Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Big Wheel Burger Community Foundation

The Big Wheel Burger Community Foundation operates as the philanthropic arm of Big Wheel Burger in Victoria, British Columbia. Its stated purpose is to devote all of its resources to the relief of poverty through the promotion of food security. The foundation supports people who have fallen through the cracks of the social safety net as well as established charitable organizations that require financial assistance to sustain or expand their services.

The foundation provides both direct support and project-based funding. For individuals facing immediate hardship, it runs a Relief Program with a dedicated application form, allowing people to request short-term help when financial struggles affect their ability to access food. For charities, a separate application form enables organizations to seek program support or bridge funding for food security and related community services.

The foundation’s portfolio is focused on food security, poverty relief and community wellbeing, primarily in Victoria and across Vancouver Island. It collaborates with and funds organizations such as Victoria Hospice, Our Place, The Mustard Seed, Loaves and Fishes, the Rainbow Kitchen and other local service providers. In addition to one-time assistance, the foundation describes providing monthly grants to partners like the Food Eco District (FED) to support backyard garden programs for households experiencing food insecurity, as well as monthly grants to food banks such as The Mustard Seed to help them plan and stabilize their budgets.

Beyond direct food assistance, the foundation also supports advocacy and awareness initiatives. It has funded social impact documentary projects on homelessness, such as Krista Loughton’s films US & THEM and the follow-up project HOME, and backs campaigns like Orange Shirt Day that address the legacy of residential schools and their impacts on Indigenous communities. These activities broaden the foundation’s impact from emergency food relief to deeper engagement with the root causes of poverty and social exclusion.

The Big Wheel Burger Community Foundation emphasizes rapid response to emerging needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic it mobilized support for frontline workers, people experiencing homelessness and food-insecure households through meal and food support. It continues to provide home deliveries for families in financial distress and aims to respond quickly when situations arise in the community that require immediate action.

The foundation also integrates fundraising into Big Wheel Burger’s operations, working with local charities to raise funds through in-store specials and donation campaigns. This model combines small, recurring contributions from customers with targeted grants and relief payments, allowing the foundation to maintain a steady flow of support while adapting to changing community priorities.

Overall, the Big Wheel Burger Community Foundation functions as a flexible local funder, combining emergency relief, recurring grants and advocacy support to strengthen food security and community resilience on Vancouver Island.