Community Relations
February 22, 2024

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 Aug. 3 – Nov. 1 2024. All applications will be compiled and reviewed at the same time by the Committee in December, and all applicants will be notified of the status of their request at the beginning of February 2025.

Note: Applicants that submitted applications between Apr. 16 - Aug. 2, 2024, will be notified on the status of their application at the end of October 2024.


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.



2023 Non-Profits & Charities That Received Donations

Assiniboine Park Conservancy Inc.
BGC Winnipeg
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg
Bookmates Inc.
Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba
Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba
Children's Rehabilitation Foundation
Community Living Interlake
Community Re-Source Network
Diabetes Canada - Manitoba Chapter
Dreams Take Flight Winnipeg
École R.W. Bobby Bend School Parent Advisory Council
Fietser Bikeshare Cooperative
Fireweed Food Co-op
Folklorama
FortWhyte Alive
Friday Morning Concert Band
Green Action Centre
Harriet Street Seniors Housing Inc.
Harvest Manitoba
Hospitality House Refugee Ministry Inc.
IISD Experimental Lakes Area
Indigenous Languages of Manitoba Inc.
Jocelyn House Hospice
Klinic Community Health
Leftovers Foundation - Winnipeg
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
Lions Foundation of Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre Inc.
Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre Inc.
Manitoba Naturalist Society
Manitoba Opera
Marymound Inc.
Movement Centre of Manitoba Inc.
N.E.E.D.S. Inc.
Never Alone Cancer Care Foundation
North Point Douglas Women's Centre Inc.
NorWest Co-op Community Food Centre
Omis Hamper and Pantry Inc.
Prairie Theatre Exchange
Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Rainbow Resource Centre Inc.
Raising the Roof (Reside Winnipeg Project)
Ronald McDonald House Charities Manitoba
Rossbrook House
Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
S.H.A.D.E. (Safe Housing And Directed Empowerment) Inc.
Sakeenah - Winnipeg
Sara Riel Foundation Inc.
Save Our Seine River Environment Inc.
Siloam Mission
Special Olympics Manitoba Inc.
Spence Neighbourhood Association
St. Boniface Hospital Foundation Inc.
St. John Ambulance Manitoba Council
St.Amant Foundation
Stonewall Quarry Days
Stroke Recovery Association of Manitoba
The Dream Factory
The Kidney Foundation of Canada – Manitoba Branch
Thrive Community Support Circle
Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Manitoba Provincial Council
Urban Stable (The Horse Connection Inc.)
Victoria Hospital Foundation
Villa Rosa Inc.
West End Resource Centre (WERC)
Winnipeg Humane Society
Winnipeg International Writers Festival
Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival
Women's Health Research Foundation of Canada Inc.
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