Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The Steinbach Community Foundation Inc. (SCF)

The Steinbach Community Foundation Inc. (SCF) is a community foundation dedicated to improving quality of life in Steinbach and the broader southeast Manitoba region. It builds permanent endowment funds from individual, family, corporate and estate gifts, and uses the investment income to provide recurring grants to registered charities and other qualified donees. SCF funds initiatives across social services, health and well‑being, heritage, sport and recreation, arts and culture, child and family welfare, education, environment and other community priorities.

SCF manages a General Community Fund as well as designated, donor‑advised and agency funds. Through these funds, it supports a wide variety of local projects such as library and arts infrastructure, youth and family programming, accessibility and mobility equipment, seniors’ housing improvements, fire department equipment and community heritage preservation.

SCF runs an annual community granting cycle, with applications due March 31 each year. Eligible applicants are primarily CRA‑registered charities or other qualified donees operating within SCF’s catchment area (east of Highway 75, south of Highway 1, west of the Manitoba/Ontario border, and north of the U.S. border). Non‑profit organizations without charitable status may apply in partnership with a registered charity under a formal written agreement.

Applications are reviewed by the volunteer Board, which conducts short interviews with each applicant in April before making decisions in May. Successful organizations sign a grant agreement and must submit receipts and a final report describing outcomes, community impact, volunteer involvement, and recognition of SCF’s support. SCF emphasizes projects where modest grants can have significant impact, demonstrate community support, avoid unnecessary duplication of services, and align with long‑term community well‑being.

SCF is affiliated with The Winnipeg Foundation and Endow Manitoba, which manage its endowment assets and provide training and support. The portfolio includes a General Community Fund, arts stabilization and heritage funds, agency funds for specific institutions, and named family and women’s giving circle funds such as The Chrysalis Fund. Donors can create non‑designated, field‑of‑interest, designated or time‑limited spend‑down donor‑advised funds, allowing them to focus support on particular causes or organizations while SCF administers the granting in line with CRA rules.

Through its granting, SCF supports children and youth, families facing barriers, seniors, people with disabilities, cultural and heritage organizations, educational institutions, health‑related charities and emergency services. Annual reports highlight grants to projects like adapted bikes and communication devices for children, community fire‑safety education tools, mental health spaces, seniors’ housing upgrades, digital resource libraries, and museum enhancements. By combining local philanthropy with professional endowment management, SCF provides a stable, long‑term source of financial support for charitable initiatives across southeast Manitoba.