At Red River Co-op, we are guided by always trying to do things right. We aim to do the right thing for our members and customers, our employees, our communities and the environment.

Co-ops are built by - and for - the people they serve. We are a different kind of business. We are a co-operative that is owned by our members who live in the communities we do business and a co-operative that is committed to investing in those communities to make them better places for everyone.

The Community Investment Program strengthens the role we take in our neighbourhoods by focusing our donations to charities and non-profits that align with our mission and values.

Donation Requests & Guidelines

In today’s world, appeals for support grow annually in number and variety. While recognizing the growing needs of our community, we recognize that we cannot support each group. Annually, our Community Investment Committee identifies key areas of giving dependent on the needs of our community and social and environmental issues.

All requests are reviewed by the Community Investment Committee at quarterly meetings. An organization may be a recipient one time in a twelve month period.

Next Committee Meeting: Please submit your funding requests in advance of May 12, 2021. You will be notified of the status of your donation in early June. 

Guidelines:
• Applicants must be a charity or non-profit and community organization.
• The organization must operate and serve within the general trading area of Red River Co-op (Winnipeg, Lorette, Oakbank, Headingley, Stonewall, Selkirk, Niverville, Gimli, Teulon, Ste. Agathe, Dryden, Kenora).
• Community level donations will have priority over national donations.
• Special considerations maybe be given to groups that adhere to co-operative principles.

The following is a list of groups and causes to which Red River considers inappropriate to donate to:

• Individual/self-interest. Exceptions may be made for youth education sponsored by Co-op entities.
• Religious organizations except those offering community services on a non-denominational basis.
• Private clubs or organizations - any organization involved in promoting issues or agendas that do not aligns with our co-operative’s values.
• Requests for prizes supporting silent, rainbow or live auctions and raffles.
• Political groups.
• Gala dinners and golf tournament fundraising will be redirected to directly support the charities.

Limitations on giving:
Red River Co-op recognizes the vital and worthwhile role performed by the many charitable organizations in our community. However, due to limited financial resources, we will restrict our support to those groups who best match our objectives.

Submitting a request:
To be considered for support, all requests must be in submitted using our online application form.

Click here to submit a request for donation

Here’s a complete list of organizations the Community Relations program supported in 2019-2020:

1st Crestview Scout Group
Alzheimer Society of Manitoba
Archwood School
Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club
Assiniboine Park Conservancy
Bear Clan Patrol Inc. (x2)
Bookmates Inc.
Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg
CancerCare Manitoba Foundation
Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba
Children’s Wish Foundation
Children's Hospital Foundation
Children's Rehabilitation Foundation
Community Safety Net
Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
Corydon Community Centre
Diabetes Canada
Ècole LaVerendrye Community Council
Elmwood High School
Feed the Furbabies
Fort Garry Women's Resource Centre
Fort Whyte Foundation Inc.
Gifts of Grace
Gordon Howard Centre
Green Action Centre, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity
Hospital Activity Book for Children
IISD Experimental Lakes Area
Inner City Youth Alive
Jocelyn Hutton Foundation
Joy Smith Foundation
Kenora District Festival of the Arts
Kidney Foundation of Canada, Manitoba Branch
Lake Winnipeg Foundation
Lakewood School
Linden Meadows School Parent Advisory
Lorette Collegiate Safe Grad
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts
Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre Inc.
Manitoba Museum
Manitoba Mutts Dog Rescue
Manitoba Naturalist Society
Manitoba Possible (formally SMD)
Manitoba Schizophrenia Society
Manitoba Theatre for Young People
Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba
MS Society of Manitoba
Muscular Dystrophy Canada
Never Alone Foundation
Niigaanaki Day Care
North Point Douglas Women's Centre (x2)
NorWest Co-op Community Food Centre
Parkinson Canada - Manitoba
Patricia Region Senior Services Inc.
Pitch for Pride
Plug In Inc.
Prairie Fire Press, Inc
Prairie Theatre Exchange
Rossbrook House
Rotary Club of Winnipeg
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
Save our Seine River Environment Inc.
Siloam Mission
South West District Palliative Care Inc.
St. Amant Foundation Inc
St. Boniface Hospital Foundation
St. Norbert Art Centre
Triathlon Manitoba
U Multicultural Inc.
University Winnipeg Co-op Scholarships
Urban Stable
Winnipeg Arts Council
Winnipeg Humane Society
Winnipeg International Writers Festival (x2)
Winnipeg Police Association-Cool 2Be Kind
Women's Health Research Foundation
Youth Parliament of Manitoba