded $403,350 in funding to 11 social purpose organizations in Saskatchewan, as part of the Government of Canada’s Investment Readiness Program (IRP). Their work is creating meaningful jobs, strengthening the charitable and non-profit sector and addressing social challenges to help ensure we can build back better after COVID-19. These organizations will be better prepared to receive investment, including through the Government of Canada’s Social Finance Fund.
This funding has supported projects including:
- $30,000 – Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan;
- $38,350 – Community Living, Saskatoon;
- $25,000 – Heart Linked;
- $30,000 – Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc.;
- $50,000 – Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS);
- $40,000 – Prince Albert Metis Women’s Association Inc.;
- $20,000 – READ Saskatoon;
- $50,000 – Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Programming Inc, Saskatoon;
- $50,000 – Street Culture Project Inc., Regina;
- $60,000 – YWCA Regina; and
- $10,000 – Cowessess First Nation.
“Saskatchewan organizations and businesses deserve an opportunity to be a part of the social enterprise landscape across Canada,” says Donna Ziegler, Executive Director of the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation. “The funding provides an opportunity for new ideas to be about more than the bottom line. As a Consortium, we’ve come together to give our applicants a chance to bring their ideas to life and feel good about the work they can do in building a better community for everyone right here. We are thrilled that the second round of IRP funding in Saskatchewan will open September 8, 2020.”
“As Canada enters a period of pandemic recovery, it’s crucial we invest in organizations who are helping us think and do things differently. We don’t want to go back to the status quo. We want to build back better, and create more resilient, sustainable and inclusive communities, where economic opportunities are fair and the benefits of wealth are shared,” says Andrew Chunilall, CEO of Community Foundations of Canada, a national partner in the Investment Readiness Program.
Social purpose organizations strengthen local economies while giving back and creating more resilient and sustainable communities. IRP also creates and advances new earned revenue possibilities for charities and non-profits during this challenging time. For these reasons, IRP has a key role to play in pandemic recovery and also in moving Canada towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. They promote prosperity while protecting people and our planet. For more information about the IRP, visit the national website at irp-ppi.ca.
Applications for the second and final round of funding for CFC’s IRP program will be accepted starting September 8, 2020 until October 9, 2020.
For more information please contact:
Donna Ziegler, Executive Director, SSCF
306-751-4956
This project is part of the Investment Readiness Program.
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