The UFA Rural Communities Foundation Continues its $100,000 Community Grant Program

Are increasing costs making it harder to reach your fundraising goal?  Inflation and lingering supply-chain issues have pushed building costs higher, but we want to help rural communities reach their dreams.

For the fifth year, the UFA Rural Communities Foundation (RCF) is offering up to $100,000 to ensure rural Alberta remains strong.

“Our grants really do make it easy for communities to reach their fundraising goals,”said RCF board chair, Jennifer Wood.  In the first four years, the $400,000 has helped 16 communities complete their projects.

“Five years ago we made the  commitment to give away $100,000 a year for five years and we have seen the positive impact of these grants. Our goal is to help keep rural Alberta communities sustainable,” said Wood.

Marj Savage, administrator of the Stettler District Agricultural Society said the $27,900 grant they received from the RCF allowed them to upgrade an outdoor washroom facility on the agriculture grounds. Fixing up bathrooms and showers isn’t glamorous, but it is key to attracting events to their agriculture facility. With the grant, they have secured the high school rodeo finals for the next three years.  “The grant money is what enabled us to keep going. Without grants we would not be able to accomplish anything. The upgraded outdoor washrooms means we can attract events to our facilities,” said Savage.

The UFA Rural Communities Foundation has committed to invest $500,000 over five years in rural communities. The mandate of the foundation is to improve the sustainability of farmers and ranchers in Alberta by improving access to funding for educational, recreational and cultural facilities and programs in Alberta.

Groups who are eligible to apply include registered charities under the Canada Revenue Agency, registered non-profit organizations who are registered with either their provincial or municipal government and community service co-operatives. The project must be located within 200 kilometres of a UFA location and must be completed within two years.

Application forms are available on-line now from our website www.rcfufa.com. The application can be submitted until August 31, 2023. Winners will be announced in October, during Co-operative week.

In 2019, the winning projects were in Paradise Valley, Delia and Onoway. In 2020 winning projects were in Irvine, Pincher Creek, Vegreville and Castor.  In 2021 winning projects were in Drayton Valley, Canmore, Carmangay, Eaglesham and Nampa. In 2022, Foremost, Dunmore, Stettler and Grimshaw were the winners. Information and photos of these projects are on the website.  For more information on how to apply for the RCF grant, please go to our website or email info@rcfufa.com.

Follow us on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates, tips on filling out the application form and highlights from the previous winners.