Vancity Community Foundation: Lessons from five years of partnership
Vancity Community Foundation (VCF) invites settlers and non-Indigenous Canadians to move beyond reflection and take meaningful action by joining the One Day’s Pay campaign as it marks its fifth anniversary. This initiative encourages individuals and organizations to donate a day’s pay on September 30 in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
As a long-standing ally and supporter of One Day’s Pay, VCF has been on a journey of learning, accountability and action toward Truth and Reconciliation for many years. Their commitment is rooted in a vision for collective well-being—one that centers relational justice: how people show up for one another, how institutions remain accountable to those they serve and how trust is built through transparency and reciprocity.
VCF envisions a future of “connected just communities”—ecosystems of mutual care, shared power and enduring solidarity.
In recognition of this journey, they’ve outlined five ways other foundations and organizations can get involved and deepen their commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.
1. Engage your community
Each September, VCF runs a campaign to engage donors and fundholders in meaningful reflection and action. They invite their community to unlearn, learn and deepen their understanding of funding disparities. Through this campaign, VCF encourages donors to give and take actions towards Truth and Reconciliation.
To learn more about community-centric fundraising, visit:
2. Amplify the message
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VCF collaborates with One Day’s Pay organizers to co-create a month-long social media campaign, sharing both their content and our own. In nurturing this relationship, they practice transparency, listen closely, share learnings and uplift stories with care.
3. Dedicate funding
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To learn more about VCF’s work with restorative philanthropy, visit their blog:
Through the Youth and Elders Collective Impact Fund, VCF has created dedicated granting streams for Indigenous- and Black-led organizations. They commit funding—including annual grants for One Day’s Pay —through trust-based, strategic grants that align with community priorities and foster intergenerational connection and healing.
4. Follow Indigenous leadership
To learn more about The Circle on Philanthropy, visit:
One Day’s Pay receives guidance from The Circle on Philanthropy, an Indigenous and all women-led charity that aims to shift the philanthropic sector towards equity and justice. The Circle on Philanthropy selects three Indigenous-led organizations each year for the campaign. VCF honours this guidance by listening first and aligning their funding accordingly. Each year, VCF supports one of these organizations through their Youth and Elders Fund.
5. Commit long-term to Reconciliation
To learn more about the principles of trust-based philanthropy, visit: Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
VCF recognizes that deep and enduring commitment is needed in the journey towards Truth and Reconciliation. Along with ongoing support from several Donor Advised Funds, VCF provides multi-year, unrestricted funding for One Day’s Pay recipients, beginning with $15,000 in year 1, $5,000 in year 2 and $2,500 in year 3. Multi-year support gives grantees more flexibility to innovate and respond to community needs.
Let’s take action together
To learn more about VCF’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, and for helpful resources to further your personal learning and development, visit VCF’s campaign landing page.
About Vancity Community Foundation
Vancity Community Foundation (VCF) was founded in 1989 on the belief that by working together, we can all thrive. Today, we’re on a bold journey to restore affordability, advance climate justice and build more connected communities across British Columbia —led by those we serve. Our work is grounded in anti-racism and the principles of Truth and Reconciliation, with a focus on the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood we call home. Through projects like 312 Main, BC Rent Bank, Living Wage BC, Reaching Home, the Vancity Affordable Community Housing Program and over 260 philanthropic funds, we are building a future where power is shared, lives are dignified and nature is in balance.
Visit our 2025 Orange Shirt Day Campaign landing page to learn more about our commitments to Truth and Reconciliation.
