Mother and child looking out the window.

 

Founded in 1989, Vancity Community Foundation (VCF) believes in the power of collective effort to build thriving, vibrant communities. While our innovative approaches have amplified non-profit work, we recognize that many tools, including philanthropy, have perpetuated inequities. Our new strategic plan aims to increase equity by focusing on community-owned assets, collective benefits, and economic conditions for thriving. We will engage and support communities most impacted by systemic inequalities, ensuring their input and leadership in developing solutions.

We welcome you to read a summary of our new plan below as well as find a link to view the full document.

Thriving Communities

We know many communities are not thriving right now. Through our work, we seek to support local leaders, organizations, and networks in advancing solutions to social and environmental challenges. We prioritize initiatives that challenge structural systems of oppression and benefit equity-deserving communities.

  • Our Vision: Thriving communities where power is distributed, lives are dignified, and nature is in balance

  • Our Mission: To catalyze our resources without colonial constraints, building deeper capacity in the non-profit sector to address the dual crises of affordability and climate. We prioritize Indigenous and Black-led and -serving organizations, equity-deserving communities, and the Downtown Eastside.

  • Our Purpose: To work with communities to create the economic, social, and environmental conditions to collectively thrive.

Approach to Change

VCF is committed to using its resources—people, philanthropy, social finance, capacity building, partnerships, research, and advocacy—to build deeper capacity in the non-profit sector, addressing affordability and climate crises. We prioritize Indigenous and Black-led organizations, equity-deserving communities, and the Downtown Eastside, following the lead of our partners to identify and support grassroots initiatives.

VALUES

  • Reciprocal Relations: Built on trust and collaboration, valuing community wisdom. 

  • Learning and Sharing: Embracing collective intelligence and "Two-Eyed Seeing" to foster shared learning.

  • Action and Courage: Championing community-centered action and equitable power sharing.

  • Redistribution of Wealth, Resources, and Power: Supporting restorative, community-led efforts.

Our Resources

  • Our People: Centering the health and well-being of our team through inclusive, transparent practices that build trust and foster thriving working environments.

  • Philanthropy and Social Finance: Combining philanthropy with social finance to offer equitable capital access and flexible financing for marginalized groups, ensuring resources are used for both immediate and generational decisions.

  • Capacity Building: Supporting partners through training, technical aid, and collaborative opportunities, strengthening community capacity and building more resilient and equitable organizations.

  • Partnerships and Engagement: Engaging with various stakeholders in shared interests to build trust and innovative solutions, guided by community needs.

  • Research and Knowledge Exchange: Using community-led research to illuminate needs and facilitate targeted solutions, balancing power, and spurring innovation.

  • Advocacy: Utilizing community ties and strategic influence to challenge systems and structures, championing voices for policy change and transformational investments.

Commitments

  • JEDI: Embedding equity in governance, funding, and operations.

  • Climate Justice: Focusing on the frontlines, building resilience, investing in solutions, and advocating for change.

  • Equitable Philanthropy: Advancing trust-based, unrestricted funding and inclusive investment practices.

  • Centering People: Supporting staff through living wages and an inclusive culture.

  • Truth and Reconciliation: Prioritizing Indigenous-led initiatives and aligning with UNDRIP and TRC Calls to Action.

  • Community-Led Practice: Operating when invited, in a flexible and trust-based way, while being accountable to community.

  • Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression: Pursuing racial equity within our organization and work.

Strategic Priorities 2024-2029

Restoring Affordability

  • Goal: Ensuring that everyone has access to the resources they need to live fulfilled and dignified lives by growing community-owned assets, distributing collective benefits, and advancing economic justice.
  • Commitments: Increase affordable housing, support fair wages, and foster green jobs in equity-deserving communities.

Climate Justice

  • Goal: Supporting communities and the non-profit sector to reduce emissions, build resilience, and adapt to a changing climate - centering those most impacted by environmental injustice.
  • Commitments: Develop climate resilience strategies for non-profits, fund net-zero projects in community housing.

connected communities

  • Goal: Fostering ecosystems of mutual care, shared power, and enduring solidarity by investing in the social infrastructure that strengthens relationships between people, place, and purpose.
  • Commitments: Use 312 Main as an affordable hub for community development, advocate for and grow social purpose real estate.

 

Learn more

For more details, please download the full 2024-2029 Strategic Plan here.