When speaking with a tax professional, one would think that clarity of detail and a respect for the sanctity of process would be held in high regard, and that unattributed rumour or unverified claims would be investigated and eliminated.
And you’d be right.
The President of the Advisory Committee for the Chinook Lesbian and Gay Fund is a case in point. As Christopher Post, a tax professional himself, tells GayCalgary Magazine: "In 1998, there was a group of folks in Calgary that felt a need to create a source of funding for the Gay/Lesbian Community Services Association (now called Calgary Outlink). They were concerned that the government funding for the organization was in jeopardy, so they felt there was a need to create a source of funding. Which they did: a donor-advised fund at The Calgary Foundation."
The Calgary Foundation website explains that it was "established in 1955 (and) facilitates collaborative philanthropy by making powerful connections between donors and community organizations for the long term benefit of Calgary and surrounding area." This made it the ideal place to establish The Chinook Lesbian and Gay Fund.
"So every year," Christopher continues, "they are in the position of making grants to whoever the advisory committee of donors recommend that they be made to."
While Chris wasn’t involved when the CL&G Fund was created, he’s told that the imperative behind it somewhat dissipated over the next few years. The fund, to some degree, "fell asleep, and sat quietly for almost 10 years, and a couple of years ago...I was looking to make a charitable donation to an LGBTQ cause in Calgary, but the only one I could easily find was AIDS Calgary, and I thought that that was already a well-supported cause."
After hearing about "some kind of Chinook something-or-other" from a friend, he eventually located it, and became part of the advisory group after he had made his desired charitable donation.
"So now we’ve begun to have meetings once a month, just had our first fund-raising dinner in nearly a decade," and he’s very happy with the feedback they’ve been getting about these developments. "A Gay United Way is sort of what we’re trying to create, (and) I had a vision of building it into something substantial, but I didn’t know if it was just me. I didn’t know if the idea would resonate with other people."
To his delight, when the swish event was organized, 40 potential contributing diners listened to Christopher, City Councilor Gael MacLeod and Mayor Nenshi’s Chief of Staff, Chima Nkemdirim, and donated over $40,000.00 for the fund. "And what was even more wonderful for me," Chris says, "is that the idea resonated broadly with the entire group that was there: the number of people that said this is an awesome idea was (very exciting).... That was in October of 2011, and we are now accepting grant applications to be given out. Up until now, it has always been the advisory committee that has determined the need and given the funds to an organization." Whereas now you, dear reader, can apply for their assistance and the committee will go through the applications to determine the greatest need, and distribute the funds appropriately.
The fire is in his eyes now, as Chris describes this small triumph and its possible consequences: "We’re doing three things right now. Firstly, we’re trying to raise awareness, because nobody knows about us, which is why I stood up at Fairy Tales and spoke for a few minutes, inviting people to make grant applications; which is why we (had) a booth at Shaw Millennium Park (during this year’s Pride), so people know who we are, what we are, and what we’re trying to do.
"Secondly, we’re trying to raise money, because in order to give money away, you’ve got to have some, and we’re not getting any from the government: we’re just raising it from the community. Taking it from those that have, and giving it to those in need."
And thirdly, of course, they are giving grants "to folks that are supportive of the community."
Grant applicants with ideas for constructive projects that need support have until sometime in September to make an application, and then at the 2012 Chinook Lesbian and Gay Fund fundraising dinner the recipients will be announced. As it mentions on The CL&G Fund website, "Last year we were able to provide funding for the Fairy Tales Presentation Society for their Youth Anti- Homophobia Public Service Announcement contest in partnership with EMMEDIA. A second grant was given to the Calgary Sexual Health Centre for their work providing education to schools regarding sexuality, sexual health and diversity."
Christopher says the fund is now over $75,000.00, and they’re hoping to crest $100,000.00 before the year ends. "We want to be able to give money to anybody or any group that supports the LGBTQ community in Calgary. We want to be able to ebb and flow as we see the need." And, with the advent of the public grant application process, the result is that, "We’re hoping the community will tell us about the need."
So tell them!