After a decade of serving as Carman Area Foundation’s chair, Janine Lodder is gearing up to exit the position.
Accordingly, it’s no wonder that one of the most exciting and rewarding times of the year — grant season — is especially significant for her in 2025.
For the rest of the community, it’s also a time to think about which organizations could use a helping hand to strengthen the area’s resources.
Open applications
For the groups who haven’t already given it thought or had the chance to fill out the application, there is still time to apply for funding.
“The window opened January 27th, and it goes to February 21st,” says Lodder. “Anyone who is willing or in need of some extra funds can go to our website and they can apply online.”
At a glance, here are some of the criteria for applications, according to the chair of the foundation.
The project must:
- be completed within a year
- improve the lives of local citizens
- be local to the Carman and area (Lodder says that even though local is preferred, projects outside the area may also be considered)
Just like the funding's requirements, the online application process is straightforward, which is something Lodder says the foundation has recently worked on.
A few big events a year
Lodder says that the Carman Area Foundation usually condenses its activity to a few main events, including major fundraisers and its gala event that occurs in April.
The foundation is looking toward the gala next. It's the first occasion of the year the organization has the pleasure of dispensing its funds.
“At that time, we hand out all our cheques and send out the money that has been applied for from the granting,” she says.
Lodder says the “huge gala,” complete with good music and good company, is the foundation's main fund-generating event. Usually, upwards of 350 people attend the evening.
After the magical night of empowering the community through grants that support essential services in Carman and the surrounding area, the next big event is the foundation’s beloved mini-golf tournament in September.
“We went with that route because then you get a younger group of participants and we want to [make] the younger group ... aware of what the Carman Area Foundation does,” she says. “If they start off young, maybe they'll continue to see the benefit of supporting us and our gala as they get older.”
‘Our community here in Carman and area is fantastic’
Regardless of which event the Carman Area Foundation puts on, the region shows its support.
“Our community here in Carman and area is fantastic. We have a granting in November [too] and generally the support there also ... surpasses what we imagine,” says Lodder.
Another way the community supports the foundation is through estate planning. Lodder says the organization is always grateful for individuals who include it in their will.
With the help of the community, the numbers add up. Last year, Carman Area Foundation was able to give out $150,000 to improve the region.
Over her ten years of chairing the organization, Lodder says she has come to love the work, and there are particular projects that stand out in her mind as favourites, including palliative care, daycares, a splash pad, and the library.
“Every year again people come up with some really good initiatives that ... are very worth supporting,” she says. “We've been around since 1998, and through that time, [the community] has grown substantially.”
To read more about the Carman Area Foundation, visit its website. To apply for a grant, click here.
With files from Robyn Wiebe