1. Home
  2. Sustainability
  3. Community
  4. Community giving

Community giving 

Driving economic prosperity

Funding guidelines

We understand that securing funding for a charitable organization, program or event can be time consuming, especially if you can't find the information you need. Below is a comprehensive set of guidelines that will help you determine if your initiative is eligible for donations or sponsorships from CWB. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with our funding guidelines and giving focus.

To be considered, all requests for support must be received through CWB's online application. This format allows us to ensure a fair review and timely response for all applicants. We are unable to consider hard copy or email requests for support at this time.

Please note, we receive far more requests for funding than we are able to fulfill and will prioritize organizations or initiatives that best align with our funding guidelines and giving direction.

Eligibility

CWB will consider support for:
  • Registered charities, not-for-profit organizations, post-secondary institutions and municipalities that deliver a benefit in a community where CWB has a business presence: 
    • British Columbia: Abbotsford, Coquitlam, Courtenay, Kamloops, Kelowna, Langley, Nanaimo, Prince George, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria
    • Alberta: Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Sherwood Park, St. Albert
    • Saskatchewan: Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton
    • Manitoba: Winnipeg
    • Ontario: Kitchener, Markham, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Toronto, 
  • Have a mandate to deliver programs and projects that align with CWB’s giving focus of enabling business and promoting inclusivity.
  • Demonstrate a contribution to their community consistent with community need.
  • Present a well-thought out program plan, initiative or event that includes defined, measurable goals and objectives, a realistic allocation of resources and a clear evaluation process.
  • Are willing to engage with CWB on an ongoing basis and who are committed to following up with us to report on the results of their program, initiative or event.
  • Can demonstrate appropriate financial and organizational stewardship.

Please note: Preference is given to requests from organizations within our preferred support areas when employees of CWB are directly involved or when there is an ongoing business relationship with one or more CWB companies.

CWB will not support:
  • Advocacy or special interest groups
  • Religious/sectarian organizations or causes
  • Organizations that discriminate against race, gender, age, religion or lifestyle
  • Political organizations, candidates or causes
  • Individuals (e.g. sponsoring an athlete, artist or student)
  • Labour or fraternal organizations
  • Non charitable service clubs
  • For-profit businesses or third-party fundraising organizations
  • Community foundations
  • Family foundations, trusts or funds
  • Amateur or professional sports teams
  • Sports-related tournaments
  • Student unions, clubs or department organizations
  • Public/private elementary or secondary schools or parent associations
  • Advertising or promotional initiatives
  • Solicitation through mail campaigns
  • Debt reduction campaigns or retroactive requests
  • Travel, accommodation or meals
  • Endowments (except post-secondary scholarship funds)
  • Capital campaigns at libraries or post-secondary institutions
  • International development
  • Golf tournaments
Disaster relief
CWB will consider support for disaster relief and recovery within Canada on a case-by-case basis and, as a general rule, does not provide international disaster relief given our geographic footprint. When applicable, corporate donations of this nature will be directed through a registered charitable organization officially designated to collect and receive the funds.