INSPIRE Fund

Financial funding to support sustainable Northern communities.

  • Requests of $5,000 or greater
  • Applications accepted between June 1 - September 1
  • INSPIRE Funds are distributed annually in October

Preference

Preference will be given to programs/organizations that meet the following criteria:

  • Are members of Northern Savings
  • Are located within our market area
  • Not-for-profit society, registered charity, social enterprise, co-operative, Indigenous community and/or organization, or local small business
  • Benefit the greatest number of people for the longest period of time
  • Have measurable results
  • Initiatives that reflect the essence of our Vision of, “Neighbours Helping Neighbours to Build Sustainable Communities”
  • Create long-standing or legacy impact (i.e., local infrastructure or events that yield high levels of economic impact)

Benefit Areas

Request for INSPIRE Funds should provide direct benefit in one or more of these areas:

  • Arts & Culture
  • Community Economic Development
  • Co-Operative Development
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Environment Sustainability
  • Financial Literacy
  • Healthy Lifestyles
  • Truth & Reconciliation

Support will generally not be given to/for the following:

  • Research, surveys, or studies
  • Retroactive expenses
  • Wages
  • Individuals
  • Religious or political organizations
  • Advertising and promotion
  • Events / projects not within the communities that are serviced by Northern Savings*
  • Applications that represent a conflict of interest for Northern Savings, or that promote specific programs or issues where members of the Credit Union may have significantly divergent views

How to Apply

INSPIRE Fund applications are accepted from June 1 - September 1.

*On occasion, Northern Savings provides financial support to communities or initiatives beyond Northern BC.