With these grants, we empower our non-profit partners to build a vibrant and healthy community and deliver programs and services that benefit all central Albertans.

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Community Foundation of Central Alberta Awards $30,000 for Fall 2025 Microgrants Program

The Community Foundation of Central Alberta (CFCAB) is proud to announce $30,000 in funding through its Fall 2025 Microgrants Program, supporting six innovative community initiatives across Central Alberta. These projects reflect a diverse range of approaches to strengthening our community through youth development, cultural engagement, reconciliation, and social innovation. Recipients for this round of grants include:

Best Buddies Canada – The Youth Leadership Program

Best Buddies Canada will launch its Youth Leadership Program in Red Deer, serving 30 youth with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities between January 2026 and January 2027. The program empowers participants through public speaking, community engagement, and leadership training, with youth leadership teams meeting at least twice monthly for workshops focused on self-advocacy and empowerment. Funding will cover inclusive events and activities, comprehensive training in disability advocacy and storytelling, and distribution of program materials throughout Red Deer.

Red Deer & District Museum Society – Central Alberta Arts Audience Development Research

The Red Deer & District Museum Society will conduct comprehensive arts audience development research to establish benchmarks of awareness and familiarity, understand local audience expectations, and identify programming opportunities for future growth. The research outcomes will be publicly released and workshopped with the local creative community, providing valuable data that other arts organizations in Central Alberta can use to inform their own approaches and support discussions about developing Red Deer’s creative economy.

Red Deer Cultural Heritage Society & Collaborators – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Community Gathering

This grant supported an inclusive community gathering on September 30, for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. The event was intended for meaningful connection, story sharing, and community healing. Opening with a Pipe Ceremony, the gathering featured tipi storytelling with Elders, a shared story wall creating a living archive, Indigenous film screening, interactive activities including traditional games and rock painting, and a culminated with a Round Dance. The event included a community meal bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together to celebrate, heal, and thrive.

Red Deer Food Bank Society & ReThink Red Deer’s Common Ground Garden Project – Social Enterprise Capacity Development in Red Deer

The Red Deer Food Bank Society, in partnership with ReThink Red Deer via the Common Ground Garden Project, is working on developing a social enterprise with a potential kitchen and indoor growing system infrastructure. This grant enabled attendance at the SVI Alberta Retreat at Metis Crossing with non-profit and funder representatives, and will also include community engagement sessions in Red Deer to foster social enterprise collaborations and establish case studies and lessons learned for future endeavours.

The Broom Tree Foundation – The Broom Tree Sisters Program

The BT Sisters Mentorship Program supports vulnerable individuals in Central Alberta through sustainable relationships that empower participants to overcome barriers and develop skills for healthy relationships. With 50 volunteers currently matched with women in the community, this grant will strengthen the program through trauma-informed training and supervision, structured guidelines and mentor screening, team-based peer-support models, and referral and emergency planning training to build a stronger, more sustainable mentorship ecosystem.

YMCA of Northern Alberta – Launching Fall Break SKY High Camps for Youth Navigating Complex Social Landscapes

The YMCA of Northern Alberta will launch a SKY High camp during the November 2025 fall school break, providing free structured experiences for high-barrier youth. The camp supports youth as they build resilience, enhance self-esteem, develop leadership, and create positive social connections through workshops and recreational activities including healthy relationships education, goal development, outdoor skills, financial literacy, and mental health support.

Through these diverse initiatives, CFCAB’s Fall Microgrants Program continues to support community-driven solutions that strengthen Central Alberta’s social fabric, promote inclusion and reconciliation, and build capacity for long-term community wellbeing

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Nature for New Canadians Brings Youth Camping Experience to Alberta Wilderness

Seventeen young newcomers to Canada experienced their first camping trip this summer through the Nature for New Canadians 2025 Youth Camping Trip. This initiative was delivered in partnership by Care for Newcomers (Care), the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society (WEES), with partial funding from the Community Foundation of Central Alberta.

This year’s campers, from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Jordan, Kenya, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Vietnam, spent multiple days at Aspen Beach Lakeview Campground, where many saw mountains up close and shooting stars for the first time.

Building Skills and Shifting Perspectives

The multi-day immersion gave participants hands-on experience with hiking, campfire cooking, camp chores, and wildlife education. Campers learned practical outdoor skills and gained a new sense of both independence and interdependence while experiencing many of the well-documented benefits of connecting with nature.

“Programs like this highlight the importance of making nature accessible and welcoming for everyone. By introducing new Canadians to Alberta’s parks and protected areas, we are able to foster a stronger connection to the land and create opportunities for people to build meaningful relationships with the environment—and with each other,” said Alberta Parks Staff involved with the program.

“Interpretive activities play a key role in building comfort and confidence in outdoor settings, helping newcomers feel informed, empowered, and inspired to return to these landscapes and explore further developing a lasting appreciation for Alberta’s natural spaces.”

Creating Common Ground

Beyond practical outdoor skills, the program addressed a less obvious but potentially more significant outcome: cultural integration.

Camping is a widespread childhood experience for many Albertans, creating a shared cultural reference point. By participating in this tradition, newcomer youth now have common ground with their Canadian-born peers—a foundation for connection, belonging, and mutual understanding.

“These kids grow up seeing each other as equals, with shared interests and diverse experiences,” program organizers noted.

The transformation was documented through staff observations and post-trip survey responses, which showed growth in both independence and group cohesion among participants.

The Nature for New Canadians program is planning another trip for Summer 2026, where it will provide more newcomer youths with access to experiences that foster both practical skills and social belonging in their new home. This powerful experience will continue to open doors to new relationships with nature—ones built on respect, curiosity, and a growing sense of comfort in a new country.

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Teen mentoring program expands to Blackfalds

As a part of the Winter 2024 round of the Community Foundation’s Community Microgrant program, a grant was awarded to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lacombe and District to expand their Teen Mentoring Program to Iron Ridge Elementary Campus in Blackfalds, after the success of the program in Lacombe.

The teen mentoring program creates belonging and community by matching teen mentors with elementary students for opportunities to spend time together during school hours. The goal of the program is to address social isolation and community wellness gaps, two areas that were identified in a recent Social Needs Assessment. This program fills those gaps by providing young students with role models, resilience, and social connections.

“We have really witnessed the connections between mentors and mentees grow since the program started,” says Jen Harty, BBBSLD Community Engagement Director. “The teen mentoring program isn’t just about individual growth, it’s about building a stronger, more interconnected community. The teen mentors have played a vital role in supporting the mentees social development and emotional well-being. At the same time, the mentors have experienced their own personal growth, enhancing their communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities,” Harty continued.

Once a week, the trained teen mentors are provided transportation to the elementary school where they meet with their mentees to spend time together. The pairs are given access to a multi-purpose makers space, a games cupboard, craft supplies, and the playground and outdoor spaces. Together, each pair choose the activities they want to complete together. Through this regular quality time, teen mentors have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills while offering elementary-aged children the comfort and connection they need.

The most significant outcome of this project has been its ability to forge deeper connections between youth, their schools, and the broader community. With this expansion into Blackfalds, we can look forward to even more inspiring stories of growth and friendship. Congratulations to BBBSLD on the success of this program that cultivates future leaders and strengthens our community!
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Women & Girls Grants Support Two Impactful Programs

In honour of International Women’s Day, the Community Foundation of Central Alberta is pleased to announce two grants from the Women & Girls Fund, which support initiatives that uplift and empower women and their families in Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House.

A grant of $4,180 will be awarded to the Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter for their new Collective Kitchen – Healing Through Food program. This innovative project aims to bring women together to increase knowledge about nutrition, food safety, budgeting, meal planning, food shopping, and traditional Indigenous cooking. Running for 14 weeks, this project also incorporates support for system navigation and building connections with family and the community, while sharing stories and addressing the systemic barriers the clients may face. The Collective Kitchen recognizes the profound connection between nourishment and well-being, offering women a space to gather, learn skills, and share meals. This will ensure that the women will have a supportive network even after they graduate from the 2nd stage shelter and empowers participants to reclaim their independence and cultivate community ties that can last beyond their time at the shelter.

Additionally, a grant of $4,500 will go to the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society to provide free summer day camp spots for children fleeing domestic violence. Working with the Central Alberta Outreach Centre, the project will identify families that need support in having their children attend day camp at Kerry Wood Nature Centre. This program will benefit women who have minimal resources, while giving their children an opportunity to play, learn, and explore nature in a child-centred environment. The grant will cover the cost of 24 kids attending camp, and will also include camp-use items for the children, such as backpacks and water bottles.

“The adjudication committee was inspired by this year’s applications, and the transformative projects that are being created to help women and their children in our region,” said Erin Peden, CFCAB Executive Director. “Both the Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter and Kerry Wood Nature Centre have created much-needed programs that meet participants where they are, with the understanding that opportunities for growth and connection are crucial to fostering resilience and self-sufficiency.”

Both of these grants demonstrate how thoughtful support can create meaningful change in the lives of women facing adversity, and their families. By investing in programs that highlight the importance of collaboration, we are taking steps toward fostering hope, resilience, and a more equitable future for all.

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The Community Foundation Launches Online Giving Hub to Showcase the Needs of Local Charities

The Community Foundation is excited to announce the launch of a new Community Giving Hub, a centralized platform designed to bridge the gap between local needs and potential supporters. This online resource is a place where community members can explore a curated collection of current needs from various charities, allowing them to make informed decisions about their philanthropic contributions.

“As a Community Foundation, we have unique insights into our community’s needs. We have this vital knowledge through our grant applications, which show us what agencies need, right now, to thrive,” said Erin Peden, CFCAB Executive Director.

With constraints on both charities and philanthropists, it can be challenging for donors to understand what charities truly require at any given moment. By showcasing specific requirements from local organizations, the Community Giving Hub aims to provide a snapshot of charities’ immediate needs. This ensures that donations are not just well-intentioned but also impactful.

“Because of our role as a 360 degree grantmaker, the Community Foundation is in the unique position of hearing from charities across every area. There are so many organizations doing innovative and effective work to help people in our region, and these organizations are looking for specific support. We see an opportunity here to share this information with the many philanthropists in Central Alberta who have the means to help,” said Peden.

Potential donors can browse requests across different sectors, including food security, arts and culture, seniors care, and more. Whether through financial support, volunteer assistance, or in-kind donations, donors can identify opportunities that resonate with their values and interests.

“We often hear from businesses who are inundated with asks from agencies looking for support. Often, these asks are in the form of items for silent auctions, and support for fundraising events. While these are wonderful ways to support the community, we also know that sometimes businesses and individuals want more autonomy to support agencies in the work they are doing outside of the traditional fundraising event model,” said Peden.

Whether a business is seeking opportunities for corporate social responsibility or a family or individual is looking to make an immediate difference, the Community Foundation believes that by sharing this knowledge, stronger connections can be fostered within our community. This initiative not only empowers donors but also amplifies the voices of local agencies, highlighting their essential work and immediate needs.

The hope of the Community Foundation is that this Giving Hub will provide opportunities not only for financial support, but for collaboration as well.

“In the past, we had an application from a local environmental charity looking for funding to purchase specific items. The Community Foundation was unable to fund this need, but a local business was able to step up and provide the items needed. These are the kinds of connections we are hoping the Giving Hub can facilitate,” said Peden.

The Community Foundation believes that informed giving leads to greater impact. By sharing real-time insights into the needs of our community’s non-profits, this initiative allows individuals and businesses to contribute meaningfully but also strengthens the overall fabric of our community by ensuring that vital resources are directed where they are most needed. Together, we can create a more vibrant and supportive community by addressing pressing issues with assistance tailored to current demands.

The Community Giving Hub can be found by clicking here.

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Winter Cycle of Microgrants Support Five Central Alberta Agencies

For a total of $25,000, the Community Foundation has awarded five grants of $5,000 each in the latest cycle of our Community Microgrants program. The recipients are doing great work to support individuals and families here in Central Alberta. The grant recipients are:

Bashaw & District Support Services Association has been awarded $5,000 for their Community Wellness Worker Program. This program provides counseling, emotional support and preventative programming for children and families in the Bashaw region. The program is a direct community response to satisfy the need within the Bashaw area, and accessibility is prioritized with 100% of the school, pre-school, and daycare children having access to this program 5 days per week, 12 months of the year.

Between Friends plans to use the $5,000 grant to further their mission of providing quality social, recreation, and development opportunities so that people with disabilities can connect, grow, and belong. The grant will enhance new programming, allowing the organization to deliver inclusive, barrier-free recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Red Deer.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lacombe and District will receive $5,000 to expand their Teen Mentoring program to the newly opened Iron Ridge Secondary Campus in Blackfalds. The Teen Mentoring program fosters resilience in youth and reduces the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) by building positive relationships & enhancing self-esteem.

Mountain View Hospice Society intends to use the $5,000 to enhance training for their Hospice at Home program and expand support services for individuals wishing to spend their final days at home. By increasing the training provided to volunteers, the organization will strengthen the effectiveness of their Hospice at Home program, ensuring that more individuals in Central Alberta have the option to pass away peacefully in their own homes, surrounded by loved ones.

YMCA of Northern Alberta received $5,000 to support the YMCA Northside Community Centre’s Youth Centre, ensuring free, universal access for youth aged 8-18. By eliminating financial barriers, the program provides vital social, emotional, and physical activity opportunities during critical afterschool hours, fostering peer connections, mentor relationships, and overall positive youth development.
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Sylvan Lake Community Endowment Fund Awards Grants to Four Agencies

This year, four agencies were awarded grants from the Sylvan Lake Community Endowment Fund, for a total of $13,600 given to agencies working to support Sylvan Lake residents. The grant recipients for 2024 are:

Bethany Care Foundation has received $1,600 for sensory equipment for dementia residents at Bethany Sylvan Lake. Sensory stations will deliver essential sensory therapy programming to those with dementia. Sensory stimulation can help with communication, improve mood, and increase cognitive function.

Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter has been awarded $5,500 to outfit their new shelter. This grant will help CAWES to create a comfortable place where survivors can heal, rebuild their lives, and envision a future free from domestic violence. 

Shalom Counselling Centre of Alberta will use this $3,000 grant to help provide affordable counselling to community residents of the Sylvan Lake area. Shalom strives to ensure that individuals are not limited in their ability to access mental, emotional, and relationship support because of their financial status.

Sylvan Lake Community Partners Association intends to use the $3,500 grant for equipment to set up their new location, after a required move. Sylvan Lake Community Partners provides 19 programs and services to the communities of Sylvan Lake and area, creating hope and support for children, families and individuals in need and/or in crisis through Information & Referral, Services and Programs. 

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A Remarkable Donation Allocated to the Red Deer River Naturalists Endowment Fund for Nature

The Red Deer River Naturalists (RDRN) have taken a huge step toward fiscal sustainability thanks to a recent donation of $500,000 from a generous and forward-thinking donor. As per the wishes of the donor, this marketable securities donation has been allocated to the Red Deer River Naturalists Fund for Nature, an endowment fund held with the Community Foundation of Central Alberta (CFCAB).

“This remarkable donation demonstrates the way that philanthropy can be used as a smart financial strategy for both donors and charities,” said Erin Peden, CFCAB Executive Director. “The Community Foundation exists to provide future-focused options for agencies in our region. We were thrilled to facilitate this donation, and to continue our work with the Red Deer River Naturalists to develop a strong fiscal foundation for their future.”

The Red Deer River Naturalists opened their endowment fund with the Community Foundation in 2021, and have witnessed notable growth in the fund in that time. Having an endowment fund allows the group peace of mind of knowing that a stable financial reserve fund will support environmental stewardship programming long into the future.

“An endowment fund allows RDRN the flexibility of using the interest to support operating expenses as well as special projects undertaken by the club,” said Rick Tallas, RDRN Board Chair. “The Community Foundation ensures safe investments, supports strong and healthy communities, and provides expertise in philanthropy.”

Philanthropy using marketable securities donations offers donors a unique opportunity to make impactful contributions while providing significant tax benefits. This not only maximizes the impact of the donation but also encourages more substantial contributions in a time when many charitable organizations are facing monetary strains. In this case, one significant donation will continue to provide support for environmental initiatives for years to come.

Supporters of the Red Deer River Naturalists play a crucial role in ensuring that the group’s conservation and education programs continue to thrive and adapt over time. From regular flora and fauna focus groups and field trips, to conservation and natural habitat stewardship programs, the RDRN fulfill their mission to involve citizens through education and opportunities that engage them to appreciate and defend biodiversity, ecological integrity and environmental stewardship in Central Alberta.

This partnership between a generous donor and dedicated environmental advocates fosters a healthier ecosystem for future generations.
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A $50,000 Bequest Supports the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra to Build Their Endowment

A recent generous bequest of $50,000 has been donated to the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra (RDSO), marking a significant contribution to the future sustainability of the organization. With long-term sustainability in mind, the RDSO Board of Directors made the prudent decision to allocate this donation to the Lapalme Legacy Fund, an RDSO endowment fund held at the Community Foundation of Central Alberta. By directing funds into the endowment, the Symphony will benefit from interest income that will help sustain its operations and programs over time. This approach not only provides immediate benefits but also secures long-term growth and stability for the organization.

 

“This endowment provides the opportunity for true organizational sustainability by establishing a baseline of regular operational funding each year. While donations, sponsorships, and grants are essential for all performing arts organizations, the inconsistency of these funding streams is a potential liability, and our endowment fund is a way to underpin our operations with greater security.”
-Matthew Whitfield, RDSO Executive Director
“The Red Deer Symphony Orchestra has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to thinking about the future,” says Erin Peden, CFCAB Executive Director. “As an organization, the Symphony is proactively stewarding their endowment with the knowledge that this development work now will provide financial sustainability later. This is an organization that is committed to developing their own reliable funding.”
The Community Foundation and the Symphony have been working closely to support the development of the Lapalme Legacy Fund. Whitfield says, “the Community Foundation is valuable both as a source for fund management and as a resource for endowment-specific expertise.”

This donation has been especially meaningful to the RDSO, as it demonstrates one individual’s passion for the great work of the Symphony.

 

“This bequest was given to the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra by a long-time supporter and founding board member whose donation of time, energy, and effort assisted in RDSO’s development from a small, non-professional orchestra to the organization that it is today,” says Whitfield.

A bequest is not only a meaningful way to support charitable causes but also represents a strategic approach to philanthropy. By designating funds in this manner, donors can leave a lasting impact that aligns with their values. Such contributions help organizations like the Symphony continue to provide important musical experiences for the community.

The thoughtful act of including charitable organizations in one’s estate plan reflects a commitment to nurturing the arts and supporting cultural programming for generations to come.

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Donation of $500,000 in Securities Will Fund a New Preschool Building at Kerry Wood Nature Centre

In an inspiring act of generosity, a donor has made a substantial $500,000 donation of securities to fund a new preschool building at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre. This smart financial approach not only supports local education but also demonstrates how creative financial solutions can benefit the community.

The transfer of these securities was facilitated by the Community Foundation of Central Alberta, showcasing the power of collaboration between donors and organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life in Central Alberta. The donation will fund the new preschool building at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre.

“The Community Foundation was instrumental in facilitating this gift from our donor,” said Todd Nivens, Executive Director of the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society (WEES). “We do not have the financial infrastructure to convert shares to cash. The Community Foundation stepped in and charted the path forward for us. Without the Foundation, the final transaction between WEES and our donors would have been immeasurably more difficult.”

“This is an excellent example of the role the Community Foundation was created to play,” said Erin Peden, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “Our job is to connect philanthropists with the causes that matter to them, and in this case, it was as simple as providing a resource to accept marketable securities and flow those funds through to the project in need.”

The vision for the new preschool building includes floor to ceiling glass doors, bathrooms, a kitchen, and modern building and insulating technology to give the building an incredibly small environmental footprint. Creating a preschool in such a unique setting offers young learners the opportunity to engage with the natural world around them, with access to outdoor activities, interactive learning experiences, and a curriculum that emphasizes environmental stewardship. The hope is that this new space will help the little attendees grow into adults who value nature and the outdoors.

Nivens is encouraged by the community support, and the value that a donor has seen in creating a special anchoring place specifically for our smallest nature explorers to call their own. “We can offer potential donors the opportunity to make a lasting impact on children and nature in Red Deer. With the Community Foundation of Central Alberta in our corner, we are able to work with all potential partners and offer them a range of options to support our efforts,” said Nivens.

“We are thrilled to continue to develop these types of relationships within Central Alberta,” said Peden. “What a joy it is to see such incredible projects thrive!”

As the community eagerly anticipates the opening of the preschool, this generous donation underscores the importance of philanthropy in enhancing educational opportunities. The efforts of a forward-thinking donor serve as a reminder that investing in our children’s future is an investment in our community as a whole.