South Saskatchewan Vital Community Fund
- The information on this page was last updated on: March 29, 2023
*IMPORTANT NOTE:
We regret to inform you that the South Saskatchewan Vital Community Fund (formerly known as the Smart & Caring Fund) grant opportunity is being postponed for 2023 due to an insufficient amount of funds to disburse. We anticipate the grant opportunity to return for the regular scheduled deadline in 2024.
In the absence of this grant opportunity for 2023. We encourage charities to submit requests for funding through SSCF’s public grant catalogue.
POSTPONED FOR 2023
Please Note: Guidelines and Criteria may change prior to the application process opening for the May 15, 2024 deadline.
The application process will be open in our Online Grant Portal March 1, 2024.
If you have barriers with applying or reporting through SSCF’s Online Grant Portal please contact us as soon as possible to discuss alternatives.
306-751-4756
Guidelines and Criteria
The South Saskatchewan Community Foundation (SSCF) grants to charitable activities that promote and enhance vibrant, healthy and caring communities in south Saskatchewan. The purpose of the South Saskatchewan Vital Community Fund is to allow the SSCF to respond to areas of focus identified in its current Vital Signs Report.
The Vital Signs research identifies Belonging as the top community indicator, and six emerging issues:
1) Sustaining rural communities;
2) Drug abuse and addiction;
3) Safety in communities;
4) Racism towards new immigrants and Indigenous peoples
5) Homelessness and affordable housing; and
6) Mental health.
A grant up to a maximum of $5000 may be awarded to successful applicants.
(Activities must take place in south Saskatchewan: from Davidson west to the Alberta border, east to the Manitoba border, and south to the United States border.)
- SSCF can only grant to registered charities or qualified donees, and a Department of National Revenue Taxation Charity Registration number is an eligibility requirement. If not registered, a formal partner with charitable status is required and a formal agreement with the partner included as part of a complete application.
- SSCF funds are intended to benefit communities in south Saskatchewan, as per SSCF’s definition.
- Grants are generally intended to support projects rather than ongoing programs.
- Grants are intended to support projects that align with the purpose and intent of the South Saskatchewan Vital Community Fund and have a potential for positive community impact, as demonstrated by the application.
- Grants are made to organizations with the capacity to successfully complete the project, a well thought-out project plan, a reasonable budget, and a sound financial plan as demonstrated by the application.
- Grants are not made to organizations or for activities that promote discrimination or that do not comply with SSCF policy.
- Grants are not made to organizations engaged in multiple activities, which might redistribute SSCF funds to other organizations.
- Grants are not made to any religious organizations where the funds would be used to further the organization’s religious purposes.
- Grants are not made for any political purposes.
- Grants are not made to support projects normally financed by public tax funds or that appear to be sufficiently funded.
- Grants are not made for endowments, contingencies, operating or deficit financing.
- Grants are not made for fundraising, advertising or marketing activities.
- Organizations with any overdue SSCF reporting may be ineligible to apply to or receive new funds from SSCF.
- Organizations may only submit one application per the South Saskatchewan Vital Community Fund deadline.
- A grant agreement will be required. Grants are only to be used for the purpose described and approved. Any unused portion of the grant must be returned to SSCF.
- A report on how a grant has been expended and the impact it has made toward “building a better community” is required 60 days after the project end date.
How to Apply
- Submissions are to be made to SSCF by using our Online Grant Portal:
- Create a login profile with your contact information and that of your organization
- In advance of finalizing your application through the Online Grant Portal:
- Download and complete the required Grant Budget Form so that you are prepared to upload it as part of your complete application
- Have ready your Financial Statements and Annual Report to upload as part of a complete application; and
- Have ready any other pertinent materials, in electronic form, that you wish to upload as part of your application.
- Before applying, please read the application guidelines, and contact the SSCF office to confirm eligibility.
- You will receive a confirmation email immediately upon submission of your grant application. If you do not, please contact the SSCF office.
- SSCF office may request further details, if required.
- South Saskatchewan Vital Community Fund is a competitive grant program. The requests for support typically exceed the amount of funds available, and worthy projects may not be supportable. Applications are assessed by the South Saskatchewan Vital Community Committee, and decisions are approved by the SSCF Board of Directors.
- All SSCF decisions regarding an application and interpretations of guidelines and policies are final.
- SSCF has the right to update and revise its program information at any time.
Application Checklist
To be considered a complete application, the following documentation must be received by SSCF by the deadline (May 16, 2022 – 11:45pm):
- Complete and submitted Online Application Form
- Project budget – Grant Budget & Cost Form (revenues and expenses must equal)
- Project Plan (one page document that outlines the implementation of the project with key activities & timelines)
- Annual financial statements, preferably audited if the organization has been in existence for more than a year
- Copy of your most recent annual report, if available
- Agreement with partner (re. charitable status), if applicable
- All pertinent material that the applicant feels will help in the evaluation of the application.
We're Here to Help!
Do you have questions about applying for grants or scholarships? Curious about deadlines or would like more information?
Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
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