GODERICH – Edge Renewal Fund has begun accepting applications for cultural, natural and heritage projects that benefit the community.
The volunteer board has finalized the steps to apply and the criteria on which priority will be given for disbursement of money that was donated by private benefactors after the tornado struck Goderich and area on Aug. 21, 2011. The committee will consider five major priorities in reviewing: maximum impact on wider community, public value whether artistic or functional, support or complement to other committees or strategies, other income or funding sources, and community involvement based on public feedback to the proposals that will be posted on-line.
The application form will be posted online at www.edgefund.org in the new year, but proposals are being accepted now either by email to [email protected] or mailed to 33 Hamilton St., Goderich, ON L7A 1P8.
The non-profit corporation has received an initial seed donation of $100,000 from a concerned family. This family has also promised additional funds (up to $200,000) to match donations received from other members of the community. The Fund is hopeful that it will ultimately have $500,000 to inject into the community. Efforts are under way to raise the additional $200,000 to secure the matching funds.
“The Goderich and area board of directors wants these funds seeding projects that have the widest community benefit possible,” said Rick Lobb, who is board chair.
“We have a competent board that cares about the community and will do what it can to be the best stewards for the funds as possible,” he said.
Board members include Rick Lobb, Paul Nichol, Mark Hussey, Randall Lobb, Lisa Hood and Brittany Fry, as well as resource members Leah Noel and Kathy Homan.
Already, ERF has been involved in a number of time-sensitive community projects: Out of the Storm, Community Economic Revitalization Committee (CERC), Goderich Trees Project and Trees Beyond Goderich Project.
Back in August 2011 when the seed donor brought together a key group of individuals from the community to administer the funds, they could not have foreseen the delays along the way.
“The process of arriving at where we are today was far more complex than we could ever have imagined,” said Randall Lobb, who is a director.
It took until January 2012 to open a bank account, after delays caused by restructuring and expansion of the board for wider community representation.
While the board went through the complicated process to establish charitable status, it refrained from public comment and new initiatives, under the advice of Canada Revenue Agency, which said such moves could affect the granting of status. Charitable status would have allowed the organization to provide tax receipts for all donations received after the tornado.
However, in September, ERF received notice from CRA that the application had been denied. In its ruling, the agency said while efforts to help rejuvenate the natural environment, heritage and cultural arts in the Goderich area may be considered commendable, they are not charitable. To be charitable, the CRA says the fund would have to provide “basic necessities, such as food and shelter.”
Preference will be given to projects that provide a broad community benefit and that partner with other community organizations.
Throughout this process, donors to ERF have been kept up to date.
For more information, please visit www.edgefund.org
