A community foundation is a pool of money -- endowments -- carefully invested to produce funds for community projects.

Investment income is distributed as grants to local, charitable organizations. The capital pool is never touched and  provides a perpetual source of income that can be used to meet needs in our communities. Once a foundation is established, it continuously generates revenue even if no new donations are received.

The Nakusp & Area Development Board invested the initial funding, on behalf of the NACF, of $10,000 with the Vancouver Foundation in December 2003. In early 2005, voters expressed confidence in the NACF by awarding the Community Foundation a $15,000 grant from the Community Initiatives Fund of the Columbia Basin Trust.

In 2005, and again in 2006, the NCAF raised $25,000 each year in order to receive matching funds from the Vancouver Foundation and the Columbia Basin Trust program. Meeting this goal brought our endowment fund to $160,000.

Above left - Gerry Schiavon (shown handing a cheque to Randy Thiessen) and Deb Schiavon from What's Brewing On Broadway were the Foundation's first business donation. Above right - Dave Perfitt, manager of Nakusp Overwaitea presents a cheque to the foundation's Barb Chwachka. Money is from donated Overwaitea Points.

In these changing times, it is vital for our community to have a self-sustaining funding source. You can support your community by donating to the Nakusp & Area Community Foundation.

The Arrow Lakes Youth Society Drama Students had a penny drive to raise funds for the foundation. Left to right - Devon Leitch, Emily Markholm and Erin McLeod (Avery Palmer- absent).

The Nakusp & Area Community Foundation is committed to working with other agencies, foundations and organizations.