Foundation History

The Foundation, originally known as the Vernon Benevolent Society, was created in 1975 when a number of members of the Vernon Rotary Club got together to discuss the need for a charitable society which focused on the needs of the community.

It began with an original donation of $1,000.00 and has grown significantly over the years through donations from caring individuals and families of the North Okanagan Region.

In 1984, the society formally changed its name to the Vernon and District Foundation to better describe its objectives and mode of operation.

In the early 1990's, the Foundation saw significant growth which has continued over the decade. From its humble beginnings, the Foundation has grown to $5.6 Million in assets. These assets are invested so as to provide perpetual income for use by charitable organizations within the North Okanagan Region.

In the year 2000, the Foundation's 25th year, the Board of Directors decided to once again rename the Foundation to better describe its geographic focus, as we serve the entire the North Okanagan Regional District. The new name, Community Foundation of the North Okanagan, better describes the scope of the Foundation's operations.

The Board of Directors are proud of the impact the Foundation has had on our communities. Successful investing of the capital assets has resulted in the Foundation distributing income in excess of $4.1 Million over the past 36 years. These distributions have covered a broad range of organizations across our region.