From Our Executive Director

Dear Friends,

This morning on my dog walk I was pondering what messages I wanted to deliver in my last letter of the year to you. The normal hustle and bustle of the holiday season has now had another twist added to it as we face even more uncertainly around the pandemic. What to say?

My thoughts went gratitude. Gratitude for my small but mighty staff team at the Foundation and for the teams of the charities we support, especially the frontline service providers, who continue to show up to do important work to support our community.

“Just show up”. Those words resonated with me at a deeply personal level. When my beloved stepdad was dying, we had a conversation about what we would want written about us. He suggested “I showed up”. Loved that. Some time earlier, an inspiring community connector and supporter had encouraged me to think what would happen if you just showed up.

I am grateful for all in our community who continue to show up with their generosity and genuine compassion for supporting those in need and investing in all the things that make our community vibrant.  

A sincere thank you to each of you – our donors, fund holders, volunteers, grant recipients, and caring community members.

Together, we are having a great impact. I am pleased to share that this month the Foundation passed an impressive milestone: surpassing $1 Million in granting from Foundation funds! An amazing milestone, particularly in a year when community needs are so high.

Plus, we are building for the future. The past few weeks at the Foundation have been busier than I can ever remember. It has been a flurry of activity to establish new funds (see articles below), discuss future bequest gifts, and direct end of year donations. More and more people are choosing to work with us.

The pandemic has been hard on all of us, in one way or the other. Some more visible, some less. It certainly makes “showing up” more challenging. However, we all have the power to make the world just a little bit better in our own ways: whether is showing kindness to a stranger, supporting a charity, or simply doing the best you can in your job amidst challenging situations.

I will end where I started, with an expression of deep gratitude for all of you who show up in support of our community. Thank you!

From the Community Foundation family to yours, our very best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season. 
Tina Bailey
Executive Director
Welcoming Three More New Agency Funds

Last month we welcomed Lunch by George and Kingston Interval House to the growing list of charities that the Community Foundation holds funds for. 


The Kingston Prize Association – click here for details

Rural Frontenac Community Services – click here for details

Lionhearts Inc. – we’ll have details to share in the New Year (they are busy getting ready to open the warming centre AND the food distribution warehouse!)

Each of these new Agency Funds are eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match on gifts received by December 31st, up to a total of $10,000. This match is part of a one-time matching grant opportunity we offered local charities. Existing Agency Funds are eligible for a match of up to $1,000.

The Foundation offered this match because we know the pandemic has hit all charities hard, and that it is getting harder to fundraise for critical unrestricted or operating funds.

Offering this match is one way the Foundation is investing in our community’s long-term recovery – using our model and doing what we do best to help charities develop their own reliable source of annual funding.

With these new fund additions, the Foundation is very pleased to now hold endowment funds in support of 30 local charities. You can see the full list at cfka.org/agency-funds/

A gift to a charity’s endowment fund at the Foundation is a great way to invest in their long-term success, as it will benefit them FOR EVER.
New Funds 2021
 
In addition to the five new Agency Funds established by charities to support their ongoing work, we welcome our latest funds established by generous donors.

Amey Family Memorial Fund, in support of the Kingston Humane Society, Canadian Institute for the Blind, and Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs

Douglas Reid Fund, in support of Martha’s Table

Jack and Lorna Whyte Endowment Fund, established with a legacy gift, in support the Willow Bank Cemetery

Margie & Tom Courchene Fund, in support of our Community Grants program

Dr. Patricia Minnes Fund Supporting People Living with Developmental Disabilities (story in this issue)

Safe Haven Fund, in support of Sexual Assault Centre Kingston


Thank you to these generous donors and welcome to the Foundation’s ‘family of funds’.

For a listing of all funds, visit cfka.org/funds-list/

Want to know what’s involved in setting up a fund with us? Visit cfka.org/createafund
New Fund: Dr. Patricia Minnes Fund Supporting People Living with Developmental Disabilities

“My wish for this fund is to support innovative projects that can have impact on the lives of people living with developmental disabilities and their families.”

Dr. Patricia Minnes has spent her academic and professional career focusing on the field of developmental disabilities. For more than four decades, she has seen first-hand how gaps in funding can limit access to services and support.

Through her teaching and research at Queen’s University and her clinical practice, Dr. Minnes has worked with many students and professionals who are eager to try to improve the service system. “They just need some funding to start to put their ideas into practice.” Hence Patricia’s inspiration to establish this fund.

The purpose of the fund is: To support projects and programs focusing on the needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities (i.e., intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder) and their families/caregivers. 
Attention Charities!
 
Applications are now being accepted for our Spring 2022 Community Grants Program.
 
Deadline for Application: Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at 4:30 pm.
 
We continue to be a 360-degree grant provider and distribute grants to all our Fields of Interest (e.g. Environment, Heritage Preservation, Recreation, etc.), however, preference may be given to projects that align with the Smart & Caring Community Priority areas.
 
This year, we have refreshed our Smart & Caring Community Priorities. Current priorities are to:

·        Build resilience in individuals, families, and communities 
·        Increase belonging and wellbeing within our community 
 
Please visit our website at cfka.org/community-grants-program for full details. 
Holiday Hours
Dec. 24 8:30 am - 12 pm
Dec. 25 - 28 Closed
Dec. 29 & 30 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Dec. 31 8:30 am - 12 pm
Jan. 3 Closed

Regular hours resume on Jan. 4

CFKA staff will be available by telephone or email during these times. The Office will be closed to visitors, operating by appointment only.
Looking to make a year-end donation?

To receive a 2021 tax receipt, gifts may be:

1) Mailed to our office, postmarked Dec. 31 or earlier;
Cheques should be made payable to "Community Foundation for Kingston & Area" with any requested fund designation written in the memo line or accompanying note.
2) Made securely online until 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31 through Canada Helps at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/13730
3) Called into our office (613.546.9696) during office hours to make a gift by credit card over the phone.

For gifts of publicly traded securities, please email finance@cfka.org before Monday, Dec. 20

Wishing you a safe, peaceful, and happy holiday season!

The CFKA Team
PS - Looking for something to read over the holidays?

Our 2020 Annual Report is now available (finally!)

We have been so busy doing our work amidst the challenges of a second pandemic year, that we are very delayed in getting this report out. You would have likely read our “summary” report in Ripples published over the summer, but this full report provides additional details about activities in our most notable 25th anniversary year. Check it out here.  
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