Kenora & Lake of the Woods Community Foundation
We have been facilitating philanthropy in the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Region since 2004, through the building of permanent endowment funds, for the benefit of the registered charities. The permanent endowments we are building will stay in the community forever.
Become a volunteer
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation, here is the process:
Complete the volunteer application form
You can either do this online or download the application and send the completed form to [email protected]. Two references specific to your volunteering and philanthropic activities are a requirement for all potential volunteers.
Following screening
The Board of Directors will meet and determine whether a good match can be made based on the KLWCF needs and your skills, interests, and availability.
Once approved
An orientation meeting will take place to learn about volunteer opportunities and additional information about the Community Foundation.
Our Volunteer Roles & Committees
There are many different ways you can volunteer and contribute to your Community Foundation—become a Board member, volunteer at events, help with public awareness, or join one of our committees to help in a specific capacity.
Our Volunteer Roles
A significant commitment is required for this role as there are monthly meetings. Board members attend events and they are also on secondary committees and assist with fundraising. If you are interested in being on the board we will provide you with that information upon request.
We have numerous committees within the Community Foundation that you may want to consider: Marketing & Communications, Finance, Grants, Asset Development, and Festival of Trees.
This role is diverse and multifaceted. For example, volunteers may set up, take down, participate in awareness booths. This role is great for any level of experience or ability and is flexible in time commitment.
This role is about getting our message and services out there in the public. It often means supporting/ participating in awareness booths, talking about the Community Foundation at appropriate times throughout your daily life and offering support via social media. This role is great for an individual who is outgoing and compassionate.
Our Volunteer Committees
The Asset Development Committee aims to develop and implement strategies that will increase the assets of the Community Foundation in the specific areas of: Endowed Funds, Planned Gifts, and Major Gifts. This Committee is ideal for someone with accounting, legal, and strategic/long-term planning experience and is well connected to the community.
Festival of Trees is our Annual Charity Fundraiser that takes place at the end of November/early December. It involves a Gala Evening and Silent Auction as well as a Community Day and Senior’s Tea. This committee is great for someone who has fundraising experience, has personal and business connections within the community, and who may have event planning experience. This Committee has a stronger time commitment. Meetings take place every two weeks during September and October and every week in the month of November until the event takes place. Committee members are expected to assist in fundraising and making sponsorship asks.
The Finance Committee is ideal for someone that has accounting, banking/investments, business/sales background, and strategic long-range planning. Committee members assist in developing the Community Foundation’s budgeting and financial planning, setting long-term financial goals and practices, etc.
The Grants Committee meets several times close to grant application deadlines (Feb. 28th, May 1st, Sept. 15th) to discuss the grant applications and determine the allocation of funding based on what is available to distribute. This Committee is ideal for someone who has a strong interest in the community and who has a strong understanding of community needs. This Committee is also ideal for someone who is not currently involved with a local registered charity/ non-profit submitting a grant application.
This Committee is great for someone who has marketing/ public relations experience, social media/graphic design experience, fundraising experience, content creation, etc. This Committee meets roughly 4 times a year and assists with events that take place throughout the year: 10HR/ 10k Giving Challenge, Smart & Caring Community Volunteer Award, etc.
Ethical Standars for Volunteers
The following list of standards for Community Volunteers is to serve as a guideline for ethical volunteer behaviour:
As a volunteer, I:
- Understand and support the mission, structure, and policies and procedures of the Community Foundation and the volunteer program
- Offer the use of my skill set or experience
- Will conduct myself in accordance with the standards of conduct and ethics of the Community Foundation
- Will complete required orientation or other training
- Will be flexible in accepting assignments, perform assigned responsibilities willingly, courteously and to be the best of my ability
- Will obey all safety procedures of the Community Foundation
- Will respect the confidentiality of any sensitive or proprietary information
- Will provide timely notification to the Community Foundation of absences or termination
- Will serve as a goodwill ambassador in the community on behalf of the Community Foundation
Our Policies
Non-Discrimination Policy
The Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation (KLWCF) welcomes individuals to volunteer regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability.
Sexual Harassment Policy
Unwanted verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature by an employee, supervisor, manager, volunteer, or vendor, including sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other such conduct is illegal and strictly prohibited. If you are involved in or if you observe an incident of sexual harassment, please notify the Community Foundation Executive Director immediately.
Personal Safety and Security
It is the intention of the KLWCF to safeguard its volunteers as well as to protect Community Foundation policy. Report to the Community Foundation Executive Director if you have any concerns regarding personal safety or property security.