Stratford Perth Community Foundation looking for board members

The Stratford Perth Community Foundation put out a call this week for two board members to join its team.

Article content

Established in 2004 as the local community foundation for Stratford, St. Marys and the municipalities of North Perth, Perth South, West Perth and Perth East, the organization is part of a worldwide network of community foundations with a shared objective of building stronger and more vibrant communities by providing support to charitable organizations through grants made possible by responsible stewardship of endowment funds.

Article content

So, what does the role of a board member entail?

Board chair Mae Brooks elaborated.

“The board of directors acts as trustee of the foundation’s assets and helps to ensure that the SPCF continues to be well managed,” she said. “Board members are typically not involved in the day-to-day management of the organization. We participate in board meetings quarterly, as well as being involved in specialized committees.”

Article content

The board tries to ensure a “diverse set of skills and perspectives” in its ranks, Brooks said, with backgrounds ranging from human resources, investment and finance, governance and community awareness and involvement.

“Ensuring that we have a cross-section of the communities that we serve is important to ensuring we are fulfilling our foundation’s mission,” she said.

The foundation handles more than 90 funds that support arts and culture, children and youth, education, environment, health and wellness, recreation, seniors and social services and has distributed $3 million to area charities.

Local charitable organizations apply for grants each fall, and 12 board members review and approve final grant recommendations put forward by an advisory committee.

Article content

Eight new funds were created in 2023, and $512,000 in grants from funds held with the community foundation and special funding benefited 51 organizations.

The largest grants last year were $10,500 each to Shelterlink for its Housing First for Youth program and to The Local Community Food Centre’s community supper and cafe.

“The (foundation) strives to enrich the lives of all people within Perth County, so being an active member on the board of directors to help shape and guide the foundation as we meet those goals is an amazing feeling,” said Brooks, who represents North Perth. “Knowing that you are helping your community, not only today with the work that you are doing, but creating sustainable support into the future is a great feeling.”

Deadline for board applications is Friday, March 29, at 5 pm The new positions will begin in late June 2024.

For more information, visit spccf.ca.

[email protected]

Article content