Giving Well | Cortes Foundation

What is the Giving Well?

The Cortes Island Community Foundation has been chosen to participate in a one-time experiment in low-barrier, direct giving to our Cortes community. This Giving Well program provides one-time, cash “gifts” to individuals. They never have to be paid back. We do not need receipts of how the cash was spent. There are no strings attached. The amount, typically between $5,000 to $10,000, isn’t taxable and is considered a gift

Please read our FAQ’s before applying.

Why is the CICF doing this?

We believe that listening into the deep needs of our community creates a healthier more vibrant ecosystem of care. Care that is the fabric that creates resilience, understanding and more connection. This program is looking to support individuals and families in acute financial need that fall outside of existing social programs or are inadequately funded by them or with a pressing opportunity for leveraging an enterprising potential and without access to the usual means of financing.

We are looking particularly for impact in the following areas:

- youth/single-parent
- elderly/seniors
- indigenous
- individuals or families adversely impacted by a health crisis
- enterprising potential that can seed larger impact for the individual and/or community

When is this program occurring?

The deadline to apply for receiving a gift for Summer 2024 is May 5th, 2024 at 11:59pm.

How do I apply?

In order to apply you must read our FAQ’s and then complete the form below. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Bella our Executive Administrator at outreach@cortesfoundation.ca.

What do I need to do in return?

The nature of a gift is that nothing is required in return. Your willingness to share your story can help others find hope in their own struggles and can help the Community Foundation assess impact and makes it more likely that we may get chosen again for such a program. There are many ways to share your story anonymously or not. If you received a Giving Well gift already you can help us by sharing your story here.

The Role of the Community Cultivator

At the Cortes Island Community Foundation, we believe that granting and gifting works best when it’s relational and trust-based. That means having a direct and personal relationship with the person or organization receiving the money and that whenever we are giving, whether a grant or a gift, that it is done in a way that reflects that we trust the group or individual to know what is best for them, to do with the resources what they say they will, and that if changes are made, we trust that it is because those changes were for the best.

The community cultivators are the face of these relationships for the Giving Well pilot project. These individuals will help represent individual and wider community needs, work as a group to make decisions on who will receive the gifts, facilitate successful giving to those individuals with support from CICF staff, and will help with follow-up.

The 2023/2024 Giving Well Project Community Cultivators are:

Dana Solomon

Dana Bass Solomon has lived on Cortes Island for 23 years. She has served on several non profit boards and cares about supporting people and community.

Email here.

Brenda Hanson

Brenda was born & raised in Powell River BC. She spent multiple years in Vancouver until she relocated to Vancouver Island. She loves animals, music & singing. She is from the Klahoose First Nation.

Email here

or call at 778-585-5259

Ester Strijbos

Ester Strijbos is passionate about supporting our community so everyone has equal access to services that they need in order to thrive.

Email here

or call 250-204-2116

Desta Beattie

It takes a village! Desta is a local mama who helps to cultivate concentric circles of support around island children and families. She believes resilient families are the beating heart of a vibrant community.