First West Foundation Boosts Local Non-Profits with Significant Funding

Strategic Insights -

The First West Foundation's Envision Financial Community Endowment has granted a total of $517,680 to deserving charities throughout the Fraser Valley, including groups based in Abbotsford and Mission. The funding will support a wide range of initiatives, from mental health and suicide awareness to sustainable agriculture and prisoner reintegration programs. One notable recipient, LINC's Emma's Acres, will use the funding to expand its social enterprise and support local food security.

Key Takeaways:

  • The First West Foundation's Envision Financial Community Endowment granted $517,680 to 29 charities in the Fraser Valley, including $363,000 in Impact grants, $70,000 in Capacity grants, and $84,680 in SOAR grants.
  • Local non-profit groups in Abbotsford and Mission, such as The Centre for Epilepsy and Seizure Education in BC, BC Agriculture in the Classroom, and BeMorr Society Mental Health and Suicide Awareness, received funding.
  • LINC's Emma's Acres, a sustainable agriculture social enterprise, will use the funding to support local food security and provide opportunities for prisoner reintegration through conditional release and employable skills.
  • Approximately 1,500 people are impacted by LINC every year, and the funding represents an investment in human transformation and community healing.
  • First West Foundation is committed to exceeding the Canada Revenue Agency's minimum disbursement rate of five per cent, aiming for a 12 per cent granting rate in 2025.
  • The Foundation has donated over $13 million in grants to local community groups and projects across British Columbia since its establishment in 1996.

Statistics:

  • $517,680: total funding granted to 29 charities in the Fraser Valley
  • $363,000: Impact grants awarded to 18 charities
  • $70,000: Capacity grants awarded to 7 charities
  • $84,680: SOAR grants awarded to 4 charities
  • 1,500: number of people impacted by LINC every year
  • 12%: First West Foundation's target disbursement rate in 2025
  • 5%: minimum disbursement rate required by the Canada Revenue Agency
  • $13 million: total donations made by First West Foundation to local community groups and projects across British Columbia since 1996
  • 1,138,278: total investment in 2025 for Fraser Valley charities, representing $620,598 to be released through endowments in the fall

Sources:

  • Abbotsford News: "First West Foundation boosts local non-profits with significant funding" (2025)
  • First West Foundation: "2025 Grantees" (firstwestfoundation.ca/content/2025grantees)