Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Rotary Club of Winnipeg-Assiniboine Charitable Foundation (RCWACF)

The Rotary Club of Winnipeg-Assiniboine Charitable Foundation (RCWACF) supports the community work of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg‑Assiniboine, chartered in 1973 in the St. James‑Assiniboine area of Winnipeg. Through annual fundraising campaigns, dinners, raffles and golf tournaments, the foundation gathers charitable donations and channels them to a wide range of local and international initiatives. Operating funds for the club are kept separate from community and international service funds, which are dedicated to project support.

Over the years, funds raised have been used to provide direct financial support to underprivileged children so they can attend Scout and Guide camps, to purchase modern medical equipment for Grace Hospital, and to maintain ongoing support for Grace Hospice. The club and its foundation have also provided major start-up funding for community assets such as Skatepark West and have become long-term supporters of local green spaces including Assiniboine Forest, Living Prairie Museum and Grant’s Old Mill.

A significant share of RCWACF’s giving focuses on youth development. The foundation helps sponsor students for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and other youth leadership and adventure programs, and supports Rotary Youth Exchange opportunities. It also directs proceeds from its annual fundraising dinner to Rotary youth programs such as RYLA and the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA), helping young people gain leadership, citizenship and global awareness experience.

Beyond youth, the foundation funds health-related organizations and community services, such as hospitals, hospices and food security efforts, and backs environmental and recreational projects that improve quality of life in west Winnipeg. Internationally, it has supported projects like water pumps in India and the Philippines, pharmaceutical supplies for Ghana, micro-banks and training schools in India, and disaster response through partners such as ShelterBox.

RCWACF operates as a discretionary charitable funder rather than through rigid, formal grant programs. Priorities are shaped by Rotary’s service themes and by needs identified in the local community and through international Rotary networks. Funding is typically provided to registered charities, community organizations and Rotary-linked youth programs that align with Rotary’s values of service, leadership and community building.

While the website does not publish a structured call for applications, it documents many examples of funded projects and beneficiaries, illustrating the foundation’s role in mobilizing volunteers and financial resources for lasting community impact in Winnipeg and abroad.