CAHF Receives Launch Gift from Calgary Foundation

Calgary Affordable Housing Foundation is pleased to share that it has received a new grant from Calgary Foundation.

The grant, totalling $150,000 over three years with an opportunity to extend funding for two more years, is the first confirmed launch funding as CAHF moves toward full-time operations.

CAHF board members are continuing to meet with housing providers, donors and partners throughout the summer to solidify funds for full-time operations in the fall. CAHF is seeking $2.5 million of launch funding. This funding will be used to fully operationalize the foundation and to immediately begin to support affording housing providers.

CAHF also recently received an anonymous gift of securities. This gift is greatly appreciated as every dollar raised is a step toward helping more Calgarians. Anyone wanting to make a gift – large or small – is encouraged to reach out to CAHF directly via our website, or directly to our Chair David McElhanney at chair@thecahf.com.

The Starbucks Foundation also recently announced CAHF as a Neighbourhood Grant recipient. Neighbourhood Grants are provided to organizations that build community and work in service of making stronger communities. CAHF was nominated by a supporter to further affordable housing advocacy and support. This year, more than 33,000 nominations from across Canada and the United States were received by the Starbucks Foundation, with 2,800 grants being provided. The Starbucks Foundation will help amplify the work of CAHF through its own promotions, providing helpful exposure to the need for affordable housing. CAHF is grateful to be acknowledged as a strong supporter of community and affordable housing.

The most recent Calgary Foundation grant builds on a history of support from the organization, which has been a longtime supporter of affordable housing initiatives. In addition to this most recent grant, Calgary Foundation also provided significant gifts to the original RESOLVE campaign and had also provided CAHF with a Strategic Opportunity Grant that helped the organization complete a partnership readiness survey that identified several themes, including support for CAHF, the readiness state of several affordable housing projects in Calgary, and the fundraising capacity of partner organizations.

The readiness survey also identified several specific projects where there would be an immediate opportunity for CAHF to raise funds for housing provider partners. Housing providers continue to reach out to CAHF to partner and to lead fundraising.

CAHF is working towards the goal of helping to support housing providers to build 2,500 additional affordable housing units each year. This will begin to address the ongoing needs of Calgarians who cannot afford their housing. There are currently about 300 affordable housing units built in Calgary each year.

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