Essentials Fund

Supporting local orgs with unrestricted grants

While Waterloo Region is fortunate to have many non-profits, charities, and organizations working hard to offer supports and services to our communities, consistent funding can be a challenge for these groups. Due to most funding being tied to specific purposes, even those who are able to obtain ongoing funding often still struggle to find funds to offer basic items to their clients like transit passes and hygiene items.

That’s where the Essentials Fund comes in. Now in its second year, the Essentials Fund, in partnership with the Waterloo Region Community Fund, seeks to fill that gap by providing small unrestricted grants to organizations to use at their discretion. 

Committee member Mike Pereira notes that, “Most of the funding charities receive is restricted and must be directed towards specific programming or projects. This leaves charities to seek other methods to help when their clients are in need of everyday essentials like diapers, toothbrushes or bus passes. Sometimes they are able to collect these items from donation campaigns through social media or donor newsletters but invariably they receive too much of one thing or the wrong things or lack the necessary storage. The Essentials Fund has been created to provide these charities with flexible funds through an unrestricted grant so they can help their clients quickly and effectively obtain what they need, when they need it.”

As shared in the WR Record, “Local charities and other groups apply to the fund so they have cash on hand when they need to buy necessities for their clients.” That funding has allowed groups to provide needed items such as baby diapers and formula, menstrual products, and basic toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste.

Last year, the Essentials Fund provided an unrestricted grant of over $2000 each to 17 local charities and organizations. Grant recipients included: Brain Injury Association of Waterloo Wellington, Sanguen Health Centre, SHORE Centre, and Women’s Crisis Services. You can view all grant recipients here.

If you are interested and able to provide a donation to the Essentials Fund, you can donate here and donations are eligible for a tax receipt. And if you donate soon, your impact will be doubled thanks to a matching campaign! The campaign to collect funds ends April 30th. The Essentials Fund also provides a year-end update from the committee.

Reflecting on the role of the Essentials Fund, committee member Jane Arnold says, “Last year’s fundraising success and the unexpected large number of organizations requesting funding, confirmed our belief there is great need in our community to support these organizations providing vital services and programming to our most vulnerable community members. Our Committee is excited about this year’s campaign as we continue to highlight the need for this support in our community.”

The Essentials Fund is led by an organizing committee of community volunteers who have come together because they recognize and appreciate the vital work being done by Waterloo Region charities and organizations. If you have questions, email the Essentials Fund. Also, find them on:  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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