The Lake of Bays Community Fund was created to support charitable organizations and programs that are impacting the communities within the Township of Lake of Bays. Grants from the Lake of Bays Community Fund are disbursed only to projects within the Township that are delivered by charitable organizations working in the areas of food insecurity, education, recreation, health and wellness, seniors, children and youth. Granting decisions are overseen by the Community Fund Grant Review Committee.

Anyone can contribute to the Lake of Bays Community Fund knowing that a charitable gift is working in your community to create a lasting impact by supporting organizations that provide vital services and programs.

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YWCA Muskoka Legacy Fund
For those who share YWCA Muskoka’s vision to build a world in which girls, women and gender-diverse people thrive in a safe and equitable society, this fund was established as a long-term solution to ensure YWCA Muskoka can deliver community-based services throughout the coming decades and beyond. YW programs serve youth, adults and seniors and centre around four robust pillars to convey a message of hope, security and dignity for all:

1.Preventing Gender-Based Violence
2.Promoting Mental Health & Wellbeing
3.Cultivating Economic Resilience
4.Building Relationships

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To learn more about the YWCA Muskoka visit www.ywcamuskoka.com and to learn more about the YWCA Muskoka’s legacy building goals we invite you to watch the video below:

If we are going to tackle food insecurity in our Muskoka communities, we need solutions that bridge the gaps in our current system. This is why we are excited to announce a new fund that is designed to empower the organizations who are doing this critical work.

The Feed Muskoka Fund will support our 10 local food banks as well as multiple food insecurity programs that operate across Muskoka. The focus of this fund is about more than filling plates – it is about finding sustainable ways to address the real problems our communities are facing. The fund will support innovative solutions that include:

• 1) Reducing food costs by addressing gaps in infrastructure that impact bulk ordering purchases
• 2) Strengthening organizational capacity to improve services
• 3) Promoting local food production and the processing of food rescue items
• 4) Creating educational opportunities for skills development and training opportunities for service users

Projects supported by this fund will be identified by the food insecurity sector and foster innovative solutions to support this important work.

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As part of the Muskoka Community Foundation’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation, a new fund has been created to help local charities implement the 94 Calls to Action throughout their programs and services. Our hope is for the Building Bridges to Reconciliation Fund to be a step forward in building respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples while actively accounting for and repairing the harm they have experienced for generations.

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The DOC ROB Fund was created in memory of Dr. Rob Stevens. This Fund will provide grants to organizations and programs in the District of Parry Sound that address mental health and wellness, suicide awareness and prevention, youth mental health, and mental health and wellness education.

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This fund will work with local community partners to support initiatives to attract, develop, and retain primary health care workers in Muskoka.

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“This fund was established to provide support for initiatives that build self-sufficiency in the Muskoka community.  RAMP supports programs that help people overcome the obstacles they encounter while lifting themselves out of poverty. These programs directly address systemic barriers that keep people in poverty and also provide some combination of the training, knowledge, connections, skills, services, attitudes and tools required to liberate people from cycles of poverty.  Financial support for initiatives and programs is awarded to programs identified by RAMP. To learn more about the organizations supported by RAMP please visit Ramp Up Muskoka – Residents Against Muskoka Poverty”  You can also watch this short video clip Powtoon – Gord Durnan

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The Muskoka – Parry Sound Indigenous Bursary Fund will provide an annual bursary of $2,200 and will be awarded to a graduating Indigenous student residing in the Districts of Muskoka or Parry Sound and who is pursuing post-secondary studies at a Canadian institution. The Muskoka Community Foundation has partnered with Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures bursary program. Indspire is a national Indigenous charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people and has been in operation since 1985.

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This field of interest fund was established in memory of Stan Darling, MP for Parry-Sound Muskoka. Stan was an active environmentalist, and was instrumental in establishing the Acid Rain Treaty with the USA in 1991. Grants are awarded each June to a student from each of the area’s six high schools who is pursuing a post-secondary education with a focus on environmental studies at a Canadian College or University. Recipients are selected based on their demonstrated commitment and service to community environmental issues, academic achievement and record of participation in volunteer and extracurricular activities.

The South and Central Almaguin Education Fund was created in 2017 to support high school students, residing in South and Central Almaguin region, who otherwise may not have the opportunity to attend a post-secondary education institution. This donor advised fund provides successful applicants with grants up to $5000.00 to assist with school related expenses in their first year of post-secondary education. Click here to access the application.

This fund will support students, who might not otherwise afford it, to enter vocational educational programs that equip them to prosper in the Muskoka economy. To learn more about the impact of the Petere and Eve Willis Bursary Fund watch this short video clip Powtoon – Willis Video

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The Muskoka Environment Fund, held and administered by the Muskoka Community Foundation is a flow through fund that provides financial support to qualified donees who are working to conserve and protect Muskoka’s natural environment. The Fund will also provide support to organizations that raise awareness and provide educational programming about the importance of protecting and creating a healthy Muskoka’s environment.

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The Coco Bear Fund was started by Shari and Jean-Marc Dubois as a way to honour their son Conrad who died after a lengthy struggle with addiction. In an effort to support other young people in Muskoka who are struggling with addiction and their mental health and wellness, the Coco Bear Fund will provide financial support to mental health and addiction programs in Muskoka.

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Olympic Gold Medalist Dara Howell created Dara’s Fund to provide resources and opportunities for Muskoka’s female athletes. This unique fund can, from time to time, provide additional resources for girls and women who are competing in any type of individual or team sport above the local club or rep level regionally, provincially, nationally or internationally. Dara’s Fund also looks for opportunities to provide funding to local sporting organizations that promote good mental health and wellness for their membership.

The Paul and Ruby Erb Fund is a Donor-Advised Endowment Fund created by the late Paul Erb. Paul and Ruby were long time residents of Bracebridge who were actively involved with many charitable organizations and service clubs.

The Lowden Family Fund is a Donor-Advised Endowment Fund, created by Honourary Directors Steve and Linda Lowden to support Muskoka’s registered charities. Steve Lowden is a 3rd generation Muskokan and a founding member of the Toronto Foundation; Linda was a founding director of the Muskoka Community Foundation. The Lowdens wanted to create a Fund to build a legacy in Muskoka and so that their children and grandchildren would be an active part of Muskoka for generations to come.

The Cowan Family Fund is a Donor-Advised Endowment Fund, created by John and Maggie Cowan to support registered charities primarily in Muskoka. The Cowans, who have cottaged in Muskoka for five generations, wanted to create a legacy to preserve the Muskoka they love and cherish.

The Goodwin Family Fund is a Donor-Advised Endowment Fund, created by Jim and Marlyn Goodwin to support registered charities in Muskoka. The Goodwins are long-time residents in Gravenhurst who wanted to create a legacy to preserve the Muskoka they love and cherish.

The Uffelmann Family Fund is a donor-advised fund established to assist in improving the quality of life in the Muskoka region through donations to registered charities.

In an effort to help local municipalities and first responders during future emergencies the Muskoka Strong Fund was created. If a man-made or natural disaster should occur the Muskoka Community Foundation will work closely with the District of Muskoka to assess the needs of those impacted during times of crisis and act as a central location for individuals to direct their donations allowing local officials to focus on addressing the urgent needs of their community.

This Fund was created to help young people whose financial situation prevents their participation in optional experiences organized by their school or other approved organizations. These funds are directed to enhancing citizenship or enable young people to join in service to others in their community, elsewhere in Canada or abroad. Examples include student exchanges, school trips to Ottawa, Quebec or other significant destinations, or church or school organized trips to perform service projects in Canada and other countries. This fund may only be accessed when all other funding has been exhausted. For more information, or to inquire about eligibility to receive a grant from this fund, please contact us at 705-646-1220

This Endowment Fund was created to ensure the long tern sustainability of Muskoka Community Foundation as an organization. Anyone can invest any amount to this Fund at any time to build capacity and share in the vision of building a smart & caring Muskoka.

The Muskoka Youth Mental Health and Wellness Fund was created in 2019 to assist organizations and programs that support youth mental health and wellness in Muskoka.