The Leland and Thora Vance Fund

Leland and Thora Vance were long-time residents of Wingham who deeply cared about their community. To ensure that its residents would continue to be supported even after their lifetime, they made a donation to establish a fund at the Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF), which will generate income to provide ongoing grants for projects benefiting Wingham residents in perpetuity.

In 2025, WRCF is accepting grant applications for capital projects for the rehabilitation and maintenance of churches and recreational spaces. Approximately $230,000 will be distributed to eligible organizations following the funding guidelines — with $90,000 specifically made available to church organizations and $140,000 made available to support recreational facilities. Decisions will be in the hands of a committee of volunteer community members from Wingham and a representative from WRCF, who will review applications and make funding recommendations.

 

How can our organization apply?

The Leland and Thora Vance Fund will be accepting applications between August 18, 2025 and September 26, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. (EST).

 

Guidelines to help you apply

  • Funding must be used before November 30, 2026

  • Applying organizations must be located in Wingham

    • Applications will be considered from:

      • Registered charitable organizations

      • Qualified donees recognized by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

      • Nonprofit organizations working with a charitable partner that is a registered charitable organization or qualified donee

      Please note: WRCF does not help set up partnerships with charitable organizations. The nonprofit and charitable partner applying for the grant must already have an agreement about terms and responsibilities of each partner in place before submitting the application

  • If you want to know that your organization is eligible, and to understand how the funding can be used, access the Grant Guidelines (pdf)

  • If you would like to see the questions and prepare your answers, download a copy of the application questions: Application (pdf)

  • You will need to submit a budget plan with your application. Download a Budget Template (xls)

  • If you are working with a charitable partner, download the WRCF Charitable Partnership Agreement form (pdf)

  • Organizations that receive funding through this grant stream will be asked to share stories, links, photos, etc. to demonstrate the impact of the funds by November 30, 2026. Review the evaluation questions here: Evaluation (pdf)

If you have any questions, reach out to us at grants@wrcf.ca or 519-725-1806 ext 206.

(Note: You have the option of submitting a verbal application. If you prefer to submit a verbal application, and/or need translation services, please contact us no later than September 5, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. (EST) to set up a time to do this.)

WRCF is dedicated to upholding professional, ethical, and regulatory standards as we work to deliver on our vision and mission, while staying true to our values. We expect partners and organizations we fund to share our commitment to these standards. By applying for funding through WRCF, you are indicating that your organization complies with the regulatory requirements to work with your population(s), and within the legal and ethical framework appropriate for your organization.