Winkler and Morden have shown strong support for their local community foundations, and directors are again looking to see that trend continue with the upcoming giving challenge week.
Giving to the community foundation between November 10 and 16 will see every gift during this week stretched by The Winnipeg Foundation and the Manitoba government with each community foundation eligible to receive up to $2,000 each from the Winnipeg Foundation and the Manitoba government.
“Winkler was in the top two communities for receiving the most gifts during the Giving Challenge,” noted Myra Peters, executive director of the Winkler Community Foundation, which she added has been among the top fundraisers in the province for several years now.
Last year, the foundation brought in over $148,000 in gifts, and the matching dollars took their total to over $152,000 – second only to Dauphin.
“We were super excited for the support that we received in our community, knowing especially that the gifts we received in the giving challenge have a lasting impact on our community, allowing us to give back more each year in grants, which is huge.”
“We do see some of our donors waiting until the giving challenge and having their dollars stretched, which is a great opportunity to have even more impact in our community.”
“Our community is very generous,” she said. “When you give to a community foundation, you’re giving to projects that give back year after year.”
In Morden, the foundation last year brought in over $45,000, so the matching dollars took its total to over $49,000.
“I am happy and surprised that the Morden community is becoming more aware about the Endow Manitoba giving challenge,” said Maia Vicente, a community foundations co-ordinator who works with the Morden Area Foundation.
“Looking back, from the years 2022 to 2024, there is an average increase of 21 per cent in the number of donors and 23 per cent in the amount received,” she noted.
Vicente commented on the impact the giving challenge has on the foundations, especially with the stretching dollars.
“The stretching dollars is a good motivation to everyone, thus increasing the donation to the Morden Area Foundation general community fund that is used for granting different organizations. More funds means more grants or projects to be benefitted.”
Vicente is hopeful the Morden foundation could at least up its tally a little bit this year.
“Given the stretching funds from Décor Cabinets and the estate of Harold Bollenbach, the foundation is hoping to reach more than $50,000 in donations this year.
The foundation held a kickoff Monday at 11 a.m. at the foundation office in Morden, and board members will also be at Gardenland Co-op grocery store Nov. 12 & 15 from 2 to 5 p.m.
If you want to donate to your local foundation, you can make a gift online with your credit card and print off your tax receipt. Visit the endowmb.org website or your local foundation for more information.
You can also buy coffee at Co-op gas bars that week with $1 from every coffee donated to the Morden, Winkler and Plum Coulee foundations.
