LIFE's Community Fund


LIFE’s community fund is a way for our co-op to invest even more into the future by contributing to forward-thinking projects in the communities where LIFE’s projects and members are found. The Fund supports environmental initiatives - particularly efforts aimed at energy and/or environmental justice issues, and which ideally seek to engage youth and/or further their education.

LIFE has committed to distributing an amount equal to 10% of declared dividends through the Community Fund. Our Community Fund accepts applications on an ongoing basis and awards funds once per year. Applications will be reviewed and recipients selected by the Board of Directors based on a range of criteria (see below). The amount of funding available will vary by year, and special circumstances will be taken into account, so applicants are encouraged to request the amount according to their needs.

We acknowledge that Indigenous Peoples continue to endure inequality, violence, and oppression due to colonialism. In the spirit of reconciliation, we encourage applications from Indigenous organizations to support their initiatives and their ongoing presence and history on these lands.

ELIGIBILITY

Applications from Registered Charities and Incorporated Non-profits are invited, and we also encourage applications from non-incorporated community groups and initiatives. Any one organization cannot receive more than $1,500 in one year. Unincorporated groups and one-off initiatives will be limited to $500 max. per year.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Sector alignment: project is related to environmental issues and/or environmental education, including but not restricted to renewable energy and/or environmental justice.

Community benefit: project provides concrete benefits to an identified community or group, with an emphasis on education.

Local: preference is given to projects that take place in or impact communities where LIFE operates (Region of Waterloo, Wellington County) - though outside applicants will be considered.

Aligns with LIFE’s values: the board will also consider how the project or organization aligns with the seven co-operative principles.

Organizational history, mandate, personnel, and/or references should be included to show that applicants can deliver on their proposed projects.

APPLY NOW.

2023 Award Recipients

The following awards were granted in 2023 to these very worthy initiatives.

• Co-operative Young Leaders Program $1000

• Willow River Centre/Social Development Centre (Winter Solstice festival) $500

• Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair $400

• Wildflower Finds (Market start-up) $142

2022 Award Recipients

Awards were granted in 2022 to these very worthy initiatives:

•Wellington Water Watchers - Community water provision

•rare Charitable Research Reserve - Eco-camps

• Waterloo Wellington Science and Engineering Fair 

•Waterloo Region Wildflower Seed Library - startup funds

• Stepping Stones Expressive Arts - Intuitive painting session

2021 Award Recipients

The following awards were granted in 2021 to these very worthy initiatives.

The Guelph Outdoor School is undertaking a training workshop for its staff in a system of dynamic governance and power sharing called ‘Sociocracy’. The workshop will be facilitated by Ted J. Rau, founder of Sociocracy for All. GOS is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Nature Connection through mentorship and culturally regenerative practices. It runs outdoor programming for some 350 students, as well as summer programs, at two sites in Guelph and one in Eden Mills. (Awarded $1475)

Let’s Tree Wilmot, a project of the Wilmot Horticultural Society, will be working with students in the Communications Technology program at Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School to produce a prototype video, as the first of a series of short instructional pieces that will help community residents, as well as the broader public, when they are selecting, planting and caring for trees. This video initiative is aimed at furthering LTW’s mission to provide “volunteers, education, and expertise to enhance the trees and forest ecosystems in Wilmot Township.” (Awarded $1500)

Stepping Stones Expressive Arts will be hosting an Earth Day event called “Me As a Tree.” This event is planned as an intimate experience with the natural world for up to 20 individuals, and will work to deepen the connection of participants with the trees, plants, fungi, earth and wildlife in a local park setting. (Awarded $500)

2020 Awards

The following awards were granted in 2020 from an excellent pool of applicants.

LIFE is providing $1500 to the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region to facilitate the creation of Climate Justice Waterloo Region. This coalition will create a unified movement working together at the intersection of climate action and racial and socio- economic justice, with the goal of mobilizing more people to demand that governments take the actions necessary for humanity to survive the climate crisis.

We awarded $1500 to the Ontario Co-operative Association to sponsor a participant in the Co-operative Young Leaders program. We are all hopeful that the program can go ahead in person this year, but have been informed of the OCA’s contingency plan in case this season is interrupted by COVID measures. You can read more about this great program at the link.

We provided the rare Charitable Research Reserve in Cambridge $500 for supplies to be used in a new renewable energy module, as part of the charity’s ongoing educational programs.

Finally, we awarded $500 to support a Spring Medicinal Plant walk, which will be facilitated by members of the Crow Shield Lodge in Kitchener.

We are really pleased to be able to support such amazing initiatives and wish them every success!

Applicants who were unsuccessful are encouraged to apply again next year. Applications for the 2021 awards will be opened in September 2021.

2019 Awards

The Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank received $1500 to fully fund its Seed Share Program for the year. This program provides fruit, vegetable, micro-green and sprouting seeds for free, allowing recipients to grow their own healthy, fresh foods in environmentally favourable ways, working with a number of local community gardens, including the rare Charitable Research Reserve. Check out the Food Bank’s many innovative projects here.

Communities for Conservation is a Kitchener-based grassroots non-profit that aims to normalize environmental philanthropy and a spirit of reciprocity by encouraging small acts of giving, through a simple text message, in conjunction with the International Conservation Fund of Canada. Communities for Conservation was awarded $1200 to enable it to maintain its text-to-donate software subscription for 2020.

LIFE directed $1200 to the Healing of the Seven Generations to support its work during the pandemic.

The Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair was awarded $750 to enable it to develop classroom resources as part of DEAR: Developing Environmental Advocates and Researchers. This program offers the 300+ exhibitors a chance to learn about current environment topics not yet included in the school curriculum, helping them to bring greater awareness into their schools. This year’s focus is on links between energy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

2018 Award Recipients

Hold the Line was awarded $500 to generate new education materials around Waterloo Region’s Countryside Line.

Waterloo Global Science Initiative received $750 toward their Energize: Sustainable City Challenge project.

Guelph Outdoor School received $500 toward some exciting workshops for the Resilience Festival.

RISE Waterloo Region was awarded $500 to deliver a one-day workshop/event on easy solar.

2017 Award Recipients

rare Charitable Research Reserve received $1500 from LIFE in 2017 to upgrade its greenhouse to use less energy and extend its growing season. The greenhouse plays an important role in rare's valuable education and social programs.

Divest Waterloo and Faith & the Common Good were awarded $600 to help enable a presentation of the Chemical Valley Project at the Registry Theatre in Kitchener, March 7, 2018. The Chemical Valley Project, created by Julia Howman and Kevin Matthew Wong, documents the vital work of Indigenous water protectors and land defenders Vanessa and Lindsay Gray for their community, Aamjiwnaang. The Chemical Valley Project was a NOW Magazine Summerworks Critics' Pick.

Community Renewable Energy Waterloo (CREW) was granted $1500 to enable their Power $aver Network to move forward with its classroom-based energy education CREWkids, which included sponsoring T-shirts for the student participants.

The Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair received $500 in 2016 and 2017 to help send participants to off-campus sites to learn more about waste and energy management in the Region of Waterloo.