Community Relations

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 Relations Committee at quarterly meetings. Please submit your donation request at least three months in advance of your event or activity. An organization may be a recipient one time in a twelve month period.

Please submit your donation request between Apr. 22 – Aug. 1, 2025.  All applications will be compiled in August and reviewed at once by the Committee in September. All applicants will be notified of the status of their request mid-October 2025.

Note: Applicants that submitted applications between Feb. 1 – Apr. 21, 2025 will be notified on the status of their application at the beginning of July 2025.

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.

Gift Card Fundraising Program:

Red River Co-op also offers a gift card fundraising program for community groups and non-profits. Whether you are raising money to help a sports team, dance crew, charity or travel club, Red River Co-op is here to help!

We welcome the opportunity to be involved and help build a stronger community through fundraising programs that enrich the lives of our community members. Click here for details on our gift card fundraising program.

2024 Non-Profits & Charities That Received Donations

Alzheimer Society of Manitoba
Art City Inc.
Assiniboine Park Conservancy
BGC Winnipeg
Black Bear Rescue Manitoba
Bookmates Inc.
CancerCare Manitoba Foundation Inc.
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Group
Children's Rehabilitation Foundation
conseil jeunesse provincial
DASCH Foundation
Evergreen Basic Needs Committee Inc.
FamiliesForward
Fireweed Food Co-op
FortWhyte Alive
Future Hope Inc.
Habitat for Humanity Manitoba
Harvest Manitoba
Heartwood Healing Centre Inc.
IISD Experimental Lakes Area
Inclusion Selkirk
Inner City Youth Alive
Jocelyn House Hospice
Kidney Foundation of Canada - Manitoba Chapter
L'Arche Winnipeg Inc.
Le Marché St. Norbert Farmers' Market Co-op Inc.
Leftovers Foundation - Winnipeg
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre
Main Street Project
Manitoba Possible
Marymound Inc.
Movement Centre of Manitoba
Muscular Dystrophy Canada
N.E.E.D.S. Inc.
Never Alone Cancer Foundation Inc.
New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults and Families, Inc.
North Point Douglas Women's Centre Inc.
NorWest Co-op Community Food Centre
Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Rainbow Resource Centre Inc.
Riverview Health Centre Foundation Inc.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Manitoba
Rossbrook House Inc.
Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada Inc.
Sabu's Cubs
Safe Housing And Directed Empowerment (S.H.A.D.E.) Inc.
Siloam Mission
South Winnipeg Family Information Centre Inc.
Spence Neighbourhood Association Inc.
St. Boniface Hospital Foundation Inc.
St. John Ambulance Manitoba Council
St.Amant Foundation
Taché Food Resource Centre
Teulon Daycare Inc.
The Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba Inc.
The Dream Factory
The Gimli Humane Society
The Stroke Recovery Association of Manitoba Inc.
The Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts
Toba Centre For Children and Youth Inc.
Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Manitoba Council
Urban Stable
U-Turn Parkinsons Inc.
Villa Rosa Inc.
West Central Women's Resource Centre Inc.
West End Resource Centre
Winnipeg Humane Society
Winnipeg International Writers' Festival Inc.
Winnipeg Newcomer Sport Academy
Women's Health Clinic