In its first year of operation, the Quadra Island Community Foundation (QIF) successfully applied for charitable status, conveyed donations to two projects and is now focusing on building its legacy fund.

Treasurer Mich Hirano, one of five officers on the volunteer board of directors, told CKTZ News that, “the operating principle of the Foundation is to distribute funds from the interest gain from its legacy (or endowment) fund.”

To that end, building up capital will be the focus of the next few years.

The organization channeled two early grants of $5,000 from the Strathcona Regional District and $3,000 from the Coastal Community Credit Union into legal assistance for obtaining charity status and a building a website, coming later this fall.

During year one, QIF raised approximately $33,000 in total, with two amounts designated to specific community projects: $2,000 to Seniors Housing and more than $9,000 to the ICAN solar panels project at Quadra Elementary School.

QIF is also networking with other community foundations across the west coast, including Cortes Island, to share ideas on community engagement and fundraising.