CFNL Recruiting New Board Members (Deadline March 23)

The Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (CFNL) is building an enduring legacy to strengthen the quality of life in our province.

CFNL is recruiting 2-3 members to join its board of directors. New members have an exciting opportunity to shape an organization with national relevance while grounding it in the beauty and strengths of people who care about Newfoundland and Labrador and the place that’s given us all so much. 

Sharing Your Gifts

Our Board works as a team, and each member has different experiences and skills. We are looking for the following to add to the existing board’s strengths. 

• Experience/knowledge with legal and regulatory matters concerning not-for-profit corporations and charitable foundations
• Individuals living in or with connections to communities outside of the Northeast Avalon

All Board members should have the following:

• 5-10 hours per month to dedicate to CFNL work over a 3-year term
• A commitment to creating spaces of inclusion and belonging in their personal and professional lives. 

NOTE: Applications from people living anywhere in Newfoundland and Labrador or who live outside the province and have strong connections to NL are welcome. Meetings are conducted remotely or in a hybrid format. CFNL supports board members from outside the NE Avalon with travel costs to attend one meeting in person per year. Meetings currently take place on Wednesdays every other month, over the lunch hour (NT). CFNL does revisit its board meeting timing on an annual basis. 

Share Your Interest By March 23, 2025

We ask all applicants to answer these questions as part of their expression of interest:

1. Why are you interested in CFNL’s mission and its work? 
2. Tell us what skills and experience you can contribute to the Board. See above for a list of current priority skillsets and backgrounds. 
3. How do you commit to creating spaces of inclusion and belonging? 

Submit your expression of interest by March 23, 2025. You can use any of the following formats:

• 1-2 page letter – submit to info@cfnl.ca
• 5-7 minute video recording – submit to info@cfnl.ca as an attachment or link.
• A recorded conversation with the Executive Director by phone or Zoom (approximately 20 minutes) – contact Nicole Dawe at ndawe@cfnl.ca or (709) 221-1030 or book a time here before March 21. 
• Optional – Submit a resume or CV. 

All applicants will be notified within six weeks of the deadline. Successful applicants will be brought forward as a slate of nominations at CFNL’s AGM in early May 2025. 

About The Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador’s (CFNL) vision is thriving Newfoundland and Labrador communities where everyone belongs. We realize this by inspiring generosity in those with Newfoundland and Labrador on their hearts and connecting them with diverse resources, ideas and people to invest in the possibility of this place together.

Established in 2001, CFNL stewards more than $2.5 million in philanthropic investment for the benefit of the province, has facilitated granting of over $4 million since 2017 and leads community knowledge initiatives like NL Vital Signs. We’re part of Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), the national network for Canada’s 200+ community foundations that, combined, stewards $7 billion in resources and reaches 90 percent of the country’s geography.

With open minds and hearts, CFNL serves as a bridge to connect resources, ideas and people to make our hopes for this province a reality now and into the future. Our work takes place in three areas:

1. Donor Services – Flexible and tailored stewardship of funds for individuals, corporations and charities.
2. Granting – Making grants from funds stewarded by CFNL and through granting partnerships as part of the Community Foundations of Canada network. 
3. Community Leadership – Connecting diverse people, ideas and resources through initiatives like NL Vital Signs and participating in a wide array of local, regional and national conversations about the community sector and philanthropy.  

Apply for Free Housing Development Supports – Deadline March 7

Giving Back this Holiday Season

It’s the Giving Season. Many of us give and receive so much at this time of year.  

We’re excited to share some inspiration for community generosity. We’ll keep adding to this list. Reach out to us at info@cfnl.ca if you have something you’d like to share.  

For more inspiration, listen to CBC NL’s The Signal from Giving Tuesday to hear CFNL’s Executive Director, Nicole Dawe, and other guests share many ideas about how to give back this holiday season. 

As we approach the tax receipt deadline of December 31, we’re here to help with supporting your giving, too. Please feel free to call or email if we can support you.

Giving Tuesday Events & Initiatives

December 3, 2024, is Giving Tuesday. It follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday and is an opportunity to focus on giving back rather than getting. 

Many charities have special matching or other initiatives that kick off on Giving Tuesday; make sure you check in on your favourites. Online giving is going to be especially important for all charities this year as organizations across the country paused direct mail campaigns because of the Canada Post strike. Many charities receive a large portion of their donations during the final two months of the year. Pay special attention to your email and social media for special opportunities to give back. 

1) Give Kindness  – Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbour or stranger out, standing up for an issue, community or cause that you care about, there are many ways you can give back. Here are 50 acts of kindness ideas to get you inspired. 

2) CanadaHelps Gift Cards  – Many people like to give gift cards at this time of year. CanadaHelps has you covered with gift cards that allow the recipient to make a donation to any charity in Canada. Also great for birthdays and other celebrations. 🙂

3) Creative Gifts for Everyone – Check out Business and Arts NL’s annual holiday gift guide to find 230 local and unique gifts created by 78 creatives from across the province. Local handcrafted gifts for everyone on your list! Whether you’re looking for something contemporary or a bit more traditional, this gift guide includes items for every age, style and budget.

A Mother’s Gift: The Andrea Powell Memorial Scholarship shapes futures at Holy Trinity High

At Holy Trinity High School in Torbay, a new scholarship is doing more than easing the financial burden of post-secondary education – it’s creating a lasting bridge between a mother’s legacy and young women’s futures.

The Andrea Powell Memorial Scholarship, established following Andrea’s sudden passing in 2017, awards $10,000 to female graduates pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, Math or other related field of education. But its origins lie in something deeper than academic support.

A Legacy of Supporting Women

“Andrea was always in the background, always there supporting,” says Jason Kelly, Andrea’s husband. “She was really passionate about young women getting ahead. That’s why we dedicated this scholarship to female students – I know that’s what she would have wanted.”

The selection process looks beyond a candidate’s academics to consider community involvement and leadership – qualities that defined Andrea’s approach to life. 

Community Rallies Together

The scholarship’s foundation began with overwhelming community support. An initial celebration of life event raised nearly $50,000, helping create the scholarship, a family room and emergency room equipment at the Health Sciences Centre’s Intensive Care Unit. Kelly’s band, Last Plaid Heroes, also continues this support through benefit concerts. “We’ve gotten tremendous support from the community of Torbay and really the Northeast Avalon,” says Kelly. “It just shows how close the community is when there’s a real need.”

Making a Difference, One Student at a Time

This year’s first recipient, Aysia Gallant, embodies the scholarship’s dual emphasis on academic achievement and community service. From fifteen applicants, a committee of school and family representatives selected Gallant based on criteria beyond academics. “It’s about congeniality, what you do for your community, whether that’s through sports, volunteerism, anything really,” Kelly explains.

For Gallant, now studying Primary Care Paramedicine at the College of the North Atlantic, the award carries both practical and personal significance. “I was shocked when my name was called,” she recalls, noting how the financial support has eased family tensions about education costs. “It means less work on my mother trying to pay for all of it,” Gallant explains. “We had this never-ending battle about me wanting to help with the costs.”

As a member of the Pouch Cove Volunteer Fire Department for nearly two years, Gallant demonstrates the kind of civic engagement that defined Andrea’s own life. Her vision extends beyond emergency response to advocating for better patient care. “I’ve always loved helping people,” she says. “I want to be a patient advocate, ensuring they get the care they need. I don’t want them to just be treated as a regular patient without making sure they’re actually okay.”

Beyond Financial Support

To honour Andrea’s memory, Gallant had her school backpack embroidered with “In Memory and Honour of Andrea Powell” – a gesture that touched the Kelly family. The connection between recipient and donors continues to grow, with Kelly sending encouragement on Gallant’s first day of classes.

The scholarship’s impact extends beyond individual recipients. At Holy Trinity High School, it has sparked increased interest in community involvement among students. The school’s guidance department has noted how the scholarship’s criteria encourage students to think beyond academics and consider their broader role in society.

Kelly and his sons keep Andrea’s memory alive through family dinners on special dates like Mother’s Day and her birthday. The scholarship represents another dimension of this remembrance. “It’s a little bit of good coming out of something horrible that happened to our family,” Kelly reflects. “We’re not just touching that one individual that’s getting the scholarship; it’s their family, too.”

Looking Ahead

The next scholarship will be awarded in 2028, coinciding with the graduation of Kelly’s younger son from Holy Trinity. While fundraising continues for the second award, Kelly acknowledges the initiative’s eventual conclusion. “We’ve done a lot over the last few years. By 2028, we’ll be 10 or 11 years into it, and that’s good. Andrea’s memory will live on.”

Through this scholarship, young women pursuing STEM education carry forward not just financial support, but the spirit of a mother who believed in their potential and the power of giving back to community.

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You can donate to the Andrea Powell Memorial Scholarship here. Learn more about how CFNL can be a partner in your generosity with our Giving Guide.  

2024 Perry Cup Golf Tournament Success

On July 22-24, 2024, friends and family came together at the Terra Nova Golf Resort to participate in The Perry Cup Golf Tournament, a biannual event held to celebrate the life and legacy of Guy Perry. The event raised over $1,600 in support of the Guy Perry Memorial Scholarship Fund, awarded annually to a meritorious graduating student at Pearson Academy in New-Wes-Valley. This year’s event also paid special tribute to the memory of Derrick Bragg, a dear friend who also dedicated his life to community and public service.

Learn more about how CFNL can support your generosity with the Giving Guide. 

Community Fund Spotlight: Connections for Newcomer Youth

Investing in Movement for NL Communities

CFNL is excited to participate in this year’s Kia Communities in Motion. With a commitment to fostering inclusivity and innovation, Kia Communities in Motion continues to empower communities nationwide. In partnership with Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), Kia Communities in Motion is a grassroots initiative that supports local projects that are building inclusive communities through innovative programming that encourages movement. Learn more about the program here. 

Each year, five community foundations from across the country are selected to utilize their deep understanding of community needs to guide granting for the program. This year, two projects were funded with $22,125 each in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Mokami Status of Women Council & End Sexual Violence NL: Fireweed Counselling Collective—This project aims to fulfill the dream of creating a more supportive environment for gender-based violence survivors in Labrador by providing specialized training and support to mental health practitioners. The project is grounded in the collaborative ethos of the Labrador Cares Coalition, where collective care serves as the creative backbone.

Trans Support NL: TransEmpowerNL: Advocacy Collective—Through skill-building workshops, networking events, and grants for local initiatives, the project aims to empower trans and gender-diverse participants, fostering community connections and equipping them to confidently self-advocate.

2024 CFNL Board Call for Nominations

CFNL is recruiting members to join its board of directors. 

New members have an exciting opportunity to shape an organization with national relevance while grounding it in the beauty and strengths of the people who call Newfoundland and Labrador home and the place that’s given us all so much. 

Sharing Your Gifts

Our Board works as a team, and each member has different experiences and skills. We are looking for the following to add to the existing board’s strengths. 

• Experience/knowledge with legal and regulatory matters concerning not-for-profit corporations and charitable foundations.
• Lived experience not already represented at the Board table, especially individuals who live outside the Northeast Avalon and/or identify as being part of an equity-deserving community, such as racialized or Indigenous persons, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, persons with disabilities and immigrants to the province. 

All Board members should have the following:

• 5-10 hours per month to dedicate to CFNL work over a 3-year term
• A commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in their personal and professional lives. 

NOTE: Applications from people living anywhere in Newfoundland and Labrador or who live outside the province and have strong connections to NL are welcome. Meetings are conducted remotely or in a hybrid format. 

Share Your Interest By April 19, 2024

We ask all applicants to answer these questions as part of their expression of interest:

1. Why are you interested in CFNL’s mission and its work? 
2. Tell us what skills and experience you can contribute to the Board. See above for a list of current priority skillsets and backgrounds. 
3. How do you commit to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion? 

Submit your expression of interest by April 19, 2024. You can use any of the following formats

• 1-2 page letter – submit to info@cfnl.ca
• 5-10 minute video recording – submit to info@cfnl.ca as an attachment or link.
• A recorded conversation with the Executive Director by phone or zoom (approximately 20 minutes) – contact Nicole Dawe at ndawe@cfnl.ca or (709) 221-1030 or book a time here before April 19. 
• Optional – Submit a resume or CV. 

Selected applicants will be notified within six weeks of the deadline and brought forward as a slate of nominations at CFNL’s AGM in late May or early June. 

About The Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador’s (CFNL) vision is thriving Newfoundland and Labrador communities where everyone belongs. We support this by stewarding funds and connecting diverse people, ideas and resources.  

Established in 2001, CFNL stewards more than $2 million in philanthropic investment for the benefit of the province, has facilitated granting of over $4 million since 2017 and leads community knowledge initiatives like NL Vital Signs. We’re part of Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), the national network for Canada’s 200+ community foundations that, combined, stewards $7 billion in resources and reaches 90 percent of the country’s geography.

Our work takes place in three areas:

1. Donor Services – stewarding funds on behalf of donors and charities. 
2. Granting – Making grants from funds stewarded by CFNL and through granting partnerships as part of the Community Foundations of Canada network. 
3. Community Leadership – Connecting diverse people, ideas and resources through initiatives like NL Vital Signs and participating in a wide array of local, regional and national conversations about the community sector and philanthropy.  

2023 Giving Season Ideas

It’s the Giving Season. For many of us, we give and receive so much at this time of year as we move through many holiday celebrations.  

We’re excited to highlight the way many community organizations are inviting you to get involved in Giving Back this holiday season. We’ll keep adding to this list. Reach out to us at info@cfnl.ca if you would like us to add your initiative.  

For more inspiration, listen to a recent episode of CBC NL’s The Signal to hear Adam Walsh and guests Tammy Davis (Giving Tuesday), Heather Spratt (Dollar A Day Foundation), and Jodi Richard (Bridges to Hope) talk about many ideas of how to give back at this time of year. 

Giving Tuesday (November 28) Events & Initiatives

November 28, 2023, is Giving Tuesday. It follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday and is an opportunity to focus on giving back rather than getting. 

Many charities have special matching or other initiatives happening on Giving Tuesday; make sure you check in on your favourites or visit NL Gives. We wanted to highlight the Mi’kmaw Cultural Foundation and Quadrangle NL, two of the NL Gives charities participating in this local Giving Tuesday initiative. 

For those in St. John’s, Stella’s Circle is hosting their annual Light Up Hope event on November 28 in the evening and matching donations received on Giving Tuesday. 

If you have young readers in your life, get one of SucSeed’s Sustainable Superhero books; if you purchase between November 24 and December 1, a book will be donated to Ronald McDonald House NL. 

1) Community Clothing  – This holiday season, you can purchase an All I Want for Christmas is Housing for Everyone sweater or get your gifts wrapped by Make Waves Collective on December 17 at The Annex in Mount Pearl, with a portion of the profits from both going to unhoused individuals living at Tent City in St. John’s. 

2) CanadaHelps Gift Cards  – Many people like to give gift cards at this time of year. CanadaHelps has you covered with gift cards that allow the recipient to make a donation to any charity in Canada. Also great for birthdays and other celebrations. 🙂

3) Creative Gifts for Everyone – Check out Business and Arts NL’s annual holiday gift giving guide to find 250 local and unique gifts created by 89 creatives from across the province. 

From Legacy to Opportunity – Furlong Family Scholarships

Investing in Promise at Corner Brook Regional High School

Nestled on Newfoundland’s picturesque west coast, Corner Brook Regional High School is now home to the Furlong Family Scholarships. This initiative, fueled by a generous gift of life insurance from Kathryn Furlong to the Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, aims to recognize and support promising young students in their educational pursuits. 

Kathryn Furlong, a dedicated former City Clerk and lifelong Corner Brook resident, established the scholarships in memory of her parents, James and Nonie Furlong, who believed deeply in the transformative power of education. Kathryn’s life, filled with achievement and community service, exemplifies the values and support instilled in her by her parents. Her legacy continues to shape future generations through these scholarships. 

Each year, two deserving graduates from Corner Brook Regional High School are awarded $2,000, signifying a vital step in their academic journey. Initiated in June 2023, the Furlong Family Scholarships have provided financial relief to two students. Students also have the opportunity to receive a second $2,000 scholarship in their second year of post-secondary education. 

Recognizing Potential 

Victoria Byrne, one of the school’s guidance counsellors, plays a crucial role in connecting students to such opportunities. She remarks on the significance of the scholarships, particularly for a school with a large and diverse student body, emphasizing how they allow the school to “step outside a little bit” by broadening its scope of recognition. 

“Many of our students are also working hard outside of school to support their families, and they deserve to be recognized and provided with financial opportunities for post-secondary education,” Byrne articulates. 

Her insights reveal the unique impact of the Furlong Family Scholarships, resonating with students who may not always be in the spotlight yet shine in their own right. 

Maddy’s Journey 

Maddy McDowell, one of the initial recipients, is now in her first year of med-sci at Western University in London, Ontario, where she is thriving in a stimulating academic environment. The scholarship has provided her with a sense of financial security, allowing her to focus on her studies in cancer research, vaccines, and genetics. 

Maddy’s academic interests are deeply personal, stemming from her mother’s battle with cancer. “I was inspired by projects in school about cancer treatments and therapies. They impact many lives, and that steered my interest towards this field,” she reflects.

 More than financial aid, the scholarship has enriched Maddy’s university experience, connecting her with peers and clubs that share her interests and fostering her engagement in a diverse and inclusive academic community. 

A Legacy Unfolding 

The Furlong Family Scholarships, stemming from Kathryn Furlong’s generous legacy, provide more than just financial aid; they are a recognition of potential, an investment in futures yet unwritten, and a commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators.

They underscore the importance of recognizing the diverse paths of all students, ensuring that a legacy of learning and support thrives for generations to come.

Gifts of life insurance are one of many ways to set up a fund with CFNL. In addition to the life insurance proceeds contributing to a cause of your choice, individuals can receive a tax receipt for any premiums paid. There are many creative ways to structure a gift of life insurance to match what’s important for a donor and what the community needs now and in the future.  Visit CFNL’s Giving Guide or get in touch for more information.