Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Cooper Institute

Cooper Institute is a development education centre and registered charity founded in 1984 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The organization works with grassroots groups seeking social, economic, political, and cultural change, including farmers, fishers, Indigenous people, women, workers, Acadian and multicultural communities, persons with disabilities, youth, seniors, faith groups and schools. Its core activities include popular education, community development, facilitation, organizational consulting, and applied research across themes such as livable income, food sovereignty, democracy, diversity and inclusion, land and water protection, and migrant workers’ rights.

In addition to its educational and advocacy work, Cooper Institute administers a focused scholarship program that provides direct financial support for post-secondary studies.

The main recurring funding mechanism highlighted on the site is the Reverend Vincent Murnaghan Memorial Scholarship, established by Cooper Institute in conjunction with the University of Prince Edward Island. Beginning in 2003, this $1,000 award is offered to a qualified refugee or foreign student who demonstrates a commitment to social justice and improving living conditions in their community and globally, along with academic achievement or potential. Applications are submitted through UPEI, including an application form and a 1–2 page personal essay describing the applicant’s journey to PEI and challenges faced.

The recipient is selected by a committee composed of two Cooper Institute representatives and one UPEI representative, showing that the Institute plays a direct role in adjudication and allocation of the funds. The site lists multiple past recipients from various countries, confirming that the scholarship is offered on a continuing basis. The award is presented during UPEI’s Dean’s Honours and Awards Night as part of International Development Week.

Beyond this scholarship, Cooper Institute’s broader mission is to empower marginalized and oppressed communities through education, research, and participatory processes. It organizes social justice symposia, public forums on migrant worker issues, and workshops on topics such as basic income, electoral reform, climate change, human rights, gender equality and anti-racism. Many of these initiatives are undertaken in collaboration with coalitions and networks at local, regional and national levels.

While the site does not present a large suite of classic grant programs, Cooper Institute clearly acts as a modest funder in the form of a recurring memorial scholarship, complementing its extensive non‑financial support for communities through training, facilitation, and policy advocacy.