Our Funds

Setting Up a Fund or Scholarship

Did you know you can set up your own family Fund or Scholarship?

For anyone considering a donation to establish a Scholarship or Fund in your name or in memory of someone, a minimum contribution of $10,000 is required. For more information contact a Board member or email wawanesacommunityfoundation@gmail.com

The foundation belongs to the community we serve, and we work to attract wealth with a major focus on planned giving and gifts of assets.  Our efforts are focused on ensuring we match donor wishes with community needs.

Community Forever Fund
This fund allows the Board of Directors to decide where the earnings can be used most effectively each year. This fund provides flexibility in responding to the ever-changing needs in a community.

Field of Interest Fund
A donor identifies a general area of interest for the earnings to be directed and the Board selects appropriate organizations and projects each year that fulfill those wishes.

Designated Fund
The donor specifies one or more charitable beneficiaries and each year the earnings are directed in accordance with the donor's wishes. Adjustments can be made to maintain the donor’s intent should a specified charity change names, purpose or no longer be in existence. Bursaries are scholarship endowments that fall into the Designated Fund category.

Wawanesa Community Foundation Inc.

Current Funds

Wawanesa “Community Forever” General Fund

The Wawanesa Community Foundation Inc. was established in 1993 with a very generous $50,000 bequest from Ernest Albert (Mick) Mitchell in remembrance of his parents-Harold and Ella Mitchell. The Wawanesa Community Forever General Fund, in combination with the other Wawanesa Foundation managed Funds now exceeds $550,000 and the income earned through the Community Forever General Fund is able to be utilized by the Foundation Board to meet the many very diverse and sometimes changing needs within our community.   

Sipiweske Museum Heritage Trust Fund

In 2019 the Sipiweske Museum Heritage Fund was established in a partnership between Sipiweske Museum, Wawanesa Community Foundation, the Winnipeg Foundation, and the Province of Manitoba.

An initial start-up amount of $2,500 from Sipiweske Museum and a $2,500 matching amount from the Wawanesa Community Foundation Inc. formed the original Heritage Trust Fund. Under a new program called the Manitoba Heritage Trust Program, the Manitoba Government agreed to provide matching funding of $1 for every $2 raised. While the matching Manitoba Government Heritage Trust Program came to an end in Spring/2021, Endow Manitoba continues to provide a matching program for donations to this very worthwhile Fund. The Sipiweske Heritage Trust Fund has already surpassed $78,000 and continues to grow very quickly with tremendous community support for this wonderful museum.

All Donations to the Fund remain in the Sipiweske Heritage Trust Fund Account forever, all donor names are added to the Wall of Recognition at the Museum, and the income earned each year is sent directly to the Sipiweske Museum Board to assist with operational expenses.

Trevor McKenzie Recreation Fund

The McKenzie Recreation Fund was created in 2015 with a bequest to the Wawanesa Community Foundation by Trevor McKenzie of $210,000, with the annual investment returns utilized for recreational purposes in the community.

Sonny Decock Waterpark Fund

The Sonny Decock Waterpark Fund was created in 2021 with a bequest of $40,000. through the Sonny Decock Estate to the Wawanesa Community Foundation. The annual investment returns generated through this, and future donations to the Waterpark Fund, will be utilized for continued operation, upgrades and development of the Wawanesa and District Waterpark.   

Agricultural Society Scholarship Fund

Wawanesa Agricultural Society created an annual bursary for a graduating student of Wawanesa High School who enrolls in and successfully completes their first year of an agricultural-related certification. The Agricultural Society Scholarship Bursary has been established by the Wawanesa Community Foundation permanently recognizing the $20,000 gift from the Wawanesa and District Agricultural Society.

Hampton Family Scholarship Fund

A $10,000 contribution from Helen and William Eamer with a $2,000 supplement from the Winnipeg Foundation’s 24 hours of giving, created the Hampton Family Scholarship Fund.

The Foundation is proud to annually award the Hampton Family Scholarship at Wawanesa School to acknowledge and reward a student who demonstrates academic achievement combined with solid citizenship and a good sense of community.

Cory Church Fund

Established by the Estate of the Cory Sisters-Frieda, Buelah and Ruby, this fund with a bequest of over $100,000 provides annual income in perpetuity to the Wawanesa United Church.

 Youth in Philanthropy Fund

A permanent Endowment Fund dedicated completely to allowing our School Youth in Philanthropy Club to intake grant applications and make decisions on what projects to support in our community. While the YIP club has been operating for a number of years under a partnership between the Thomas Sill Foundation and the Wawanesa Community Foundation, that funding ran out in 2022, so our Board has established a permanent Endowment Fund for the Youth in Philanthropy group. We have agreed to provide them with a minimum of $1,000 each year from the Fund (and our Admin Fund) (as well as an annual pizza party for expenses). The Fund is presently over $10,000 and hopefully will be able to more than sustain itself down the road.