LANGLEY, B.C. – The First West Foundation, through its Envision Financial, Valley First, Island Savings and Enderby Financial Community Endowments, is granting $684,700 this year— a total of 53 grants— to deserving charities throughout B.C.
This year, First West Foundation placed an increased emphasis on ensuring grants aligned with its six Sustainable Development Goals— no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, reduced inequalities, and partnerships for the goals. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 interconnected global goals developed by the global community to provide a holistic and ambitious roadmap for private, public and non-profit organizations to work together to address a multitude of global challenges. Additionally, First West Foundation continues its journey into trust-based philanthropy this year.
“Our team embraces trust-based philanthropy principles, and one way we’ve implemented this is by providing multi-year commitments to our community partners,” says Susan Byrom, Executive Director of the First West Foundation. “By providing grant funds over an extended period, we empower our partners to plan and execute longer-term projects without the constraints of short-term funding uncertainty.”
Trust-based philanthropy recognizes the importance of flexible, unrestricted resources to allow grantees to allocate funds according to their priorities and respond dynamically to emerging needs. This approach supports stability, encourages innovation, and enables strategic planning for positive impact.
Established in 1996, the First West Foundation has donated more than $11.1 million in grants to local community groups and projects. Here are the charitable organizations receiving a grant in 2024: