Battle River Community Foundation updates council

It's been twenty years since the Battle River Community Foundation was established, and BlainFowler, chairman of the board, brought Camrose city council up to date on the history and future ofthe organization at council's May 4 committee of the whole meeting.

In 1994, Mayor Norm Mayer appointed Louise Jensen as (chairman), Len Umbach (secretary), GerrieDey, Ken Drever, Alan Fielding, John Gust, Grant Skippen, David Stolee and Blain Fowler to the firstboard of directors. They started with a grand total of $1,869.

First called "The Greater Camrose Community Foundation" the organization's name was soonchanged to reflect the coverage area: Bittern Lake to Hughenden on Highway 13, south-east to allpoints on the Alliance line, Bashaw to Hay Lakes on Highway 21, north easterly from Kingman andRound Hill to Tofield and along Highway 14 to the outskirts of Wainwright.

Since its inception, 33 people have served on the board, spending an average of 10 hours a month -or three work weeks a year - working for the foundation.

"Each is truly a citizen of the greater Battle River community, and as such, each is able to view alldevelopments and initiatives in the geographical area we serve with an unprejudiced eye," saidFowler.

Fowler described a three step process by which gifts are received from donors, invested as anendowment and the balance of the return on the investment is passed on to deserving organizations.

When it comes to donors, the board has learned that large corporations tend to give directly toorganizations, for maximum public exposure, rather than to foundations. It is individual donors whohave been the stoutest supporters of the BRCF.

"The people who are most open to personal philanthropy are long-time residents who are engaged inour community and want to give something back. They want to know that the foundation willresponsibly manage their gifts to the community and will survive long into the future," said Fowler,adding, "From the very start, we were driven by the wishes of our donors, NOT by the recipients ofthe generosity and community spirit of our donors. We understood who we were working for."

The BRCF's endowment is managed by the Edmonton Community Foundation (which has anendowment of about $400M split into ten investment portfolios managed by different organizations)for a fee of one per cent of the fund.

Then, every August, the BRCF accepts about 60-70 grant applications, which are evaluated based ona system of 10 factors. Each member of the grants committee scores each application, the totals aretallied, and a lengthy discussion finishes off the decision process. Cheques are delivered throughDecember and January

In 2001 and 2008, the fund failed to generate a profit, however, donors encouraged the BRCF not todip into the funds to meet short term needs. In 2008, when there was no money to grant, the BRCFembarked on a program to improve early childhood literacy.

"Grade 3 is the point at which literacy becomes absolutely critical. The first three years of the

student's life, he learns to read...but from Grade 3 on, you read to learn," said Fowler. "Studies haveshown that if you're not at reading level by Grade 3, you are sunk. By the time Grade 5 comes along,you're falling so far behind that you probably never, ever will catch up."

BRCF partnered with Battle River School Division and the University of Alberta Augustana Campusto offer "Reading University," where every possible obstacle to participation is removed, as the costis shared by BRCF and BRSD ($2,000 a student), and busing, meals, backpacks and books areprovided.

"The effect of this is nothing short of spectacular," said Fowler, noting participants pick up as muchas two years of reading ability in one month of concentrated study.

In 2004, when endowments totalled just under $2 million, the BRCF set and reached a five-year goalof $5 million. In 2009, they set the next five-year goal of $10M and achieved it by the end of 2014.Fowler estimates the foundation will be aiming for $17 or $18M in endowments by the end of 2019.

"Our foundation, yours and mine, is the result of the collective efforts of thousands of caring people,"said Fowler. "Caring people who recognize the needs in our community and who develop initiativesand projects to address those needs. They are people who are prepared to roll up their sleeves andget to work to make things better. Caring people who have worked effectively during their lives andwant to give something back to the community. These people have the resources and are preparedto finance projects and initiatives to make things better."

BRCF Facts

First year of operations:

Fund raising goal: $10,000

Amount contributed: $12,938

First grant: $200 to the Battle River School Division for a scholarship

Today:

Endowments: $10.4 million

Donations: $912,000 last year

Granted: $680,000 last year

Funds: 285

New funds last year: 25

Unique donors: 608 in 2012, 660 in 2013 and 920 in 2014

2014 earnings: $1,235,055.31

Cumulative grants since inception: $2,948,682.82 ($176,342 within the City of Camrose)

http://www.camrosecanadian.com/2015/05/13/battle-river-community-foundation-updates-council