From Volunteer Victoria in Victoria, BC, host George speaks with Tracy Cullen, Director of Community Initiatives at the Victoria Foundation, about what community foundations are and how the Victoria Foundation manages donor gifts as endowment funds that generate annual grants to federally registered charities. Tracy notes the foundation’s 90th anniversary, its service area across the Capital Regional District, and recent granting totals (about $6.1M last year) with more than $400M invested back into community over time. They discuss sector challenges - rising costs, increased service demand, reduced revenues, and declining volunteerism - and bright spots such as supporting collaborations like the Good Food Network and a youth homelessness prevention collaboration. Tracy also describes Vital Youth, Vital Signs, and Pulse, shares her background including her family’s Horner Foundation, and reflects on the value of volunteering.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:51 Meet Tracy Cullen

01:41 What Is Community Foundation

03:33 Victoria Foundation Origins

04:12 Endowment Grantmaking Model

05:47 Funding Scale Impact

08:01 Sector Challenges Today

10:35 Collaboration Success Stories

14:18 Vital Youth Program

17:06 Vital Signs Pulse Research

21:00 How To Donate Start Fund

23:08 Horner Foundation Backstory

23:52 Jersey Shore Memories

24:34 Small Town Roots

25:07 Volunteering Values

27:27 Garden State Farmland

29:04 Family Foundation Story

30:27 Grantmaking At Victoria

31:54 Saying No Compassionately

34:47 Three Silly Questions

40:08 Why Volunteer Matters

42:56 Closing Thanks

Learn more about the Victoria Foundation.