The Medicine Hat Rotary Club welcomed Niki Gray to our meeting today. Niki is the Executive Director of the Community Foundation of SE Alberta. She has just recently returned to work from maternity leave, and we had the privilege of being her first "outside" speaking engagement since she got back to work.
Although the Community Foundation is well known to many in the room, Niki began with a little history and some of the changes that have occurred during her 8 years as Executive Director. She was excited to announce that the Community Foundation endowment is now over $30 Million, and that principal sum is invested, and it is the investment income that provides the yearly grants. Some of those grants are directed by the private endowment holders, and others are set by the CFSEA "Vital Signs" report, which helps set priorities.
One of the biggest changes recently is the widening of the ability of the CF to provide grants outside registered charities. It is now possible for non-profit societies (like Rotary) to apply for grants.
Niki spoke about the Local Impact grant, given out once a year for a maximum of $35,000. That is the largest of the almost $1,000,000 in grants that the CF Grants Committee will award. She also made the comment that they get approximately 4 times the requests for grants, so the decisions can be tough.
She encouraged us to attend the grant writing workshop and not fall into their "pet peeves" regarding clarity and use of funds.
After a number of questions and answers, Niki was thanked by President Mike Christie (once upon a time the ED of the CFSEA himself) with out Rotary Medalta coffee mug.
