Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Adler University Vancouver Foundation (AUVF)

Adler University Vancouver Foundation is a Canadian registered charity that supports Adler University students based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Operating as the Canadian philanthropic arm of the university, it receives gifts from individuals, families, and organizations and directs these funds to scholarships, bursaries, and strategic program priorities that advance mental health, social justice, and community well-being.

The foundation enables donors in Canada to support Adler’s work while benefiting from Canadian tax treatment. Donor FAQs on the site explain that Canadian contributors receive tax receipts from the Adler University Vancouver Foundation (AUVF), while U.S. donors give through Adler University’s American nonprofit entity. Gifts can be designated to the Vancouver campus, specific graduate programs such as counselling psychology, or to community mental health initiatives.

Through this structure, the foundation helps underwrite a portfolio of financial supports, including entrance scholarships, targeted awards, and need-based bursaries that reduce the cost of graduate training for students preparing for careers in counselling, psychology, public policy, and related fields.

The university’s financial aid pages describe a suite of Vancouver-focused scholarships and bursaries that are sustained by philanthropic funds, many of which are highlighted alongside references to the Vancouver Foundation. These include entrance merit scholarships, an Indigenous Student Scholarship, the Adler Alumni Psy.D. Scholarship, and named awards such as the Kelty & Riley Dennehy Scholarship, Clair Ladner Hawes Memorial Scholarship, and Alan & Catherine Younger Scholarship. In addition, the Vancouver campus offers need-based current student bursaries, supporting continuing learners who demonstrate financial need and strong academic standing.

Beyond student aid, the broader institution administers internal grants such as the Chicago Seed Grant for faculty research, as well as support for institutes and centers, including Adler Community Health Services and the Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice. While these are university-wide initiatives, Canadian donors can route support through the Vancouver Foundation when designating gifts to Vancouver-based activities.

The foundation provides clear mechanisms for giving, including cheque and securities donations processed through Canadian financial institutions. Donors can complete a dedicated form for donations of publicly traded securities to the Adler University Vancouver Foundation and coordinate with the Office of Institutional Advancement. The site emphasizes that 100% of designated gifts go directly to the chosen program or fund, with administrative costs covered separately.

Funding administered via Adler University Vancouver Foundation primarily benefits graduate students pursuing counselling, psychology, and related disciplines, many of whom complete practica and community placements in high-need settings. By supporting scholarships, bursaries, and program development, the foundation helps remove financial barriers, expand access to mental health education, and indirectly improve services available to vulnerable populations across British Columbia and beyond.