The South Cariboo Community Enhancement Foundation (SCCEF) applied to the South Cariboo Joint Committee on Nov. 20 for a service agreement that would enable the board to grow the foundation and cover operating expenses on an annual basis.
The organization suggested the agreement be granted over 10 years with a minimum funding of $1,500 annually as part of the agreement.
The foundation records include a draft services agreement from the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) and the District of 100 Mile House committing $750 and $250 annually for operating expenses as any returns generated on the original endowment fund may only be used for awarding grants.
“The intent was that it has support in addition to the endowment so that the board could function,” said SCCEF secretary-treasurer, Maddi Newman.
Donations from Lifecycle Financial and Centennial Law plus in-kind contributions from the simplymastery have eased the load but a permanent solution is necessary in order for the organization to continue to grow.
In the absence of a service agreement, the organization applied for grants in assistance in 2021 and 2023. The first was received in 2023 and the second was agreed to at the Nov. 20 joint committee meeting but still needs to be endorsed at a meeting of the CRD board in December.
However, an organization may only apply for and receive a grant for three consecutive years. Therefore, this is not a viable method of funding the ongoing marketing and administrative needs of the SCCEF, noted Newman.
The decision on whether or not to enter into a service agreement was put off until 2024 by the joint committee in order to do further research into the matter.
The SCCEF was founded in 2012 by a group of local businessmen who recognized the need to increase support for nonprofit organizations across the region.
“A working partnership has been established with the Cariboo Regional District (CRD), District of 100 Mile House and Northern Development Trust, each of whom has seeded endowment funds to the Foundation,” it states on the website.
To date, the SCCEF has distributed $115,000 in grant money to various organizations including the Special Olympics, Lone Butte Historical Association, the Roe Lake Frozen meal program, 100 Mile House Food Bank and the Bridge Lake Fair.
