Work with the West Vancouver Foundation to make a difference to the causes and charities that are close to your heart. It's easier and more affordable than you may realize!
Step 1 - Let's Meet
Meet with someone from the Foundation and we’re happy to talk about your options and answer your questions. We know our community well and can help match your interests with the causes and charities that are important to you. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you and work together toward a more vibrant, caring community.
Step 2 - Fund Agreement
Once you’ve determined what you want your fund to do, we’ll create a Fund Agreement that captures your intentions and the fund’s purpose. This straightforward document includes the fund’s public name (this can be your family name, or perhaps something of importance to you), how grants will be determined and the purpose. This document ensures we accurately capture your wishes. The agreement is signed by you and someone at the Foundation, and the Foundation board them approves the new fund.
Step 3 - Initial Gift
Once the fund is setup in our system, you can make your initial gift. This can be done by cheque (made out to the West Vancouver Foundation), online with a credit card, or a gift of securities. You can establish an endowment fund with $10,000 or a flexible fund with $25,000. You can choose to add to your fund you can do so at any time via cheque, online, a gift of life insurance or bequest, or securities.
Step 4 - Granting
Once your fund is ready to grant (once interest is earned for an endowment fund, usually the following year, or right away with a flexible fund), you can choose how involved you want to be in the process. Some options include:
- Getting recommendations from grant applications received and reviewed through Foundation grant program.
- Having the volunteer grants committee and Foundation staff select which grant applications best match your fund’s purpose and should receive funding.
- Granting to the areas of greatest need in the community, as determined by the Foundation.
- Informing the Foundation as to which registered charities you would like to support.
Endowment Fund Vs Flexible Fund
Endowment Funds keep the initial capital in tact and grant out the interest earned. This allows the fund to grant in perpetuity, leaving a lasting legacy.
A Flexible Fund can grant from both the interest earned and the initial capital.
Leave a Gift in Your Will
Once you have setup your fund its simple to leave a gift in your will, or a bequest, to continue supporting the causes you care about. Speak to your advisor or review this document on leaving a gift in your will.
Tips on Leaving a Gift in Your Will
When including a charity in your Will be sure to include:
- Full legal name of the charity (eg. West Vancouver Community Foundation)
- CRA charitable registration number
- Any specific direction for use of the gift, such as your fund name.
Leave a personal legacy of giving with a gift in your will
The tale of the Starfish
A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to a starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.
She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”
The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied,
“Well, I made a difference for that one!”
You can make a difference in our community!