Community members gather for fellowship at St. Luke’s Table, a downtown Ottawa drop-in centre for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness, and a recipient of AFC funding. Photo: Domino Creative
The Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC) awarded more than $1 million in grants in 2021—a total that executive director Scott Brubacher calls “extraordinary” and potentially the largest in the foundation’s 64-year history.
A precise figure was not yet available as the Anglican Journal was going to press, but Brubacher confirmed the total was just over $1 million. By comparison, he said, the foundation typically grants between $700,000 and $800,000 per year. This year’s higher total follows the AFC disbursing almost $650,000 in grants and bursaries to 110 recipients during its fall grant cycle.
Disbursements during a specific grant cycle normally average between $200,000 and $300,000, he added. “This was significantly larger than that, and that was largely due to the Say Yes! to Kids request for proposals.”
The AFC launched its Say Yes! to Kids campaign in April to fund post-pandemic ministry programs for children and young people. The campaign blew past its $100,000 goal and had raised more than $110,000 by its official end on June 30.
In response to Say Yes! to Kids, the foundation received 84 applications for post-pandemic youth programs with a total request of about $518,000. Donations enabled the AFC to fund 94% of those applications, awarding more than $468,000 to 79 recipients during the fall grant cycle.
An AFC news release described these disbursements as “the largest one-time investment in youth-focused ministry the Canadian church has seen.” The grants will fund youth ministry in areas including resilience and mental health, faith formation, alleviating hunger and poverty, education enrichment, arts and music, technology, outdoor recreation and Indigenous reconciliation.
Along with grants for youth ministry, the foundation disbursed a range of regular grants during its fall cycle. Funds went towards areas such as church building repairs, community ministry programs, theological leadership and education and Indigenous Ministries.