The deadline for grant proposals and applications has been set for March 7, with the grants themselves to be awarded in June.
PAACF grants are used to fund projects that benefit the community in the areas of children and youth, family and community, arts and culture, health and welfare, sports and recreation, and research and education.
“We have a number of people that have wanted to invest in the community -- donors -- and what the Community Foundation does is invest the funds and only use the interest that has accrued from that,” PAACF executive director Marilyn Peterson said.
“Then the interest is used to fund organizations and services in the community.”
This year the PAACF is looking to award about $90,000 in grants, almost three times as much as the 2011 total.
The main reason for the extra resources is the foundation’s new partnership with the Saskatoon United Way, which has provided money raised through United Way employee campaigns in Prince Albert.
But grants are also funded through money provided by the Moffat Family Fund.
“We are one of only nine communities in Canada that receive funds on an annual basis from the Moffat family foundation that we are allowed to use as we see fit by assisting … organizations and projects in the city,” Peterson said.
We are just working out our partnership with Saskatoon United Way, so we didn’t want to be restrictive in any way. - Marilyn Peterson
“The Moffat family provides us the funds, but they do not have any direct involvement in awarding the grants. They leave that up to the community foundation to make, feeling that we best know the needs of the community.”
Charities who make donations to the PAACF have a variety of options for their investment. Money may be put into a general fund with certain stipulations for use, or donors can specifically decide what area of the community they wish to invest in.
The PAACF has previously used grant money to fund everything from cultural activities to school lunches to YWCA and Red Cross programs.
Unlike previous years, no preferences have been given for the kinds of projects the grants will fund in 2013.
“Part of the reason is because we are just working out our partnership with Saskatoon United Way, so we didn’t want to be restrictive in any way,” Peterson said.
“After … hopefully a couple of years of partnering with them, we’ll be able to look at more specific projects.”
Application packages can be picked up at the City Clerk’s office, at either of two Conexus Credit Union locations or by phoning 764-9108 for an electronic/fax form.
