our profits are your profits.
As a member-owned Co-op, the strength and resilience of our local communities is key. One of the ways your Co-op helps to support our community is through our Community Giving program. As our Co-op grows, so does our ability to support a wide variety of community initiatives, including donations, scholarships, fundraising opportunities, sponsorships, grants and more!
Use of Outdoor Area
Looking to raise awareness about your organization? Hoping to increase community support for an upcoming event? Our outdoor space might be just what you need! This space can be booked by local not-for-profit organizations, service groups, schools and community programs for awareness-raising purposes, community fundraisers, or informational and educational purposes of a non-partisan nature. Fill out a request online.
General Donation
Perfect for small, community fundraisers.
Are you looking for a donation for your fundraising campaign, or food to support volunteers at your event? Then make sure to apply for a general donation! Gift baskets or gift cards can be used as a door prize or food donations can be requested to purchase snacks for a reception, food items for a community dinner, or to thank your volunteers.
Requests are granted on a first-come-first-served basis for this program. We do have a monthly budget for this program so please apply with as much advance notice as possible.
Fill out our Community Giving General Donation Application online here. Please allow at least 10 days for us to process your application and respond to your request.
Sponsorships
Perfect for larger, community-wide events, such as festivals or tournaments.
Are you organizing a large, community event or initiative? Are you part of a local sports team? If that answer is yes then you can apply for sponsorship from our Co-op to help support your event!
To apply, fill out our Request for Sponsorship. Please allow at least two weeks for us to process your application and respond to your request.
Community Grants
Perfect for local organizations needing additional funding for community projects, programs or initiatives.
Our Community Grants Program offers 3 grants, each valued up to $500, for projects or initiatives that help strengthen and support our local community. Grants are awarded 4 times per year for a total of 12 grants each year.
Typically grants are awarded quarterly and applications are due on February 1st, May 1st, August 1st, November 1st.
Apply now! Community Grant Application
Scholarships
One person can make a difference! Each year your Co-op offers two scholarships valued at up to $1,000 each for those in our community looking to gain knowledge and experience that leads to empowerment and change.
This scholarship is awarded in May for post-secondary education. Priority is given to studies in food & environment, health, community development, and cooperation, but we invite applications from all disciplines within our community. There is no age restriction and all members, their children, staff members, and staff members children are eligible to apply.
How to Apply:
Fill out our Kootenay Co-op Member Scholarship Application Form.
Deadline for Application:
April 25th each year.
Gift Card Fundraisers
Perfect for schools and organizations with an active membership base and a volunteer able to commit to the financial coordination.
Our Gift Card Program offers local community groups, schools and organizations the opportunity to raise money by selling Co-op gift cards. Donations equal 7% of the purchased card value to your organization.
This program is available year round.
Please allow at least one week for us to process your order.
How to Apply:
Please contact our Outreach Coordinator at community@kootenay.coop to set up your organization’s gift card fundraising account. Please include:
- Name of organization
- Mailing address of organization
- Name of designated contact person(s)
- Contact information including email(s) and phone number(s)
Once your organization is approved, you can place gift card orders on an ongoing basis.
- Please inform us if your staff/volunteer(s) change.
- Please forward a sample of your gift card promotional materials to community@kootenay.coop, where they will be kept on file.
Once your account is set up, order your gift cards online here.
Please note that the minimum order is $500, and the maximum order is $20,000. After placing your request, you will receive a confirmation email including the total value you’ll need to pay when you pick up the cards. Payment must be by cash or cheque and pick-up is in-store at our Customer Service desk.
Organization of the Month
Looking for an easy way to support the amazing work of local organizations? Easy! You can donate at the tills when you shop. Each month, your Co-op features a different local organization at our tills and all till donations from that month go directly to that group.
Are you part of a local not-for-profit organization hoping to be featured at our tills? Great!
- Complete our Organization of the Month Application online before November 1st.
- A committee of Kootenay Co-op staff and members will review applications and set the monthly schedule for the next year.
Applications Due: Every November 1st for the following year’s schedule
The Giving Tree
Perfect for organizations that have a seasonal initiative, service or identified need.
Each December, two local organizations are selected to receive our seasonal Giving Tree donations. As a member you can choose which organization to support (or support both!) by purchasing a decorative, seasonal card. All proceeds are donated to the selected organizations.
Deadline for Application:
October 30th for December’s Giving Tree.
How to Apply:
In September or October, email community@kootenay.coop to express interest in this program.
Milk Token Program
Looking for an easy and convenient way to make a difference? Donate your milk tokens!
The next time you return your Kootenay Meadows or Stoke Juice bottles, you can donate your $2 deposit to local food banks. 100% of donations get distributed equally among Nelson Community Food Centre, Our Daily Bread, + St. Saviour Food Pantry.
Little acts have big impacts – last year members donated over $3,600 through the milk token program – that is a huge boost to our local food banks!
Produce Donations
Nobody likes to see anything go to waste – especially if it’s something that can be readily used by someone else!
All of our imperfect produce (the ugly but delicious produce that won’t sell) – is donated to local organizations who focus on food insecurity in our communities. Last year this amounted to almost $50,000 in food donated!
Community Donation Day for KOGS
Each year in April, your Co-op donates 3% of a day’s total sales to support Kootenay Organic Growers Society (KOGS) This past year our donation added up to almost $2,500! As a member-owner this means you get to support an outstanding local organization just by shopping at your Co-op on Community Donation Day.
Community Donation Day will be advertised in-store, in our newsletter, and on social media at the beginning of April.
Vitamin Program
Every winter, your Co-op partners with Natural Factors to donate approximately $2,000 worth of vitamins and supplements to local non-profit ANKORS. These vitamins and supplements go to those living with or are at the greatest risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS and/or Hepatitis C including those who have difficulty obtaining services elsewhere, due to substance use, mental illness, sexual orientation, gender identity, race and ethnicity, and/or other social barriers.
As part of this program with Natural Factors, we also supply Kootenay Kids with high-quality prenatal vitamins, kids multivitamins, and vitamin D to support local kids and moms-to-be.
Join us on Social Media
