It all started in 2000 with a vision and a $200 donation. Since then that vision is beginning to pay huge dividends. To date, Osprey Community Foundation has granted out almost $6 million dollars to charitable programs in our community.

These grants are possible because local citizens have invested in their community. The benefits go on year after year, because donations to the Foundation are never touched, rather they become part of an endowment – a growing community orchard – generating income to support the people of this area in perpetuity.

 

2026

These projects were selected for funding through our annual grant application process. The money comes from interest generated by our Community Fund, Nelson & District Credit Union Fund, Nelson Home Hardware Fund, Donor-Advised Funds and other non-designated or field-of-interest funds.
Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Assocation - Emergency Response Vehicle Satellite Tracking $2,500
Aids Network Kootenay Outreach & Support Society (ANKORS) - REDUN Community Care, Clean, Connect $5,000
Harrop School House Society - Harrop Schoolhouse Childcare Centre Initiative – Site Development Phase $4,000
BC Association of Farmers' Markets - Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program – Nelson Expansion $4,249
Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society - Kootenay Lake Citizen Science Monitoring & Harrop Wetlands Restoration Project $1,500
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network - Wild Voices for Kids Nelson 2026 - 2027 $1,000
Nelson Community Food Centre - Increasing garden and community capacity at Silver King campus $4,000
Living Lakes Canada - Cottonwood Creek Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Project $4,000
Wildsight - Classroom with Outdoors $1,000
Nelson Team Consent Society - Consent & Bystander Education Series $2,000
Hume Elementary School PAC - Hume Elementary Outdoor Beautification Project $2,750
Nelson & District Arts Council - Nelson International Mural Festival $2,000
Kootenay Native Plant Society - Native Pollinator Habitat Restoration Project $2,500
Balfour Recreation Commission - Backstop Revitalization $2,500
Nelson and District Museum, Archives, and Gallery and Historical Society - Nelson Daily News Digitization Project – Phase 9 $2,200
Kootenay Circus Arts Association - West Kootenay Accessible Circus Initiative – Nelson & Surrounding Areas $6,000
Kootenay School of the Arts Society - Re:Create Kootenay Arts Festival $2,852
West Kootenay Watershed Collaborative - Water on the Move $1,500
Polka Dot Dragon Arts Society - Polka Dot Dragon Lantern Festival $2,500
Kootenay Wellness Foundation - Evolve sober gathering - Nelson $750
Elemental Journeys - Citizen Science Forest Initiative $1,750
Intercultural Kootenays Society - From Listening to Action: Bystander Awareness & Collective Care $2000
West Kootenay Women's Association - Youth Drop-in $2,395
Selkirk Concert Society - Selkirk Concert Society Youth Engagement Project 2026-27 $1,500
Nelson Electric Tramway Society - Floor Rehabilitation $1,000
Kootenay Outdoor and Environmental Learning Society - EarthDays Nelson and area $1,400
Nelson Overture Concerts Society - Youth Music Education Schools Outreach $2,247
Everest Legacy Fund Foundation - Play with Heart Community Mural Project $2,000
Late Fragment Short Film - Jackie Atkins $2,054
Nelson & District Arts Council - After the gloves come off: The fight for community $1,000
BCSPCA - 2026 Nelson Community Spay/Neuter Voucher Program $13,750
Kootenay Animal Assistance Program Society - Kootenay community pets - spay/neuter and medical assistance $27,949
Kootenay Rhythm Dragons Association - World Masters Games $2,000
Friends of the Nelson Municipal Library - Seniors Outreach Programs $7,000
Nelson Fairview Gardens, Long Term Care - Art Therapy and Music Therapy Programs $7,280
West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic Society - Denture Assistance $5,000
Mountain Lake Seniors Community - Music Therapy $5,860
Nelson Jubilee Manor - Resident Music Therapy Program for Jubilee Manor $7,000
Kootenay Social Support Society - West Kootenay NAV-CARE $7,000
Nelson Jubilee Manor - Activity Programming $1,500
Friends of the Nelson Municipal - Improved Collections for Seniors at the Nelson Public Library $2,500
Nelson Learning in Retirement - Education Support $5,000
Nelson and District Hospice Society - West Kootenay Boundary Caregiver Support $7,208
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy - Tech Support for Seniors $3,000
Nelson Community Food Centre - Good Food Drop Program for Seniors $5,000
Nelson and District Museum, Archives and Gallery and Historical Society - Keeping Memories Alive Kits $3,715

2025

These projects were selected for funding through our annual grant application process. The money comes from interest generated by our Community Fund, Nelson & District Credit Union Fund, Nelson Home Hardware Fund, Donor-Advised Funds and other non-designated or field-of-interest funds.
Nelson & District Arts Council - Nelson International Mural Festival 2025 $3,000
A.S.T.C. Science World Society - On The Road Nelson $3,000
Polka Dot Dragon Arts Society Lantern Festival $4,000
Grants 2025 Nelson Musical Festival Association - 2026 Kootenay Festival of the Arts $1,000
Selkirk Concert Society Youth Engagement Project 2025-26 $3,000
Kootenay Animal Assistance Program Society (KAAP) - Kootenay Community Pets - spay/neuter and medical assistance $21,647
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) - Wild Voices for Kids Nelson 2025-26 $3,000
Wildsight - Classroom with Outdoors $2,600
Old South Slocan Schoolhouse Project $3,000
Living Lakes Canada - Cottonwood Creek Revival Project $5,000
Capitol Theatre Restoration Society - SPOTLIGHT Youth Theatre program $2,650
Selkirk College Foundation - SOAR Community Garden and Learning Site $4,000
Nelson Overture Concerts Society - Youth Music Education Schools Outreach $3,380
Kootenay Christian Fellowship - Our Daily Bread Food Bank Enhancement Program $3,500
Nelson Community Food Centre - The Growing Story - Nelson Community Food Centre Garden Site $5,000
BC SPCA Nelson - Community Spay-Neuter Initiative $21,647
Nelson and District Museum, Archives, and Gallery and Historical Society - Nelson Daily News Digitization Project - Phase 7 $4,000
Nelson & District Arts Council - NDAC Youth Mural Project $3,000
Polka Dot Dragon Arts Society - Community art installation addressing climate crisis using eco-friendly art practices $1,500
Kootenay Musical Theatre Society - Masks & Puppets for the Kootenay Musical Theatre 2025 production $1,500
Friends of the Nelson Municipal Library - Seniors Outreach Programs at the Nelson Public Library $6,782
Nelson Jubilee Manor - Resident Music Therapy Program & Enhanced Activity Programming for residents of Jubilee Manor $7,920
Greater Trail Hospice Society - Nav-CARE in Nelson $7,000
Nelson Community Food Centre - Good Food Drop Program $5,000
Kootenay Christian Fellowship - Our Daily Bread Food Bank Seniors Enhancement Project $3,000
Cycling Without Age - CWA Enclosed Utility trailer $9,312
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy - Tech Support for Seniors $3,000
Friends of the Nelson Municipal Library - Improved Collections for Seniors at the Nelson Public Library $3,000
Mountain Lake Seniors Community - Music Therapy $6,000

2024

These projects were selected for funding through our annual grant application process. The money comes from interest generated by our Community Fund, Nelson & District Credit Union Fund, Nelson Home Hardware Fund, Donor-Advised Funds and other non-designated or field-of-interest funds.
Polka Dot Dragon Arts Society - Remember the Dead 1,500
Selkirk Concert Society - Youth Engagement Project 2024-25 3,000
Friends of the Nelson Municipal Library - Improved Collections for Seniors at the Nelson Public Library 3,000
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) - Wild Voices for Kids Nelson 2024 2,400
Nelson Electric Tramway Society - Museum beautification 500
Kootenay Animal Assistance Program Society (KAAP) - Kootenay Community Pets - spay/neuter and medical assistance 19,931.50
SPCA Nelson - Community Low Income Spay-Neuter & Medical Assistance Program 19,931.50
Living Lakes Canada - Designing a stewardship strategy for Cottonwood Creek 5,000
Kootenay Christian Fellowship - Our Daily Bread Community Food Program 7,000
Nelson Civic Theater Society - STOODIS Exchange 5,000
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy - Tech Outreach 2,500
Capitol Theatre Restoration Society - A Celebration of India 3,000
Wildsight - Classroom with Outdoors 1,500
Nelson & District Arts Council - Nelson International Mural Festival 2024 5,000
Nelson Community Food Centre - Nourish the Soul 5,000
W.E.Graham Community Service Society - Kootenay Restorative Justice 2,000
Nelson and District Museum, Archives, and Gallery and Historical Society - Museum Exhibition Redevelopment Community Engagement 5,000
Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation 39,864
Nelson CARES: Kootenay Senior's Program 33,000

2023

These projects were selected for funding through our annual grant application process. The money comes from interest generated by our Community Fund, Nelson & District Credit Union Fund, Nelson Home Hardware Fund, Donor-Advised Funds and other non-designated or field-of-interest funds.
Nelson area Nav-CARE 4,000
Nelson Community Food Centre-Nelson Community Food Centre Garden 3,500
Friends of the Nelson Municipal Library - Improved Collections for Seniors 3,000
Aids Network Kootenay Outreach & Support Society (ANKORS) - Walk With Me: Survivors Gaining Strength Together Outdoors 4,000
Nelson Curling Centre -Equipment Replacement Project 7,500
Living Lakes Canada - Developing a community vision for Cottonwood Creek 4,500
Friends of Kootenay Lake- Kootenay Lake Watershed Monitoring Program 3,500
Rotary Club of Nelson Daybreak - Rosemont Spray Park 2,000
West Kootenay Environmental Centre Society - Farms to Friends 2,000
Kokanee Creek Nature Centre Society - Kokanee Salmon School Program 2023 5,000
Kootenay Kids Society - Parents 4 Parents 2,000
Selkirk Concert Society - Youth Engagement Project 2023-24 2,500
Nelson and Area Friends of the Family Foundation - Child Abuse and Assault Travel Assistance Program (CAATAP) 2,000
Nelson & District Arts Council - Nelson International Mural Festival 1,000
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy - Nelson StoryShare 1,000
Carlo Alcos - Outsiderness: A Filipino-Canadian's Search for Identity 2,500
Capitol Theatre Restoration Society - Public Indigenous Art Project component 3,000
Upper Columbia Co-op Council - Upper Columbia Basin Co-op Stories book project 1,000
Nelson Athletic Association - Nelson Athletic Association Timing System 1,000
Kootenay Animal Assistance Program Society 20,418
Nelson BC SPCA 20,418
Material Theatre - Buttons and Pockets, a Theatre for Young Audiences 2,600
Nelson CARES: Kootenay Senior's Program 31,500
Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation 40,836

2022

These projects were selected for funding through our annual grant application process. The money comes from interest generated by our Community Fund, Nelson & District Credit Union Fund, Nelson Home Hardware Fund and other non-designated or field-of-interest funds.
West Kootenay Environmental Centre Society-Farms to Friends $5,000
Nelson Athletic Society: Run Like a Mother 2022 $1,000
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network: Wild Voices for Kids $1,200
Kalein Hospice Society-Nav-CARE in Nelson $5,000
Nelson And District Museum Archives Art Gallery And Historical Society: Nelson Daily News Digitization - Phase 4 $1,000
Nelson Electric Tramway Society: Air Purification System for Shop at Carbarn $1,000
Nelson Youth Action Network: Spring Craft Fair Event $500
Wildsight: Classroom with Outdoors $800
Kootenay Christian Fellowship: Our Daily Bread $5,000
Selkirk College Foundation: SOAR (Steps to Opportunities, Academics and Readiness) Gardens and Greenhouse-Phase 3 $1,500
Kootenay Brain Injury Association: Nelson STRIVE Project $3,500
Nelson Community Food Centre: Renovation Phase 3. Kitchen Reno $5,000
Nelson & District Arts Council: Nelson International Mural Festival $2,000
Nelson Hoops Association: Lakeside Park Outdoor Basketball Courts $1,300
Società Italo Canadese di Nelson - Nelson Italian Canadian Society: Lakeside Park Bocce Courts $1,300
Kootenay Animal Assistance Program Society: Kootenay Community Pets - spay/neuter and medical assistance $17,911
SPCA Nelson Community Spay-Neuter & Medical Assistance Program $17,911
Friends of Nelson Elders: Sheba Seniors Small Grant Program $30,000
Nelson CARES: Kootenay Senior's Program $31,500

2021

These projects were selected for funding through our annual grant application process. The money comes from interest generated by our Community Fund, Nelson & District Credit Union Fund, Nelson Home Hardware Fund and other non-designated or field-of-interest funds.
Ankors: Walk with Me: Women Gaining Strength Together Outdoors (Nelson) $ 4,000
Ankors: ANKORS Complementary Nutrition and Hydration Program $ 5,000
Rotary Club of Nelson Daybreak: Rosemont Multigenerational Park $ 3,500
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN)- Wild voices for Kids $ 800
Kootenay Rhythm Dragons Association: Tandem Dragon Boat trailer - Capitol Purchase $ 1,500
Nelson & District Arts Council: Nelson International Mural Festival $ 1,500
Nelson Community Food Centre- NCFC Harvest Rescue $ 3,600
Nelson Community Services- Youth Transitions Pandemic Support $ 5,000
Nelson Fine Arts Center Society- Freezer Cheese $ 1,500
Taghum Community Society- Community Kitchen Blender $ 880
West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic Society: Partnering for Good Oral Health $ 5,000
West Kootenay Women's Association: Turning 50: Ensuring a Strong Future for the Nelson & District Women's Centre $ 720
Wildsight: Classroom with Outdoors $ 800
These projects are funded from a fund designated for animal welfare
Kootenay Animal Assistance Program Society: Spay Neuter and medical assistance $18,181
Nelson BCSPCA: Community Spay Neuter Initiative $18,180
These larger projects are funded from a fund designated for seniors programming and acute care services
Nelson & District Seniors Coordinating Society: Expansion of Cycling Without Age $ 4,280
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy Nelson- Tech Time $ 3,000
Nelson CARES- Kootenay Seniors Program $31,500
Friends of Nelson Elders- To administer and provide Small Seniors Grants $30,000
Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation $36,360
Scholarships/Bursaries $25,206
Other Designated Funds: earmarked for specific charitable purposes within the community $35,310
Donor Advised Funds $ 3,362
Cottonwood Lake Preservation Society
Salmo Valley Trails
Nelson International Mural Festival
Suzy Hamilton Legacy Fund- West Kootenay Environmental Society
Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association
Grants distributed by our affiliate community funds in North Kootenay Lake, Slocan Valley & Salmo Valley $71,366

2020

These projects were selected for funding through our annual grant application process. The money comes from interest generated by our Community Fund, Nelson & District Credit Union Fund, Nelson Home Hardware Fund and other non-designated or field-of-interest funds.
Capitol Theatre Restoration Society: Complimentary Tickets $ 1,250
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network: Wild Voices $ 1,000
Corazon: Corazon Retreat $ 1,000
Friends of Kootenay Lake: Webinar Series $ 1,750
Junior Achievement of BC: Bright Futures for all Nelson Youth $ 5,000
Nelson & District Hospice Society: Nelson Day Hospice Program $ 5,000
Touchstones: Nelson Daily News Digitization Project - Phase 2 $ 4,000
Oxygen Art Centre: The Big Draw $ 1,000
Procter Community Society: Procter Village Bakery Project $ 5,000
Selkirk College Foundation: Adult Spec-Ed Agriculture/Sustainable Gardens - Phase 2 $ 4,000
Selkirk Concert Society: Selkirk Concert Society Youth Engagement Project $ 1,250
West Kootenay Brain Injury Association: Nelson STRIVE Program $ 4,100
These projects received grants from our Arts Legacy Fund (for Media Art projects this year)
Nelson & District Arts Council: Nelson International Mural Festival $ 1,500
Friends of the Nelson Municipal Library: Digital Mural Installation $ 2,500
These projects are funded from a fund designated for animal welfare
Kootenay Animal Assistance Program Society: Spay Neuter Expenses 2020 $16,417
Nelson BCSPCA: Spay Neuter Expenses 2020 $16,417
These projects are funded from a fund designated for seniors programming and acute care services
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy: Tech Time $ 3,000
Friends of Nelson Elders: To administer and provide Small Seniors Grants $30,000
Kalein Hospice Centre Society: Nav-Care: Navigating life and aging with chronic illness $ 5,000
Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation: Ophthalmology and Maternity equipment purchase $31,835
Nelson CARES: Kootenay Seniors Program $30,000
Scholarships/Bursaries $20,461
Other Designated Funds: earmarked for specific charitable purposes within the community $22,166
Donor Advised Funds $ 4,000
Suzy Hamilton Legacy Fund- West Kootenay Environmental Society
Kootenay Shambhala Centre
Cottonwood Lake Preservation Society
Better Together Fund
Selkirk College Student Covid Relief Fund
Special grants for Covid related programming $183,268
Neighbourhood Small Grants- Small grants of up to $500 for individuals $ 5,167
Grants distributed by our affiliate community funds in North Kootenay Lake, Slocan Valley & Salmo Valley $59,908

2019

These projects were selected for funding through our annual grant application process. The money comes from interest generated by our Community Fund, Nelson & District Credit Union Fund, Nelson Home Hardware Fund and other non-designated or field-of-interest funds.
Capitol Theatre Restoration Society: Fireworks Community Choir $ 1,000
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy: Tech Time $ 2,000
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network: Wild Voices $ 1,500
Corazon: Corazon Fall 2019 Retreat $ 1,000
Friends of Kootenay Lake: Duck Bay Restoration Project $ 2,400
Friends of the Nelson Municipal Library: Turning the Page: The Nelson Public Library at 100 Years $ 2,500
Kalein Hospice Centre Society: Nav-Care: Navigating life and aging with chronic illness $ 4,000
Kootenay Kids Society: LGBTQ Community Support Circles $ 4,240
Kootenay Society for Lifelong Learning: Teen Boys Rites of Passage and Mentorship Program $ 2,844
Nelson & District Hospice Society: Nelson Day Hospice Program $ 5,000
Nelson and District Museum, Archives, Art Gallery and Historical Society: Nelson Daily News Digitization Project - Phase 1 $ 2,800
Nelson at It's Best Society: Nelson Volunteer Hub Development $ 4,305
Nelson Musical Festival Association: 2020 Kootenay Festival of the arts $ 1,000
Oxygen Art Centre: Oxygen Art Centre Community Arts Studio $ 1,200
Procter Community Society: Community Hall Certified Kitchen $ 2,500
Sail Nelson: Nelson Safe Boating Event $ 500
Selkirk Concert Society: Selkirk Concert Society Youth Engagement Project $ 1,500
Trail Family & Individual Resource Centre Society: Kootenay Boundary Dental Access Fund $ 3,000
West Kootenay Brain Injury Association: Nelson STRIVE Program $ 1,500
Wildsight: Wildsight Classroom with Outdoors $ 800
These project received grants from our Arts Legacy Fund (for Visual Arts projects this year)
Nelson & District Arts Council: Nelson International Mural Festival $ 2,000
Oxygen Art Centre: Oxygen Off-Site $ 1,000
These projects are funded from a fund designated for animal welfare
Kootenay Animal Assistance Program Society: Kootenay Community Pets: Keep 'Em at Home $17,817
Nelson BCSPCA: Spay Neuter Expenses 2019 $17,817
These larger projects are funded from a fund designated for seniors programming and acute care services
Nelson CARES: Kootenay Seniors Program $30,000
Friends of Nelson Elders: To administer and provide Small Seniors Grants $30,000
Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation: Acute Care $35,633
Scholarships/Bursaries $24,777
Other Designated Funds: earmarked for specific charitable purposes within the community $37,908
Projects Supported by Donor Advised Funds $ 6,655
Cottonwood Preservation Society
West Kootenay Environmental Centre Society
Corazon
Nelson Electric Tramway Society
Kootenay Shambhala Centre
Kalein Centre
Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association
Rails to Trails
Grants distributed by our affiliate community funds in North Kootenay Lake, Slocan Valley & Salmo Valley $61,446

2018

These projects were selected for funding through our annual grant application process. The money comes from interest generated by our Community Fund, Nelson & District Credit Union Fund, Nelson Home Hardware Fund and other non-designated or field-of-interest funds.
Amy Ferguson Institute- Corazon Fall 2018 Retreat $ 500
Capitol Theater- Selkirk Concert Society Youth Engagement Program $ 1,500
Capitol Theater- Footlight Academy $ 1,000
Nelson Civic Theater- Rural Artist Support Weekend $ 2,000
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy- Tech Time for Adults & Seniors $ 2,500
Glacier Gymnastics Club- Upper Floor Revitalization and Multi-Purpose Room $ 1,700
Kootenay Boundary Dental Access- Dental Access Fund $ 3,000
Kootenay Christian Fellowship (Our Daily Bread)- Chairs for Hot Lunch Program and Fundraising Capacity $ 1,000
Kootenay Society for Community Living- Bigby Place Arts Initiative $ 1,000
Kootenay Society for Lifelong Learning- Teen Boys Rites of Passage and Mentorship Program $ 4,388
Nelson and District Arts Council- Nelson International Mural Festival $ 1,500
Nelson Fine Arts Centre (Oxygen Art Centre)- 5th Annual Youth Arts Festival $ 600
Nelson Food Cupboard Society- Office Expansion $ 5,552
Nelson Friends of the Family- Friends of the Family: Helping Families $ 5,474
West Kootenay Brain Injury Association- Nelson STRIVE Program $ 1,500
West Kootenay Women's Society- Rooted in Community - Growing Strong $ 1,500
Wildsight- Classroom with Outdoors $ 800
This project received grants from our Arts Legacy Fund (for Literary projects this year)
Kootenay Cooperative Radio- Fred Wah Literary Partnership Project $ 2,400
These projects are funded from a fund designated for animal welfare
BC SPCA- BC SPCA Nelson Spay/Neuter Initiative $16,665
Kootenay Animal Assistance Program- Spay/Neuter for Community Cats & Dogs At Risk $16,665
These larger projects are funded from a fund designated for seniors programs and acute care services
Nelson CARES- Age-Friendly Community Project $15,000
Nelson CARES- Kootenay Seniors Program $15,000
Friends of Nelson Elders: To administer and provide Small Seniors Grants $30,000
Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation- Acute Care Services $33,331
Scholarships/Bursaries $22,908
Other Designated Funds: earmarked for specific charitable purposes within the community $32,179
Donor Advised Funds $4,124
Suzy Hamilton Legacy Fund- West Kootenay Environmental Centre Society
Kootenay Shambhala Centre
Nelson Overture Concert Society
Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation
Kootenay Kids Society
Grants distributed by our affiliate community funds in North Kootenay Lake, Slocan Valley & Salmo Valley $53,521
"I wanted to do something local, such as helping seniors in our hospital here, and the fund I chose was a good fit with what I wanted to do. The donation is also a memorial to my wife; it fulfilled her wishes too."
Peter Haliday, donor Friends of Nelson Elders in Care Fund