Grant and Funding Programs Offered by James Raymond Cowling Foundation (JRCCF)

The James Raymond Cowling Foundation is a dedicated scholarship provider for Best Buddies Canada, a national registered charity that promotes inclusion through one-to-one friendships between individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Established in 1994, the foundation made a transformative $500,000 inaugural gift to Best Buddies Canada's endowment fund, demonstrating a long-term commitment to supporting participants in their educational pursuits.

The foundation administers the James Raymond Cowling Foundation Scholarship, which awards multiple scholarships annually valued at $750 each. The program specifically supports two categories of recipients: peer buddies involved in high school or post-secondary chapters, and buddies pursuing post-secondary education or skills development. The scholarship recognizes students who have made outstanding contributions to their Best Buddies Chapter in Canada.

Applicants must have been noticeably involved with Best Buddies Canada for at least one school or program year, have made significant contributions toward advancing the Best Buddies mission in their school and/or wider community, be Canadian Best Buddies participants registered in the current academic year, and be pursuing post-secondary studies or developmental courses in the upcoming school year.

The foundation maintains transparency by publicly listing past scholarship winners from 2016 to 2025, demonstrating the ongoing impact and reach of its scholarship program. Winners are featured on the Best Buddies Canada website with their photographs and academic details.