LANGLEY, B.C. – The First West Foundation, through its Envision Financial Community Endowment, is granting $517,680 now to deserving charities throughout the Fraser Valley, distributing 29 grants through a variety of different grant streams. In total, $2,278,326 is being dispersed across the province through the Foundation’s named endowments and regional community endowments representing First West Credit Union’s four local brands— Island Savings, Envision Financial, Valley First and Enderby & District Financial.
The funding includes $363,000 in Impact grants awarded to 18 charities, $70,000 in Capacity grants awarded to seven charities, and $84,680 in SOAR grants awarded to four charities. An additional $620,598 will be released through the Foundation’s endowments in the fall for a total 2025 investment of $1,138,278 for Fraser Valley charities.
This milestone represents part of First West Foundation’s commitment to exceed the Canada Revenue Agency’s minimum disbursement rate of 5%. The disbursement rate represents the percentage of a foundation’s assets that must be granted out annually to maintain charitable status. In 2025, the Foundation will achieve its highest granting rate in history—12%—demonstrating a commitment that goes well beyond regulatory requirements.
“Our community partners are on the front lines, providing essential services and programs,” says Susan Byrom, Executive Director of First West Foundation. “As their partner, we hear directly from them about the increasing challenges communities are facing. When our partners tell us the need is urgent, we respond—and right now, that means stepping up with the highest granting rate in our history to ensure we’re supporting them when it matters most.”
Building on this community-responsive approach, the Foundation continues to emphasize alignment with its six Sustainable Development Goals—no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, reduced inequalities, and partnerships for the goals. This commitment is delivered through trust-based philanthropy, which remains central to the Foundation’s work by providing flexible, unrestricted resources that allow grantees to allocate funds according to their priorities and respond dynamically to emerging needs.
Supporting Food Security and Social Justice
Among the recipients is L.I.N.C. (Long-term Inmates Now in the Community), which received $25,000 to support Emma’s Acres, a thriving sustainable agriculture social enterprise supporting local food security in the City of Mission. Proceeds from the farm are sold at the Mission City Farmers Market, to local non-profits, stores and restaurants as well as being donated to local food programs and the food bank. L.I.N.C. uses the principles of transformative justice, equity, community and diversity to assist offenders who are accountable for their actions, to safely reintegrate back into society after years of being inside prison.
Emma’s Acres gives individuals opportunities to give back to the community whereby prisoners travel to the farm on various forms of conditional release. Incarcerated participants receive employable skills, an opportunity to provide community service, and receive hands-on learning experiences. Approximately 1,500 people are impacted by LINC every year.
“This funding represents more than just operational support—it’s an investment in human transformation and community healing,” said Sherry Edmunds-Flett, Executive Director at L.I.N.C. Society. “At Emma’s Acres, we witness daily miracles as people who have been written off by society discover their capacity to nurture life, feed their community, and reclaim their sense of purpose. When someone who has spent years behind bars plants a seed and watches it grow into food that feeds a hungry neighbor, that’s not just agriculture—that’s redemption in action. This grant allows us to expand these life-changing opportunities while strengthening local food security for everyone.”
Established in 1996, the First West Foundation has donated more than $13 million in grants to local community groups and projects across British Columbia.
For a full list of all recipient organizations, visit: https://firstwestfoundation.ca/content/2025-grantees
