Co-operators Community Funds (CCF), the philanthropic arm of Canadian financial co-operative Co-operators, distributed $1.39 million to 59 nonprofit and charitable organizations in 2024 and renewed its commitment to Kids Help Phone (KHP), bringing total contributions to the youth mental health initiative to $1 million.
The funding followed a record-setting year for CCF, which received more than 100 grant applications, the highest number since its founding in 1995.
In response, the CCF Board approved revised funding guidelines to expand the fund’s ability to meet rising community demands.
The grants support organizations serving young and underserved populations who are increasingly turning to nonprofits for help with mental health, financial stress, and overall well-being. Rising living costs, housing and food insecurity, and systemic pressures in healthcare continue to challenge these service providers' ability to meet demand.
CCF directs its funding to charities, cooperatives, social enterprises, and nonprofits focused on skills development and improving employability, particularly for youth and individuals with mental health conditions.
Shawna Peddle, associate vice president of citizenship at Co-operators, said there is an ongoing need to strengthen the ability of organizations to carry out their missions.
"The funding we provide through CCF, in part, supports the programming capacity of community organizations to address society's increasing dependence on their services," said Peddle.
Since 1995, CCF has disbursed $12.4 million to 267 organizations nationwide.
Part of Co-operators’ broader strategy includes continued support for KHP’s Feel Out Loud movement.
The latest investment supports KHP’s Peer-to-Peer Community, an online mental health support platform for youth, which recorded 301,693 interactions in 2024, a 15% increase from 2023.
KHP offers free, 24/7, multilingual mental health support across Canada. Since early 2020, the organization has engaged in over 22 million user interactions. Over the past four years, contacts from youth aged 13 and under regarding suicide have more than doubled.
KHP data also indicates that 75% of users disclose new information during conversations, and 80% report feeling less upset afterward.
“Their ongoing generosity has helped us create safe, inclusive spaces where young people can turn to one another for connection and hope,” said Susan Morris, interim president and co-CEO at KHP.
Co-operators currently oversees more than $72 billion in assets under administration.
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