Saskatoon Community Foundation awards thousands to social organizations around province

Fourteen social organizations are receiving thousands of dollars in funding through the Saskatoon Community Foundation.

On Thursday, the foundation announced a total of $625,800 as part of the Investment Readiness Program (IRP), a federal government initiative supporting charities, non-profits, social enterprises and co-operatives.

The program provides between $10,000 and $75,000 per selected organization, and the money is meant to help the groups “create, manage, and expand social enterprises, enabling them to become ready for further investment.”

“Saskatchewan community leaders are such an inspiration in their innovative, mission-based social purpose organizations,” Carm Michalenko, the CEO of the Saskatoon Community Foundation, said in a statement.

“The social purpose sector continues to be a driver in generating economic growth that benefits everyone in the community. With today’s IRP funding announcement, Saskatoon Community Foundation is excited to be a partner in this sector’s growth and impact.”

The foundation received “a significant volume of applications” for the program, which was described as highly competitive.

The funding recipients are:

• Buckets & Borders Basketball Incorporated ($75,000)
• Catholic Family Services of Saskatoon ($60,000)
• Chokecherry Studios Inc.–Saskatoon Poverty Reduction ($75,000)
• Family Service Saskatoon Inc. ($25,000)
• Oxford House Saskatchewan Inc. ($49,290)
• Prairie Harm Reduction ($25,000)
• The Princess Shop Mentorship and Female Youth Development Inc. ($10,000)
• Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan ($75,000)
• Regina Early Learning Centre Inc. ($25,000)
• Saskatchewan Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services ($75,000)
• The Saskatoon Visitor & Convention Bureau Inc. ($30,300)
• Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Festival Inc. ($15,000)
• Street Culture Project Inc. ($25,000)
• YWCA Regina Inc. ($61,210).

“The Investment Readiness Program will help social enterprises across Canada grow, build their capacity to accept investors, and participate in Canada’s growing social finance market,” the foundation said in the statement.

Across Canada, the foundation added, the total funding from the IRP adds up to $50 million.