Role of Roblin District Community Foundation in the funding ecosystem
Roblin District Community Foundation is a charitable community foundation based in Roblin, Manitoba. As part of Manitoba’s broader network of community foundations, it gathers gifts from donors, invests them in endowment funds, and uses the investment income to provide ongoing financial support to local initiatives. Its mission is to contribute funds to the betterment of all aspects of community life, from health care and seniors’ services to education, culture, and community facilities.
The foundation stewards a range of endowed funds. A general fund gives the board maximum flexibility to respond to emerging needs. Designated funds support specific priorities such as the Crocus Court Personal Care Fund for the local personal care home, the Roblin District Hospital Fund for hospital projects, and a Cemeteries Fund that helps ensure perpetual care of area cemeteries and burial sites. Education-focused funds, including the Goose Lake High Education Fund and several bursary and scholarship funds, provide ongoing support to deserving students pursuing post-secondary education.
Grants, bursaries and typical beneficiaries
Each year, the foundation distributes grants from its endowed funds to qualified local organizations. Recent grants have supported entities such as the Roblin District Health Centre, Crocus Court Personal Care Home, Roblin & District Health Care Auxiliary, Roblin Children’s Center Inc., local cemeteries and cemetery committees, community clubs, curling and seniors’ clubs, and heritage and museum organizations. These grants are typically project-based and are intended to enhance quality of life for residents within the foundation’s geographic area.
In addition to community grants, the foundation funds annual scholarships and bursaries for graduates of Goose Lake High School. Named funds such as the Roblin District Community Foundation Scholarship & Bursaries Fund, the Dale Yeo Memorial Fund, and the Christ Church Anglican Roblin Bursary Fund provide education bursaries, including awards targeted to students entering specific fields of study like Education.
General application principles and timelines
Like other Manitoba community foundations, Roblin District Community Foundation follows common granting principles outlined by Endow Manitoba. Grants are generally available to registered charities, municipal governments, qualified donees, or non-profit groups partnered with an eligible charity or municipality. Supported projects must primarily benefit residents within the foundation’s area, be non-partisan and non-political, and use funds for the purposes approved by the foundation.
The foundation publishes an annual grant deadline of April 30. Applicants are expected to contact the foundation for local application forms and processes. Disbursement of approved grant funds may be tied to project milestones, spending and reporting requirements, or other conditions set by the foundation’s volunteer board.
Community governance and long-term impact
The foundation is governed by a volunteer board drawn from the Roblin district, which oversees fund stewardship, evaluates grant applications, and sets local priorities. Because gifts are held in endowment, only a portion of investment income is granted each year, ensuring that the capital remains intact to support the community in perpetuity. Through this structure, the Roblin District Community Foundation provides a long-term, locally controlled source of financial support for health, education, heritage, and community well-being.