Generosity Amidst Tough Economic Times

When the economy suffers, charities suffer. So it goes. But not always.

Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation has received a generous gift of $50, 000 from an anonymous donor. At a time when donations have shrunk and community foundations across the country are feeling the impact of an economy under duress, this is particularly heartening news.

Involved with the foundation for over five years, the donor specified the gift be used for "flow-through" grants, meaning the money won't be placed in an endowment fund, but will be used instead to provide immediate support to charities in the community. "This grant will allow our Community Foundation to work with other funders to begin to address the greatest needs in our community" says Jane Neath, the foundation's Executive Director.

The new gift will be used towards the foundation's Vital Impact initiative, which directs 20% of the foundation's flow-through or unrestricted grants towards resolving issues identified by the 2008 Waterloo Region Vital Signs report. Among the top priorities: helping children with early learning challenges. Vital Signs revealed that close to one-third of Waterloo's kids in senior kindergarten did not meet the level required to start school, and that an average of 62.5% of its Grade 3 students found it very challenging to pass Ontario's standardized reading test.

With the foundation's existing endowment funds under enormous pressure, a substantial donation of this kind holds special significance for the example it sets. Adds Neath: "It is the donor's hope that his gift will encourage others to also provide gifts that can be directed to needs in our community"

Neath is proud of the community's response during the economic downturn, noting that "donors have been fantastic," and have continued to support the work of the Community Foundation in many ways. At a recent fundraiser, they proved it once again - by committing $12,825 to a $23,000 joint initiative (with the Waterloo Region Record and the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation) that will send many of the community's disadvantaged kids to summer camp this year.

While the economy may take a hit, "perhaps there is no better meaning of community than what can be experienced by people across our community coming together and pooling their resources so that together, we can help those experiencing difficult times. "