Social impact for community resilience
We work with community organizations to build environmental resilience, enrich social wellness, create a more inclusive economy and champion a co‑operative society. Taken together, these key dimensions of resilient communities make up the focus areas of our social impact framework.
We invest in Canadian communities
contributed in community investments
2022: $10.6 million
2021: $8.3 million
disbursed to charities and non-profits from the Co‑operators Community Funds
2022: $900,000
2021: $757,000
Environmental resilience
We support activities that reduce risks related to climate change, including physical, health and other long-term risks through both mitigation and adaptation; and protect, maintain and restore healthy ecosystems and ecosystem services, particularly within agriculture.
Social wellness
We focus on promoting positive mental health, particularly among Canadian youth (aged 18 to 25), aiming to create personal/mental health resiliency by connecting a diversity of young people to tools, education and supports.
Inclusive economy
We contribute to groups supporting historically underserved individuals who face barriers preventing them from accessing decent work. In an inclusive economy, people will be empowered through job skills training, employment opportunities and increased access to programs, products and advice that can help build their personal and financial resiliency.
Co‑operative society
We’re committed to supporting a thriving co‑operative sector in Canada by helping co‑operatives develop their businesses and manage their risks, and by educating youth about the co‑op model and inspiring them to actively support co‑ops.
Supporting co‑operatives on the path to net zero
In 2023, we deepened our partnership with Green Economy Canada, a national non-profit accelerating Canada’s transitiontoward a vibrant and inclusive net-zero future, providing almost $70,000 in funding to support the expansion of Green Economy hubs across Canada that are engaging businesses in setting and achieving sustainability targets.
“Co‑operatives are well positioned to be leaders in the transition to a green economy. Their values around collective empowerment and community engagement allow them to tackle challenges from the bottom-up and with a broader perspective.”
Understanding the gaps to financial supports for people with low income
To support progress toward our purpose of financial security for Canadians and our communities, we’ve partnered with Prosper Canada, a national charity dedicated to expanding economic opportunity for Canadians living in poverty through program and policy innovation.
“We are inspired by the interest from stakeholders across the financial services ecosystem to find solutions that will help all Canadians access the financial help they need to build their financial health.”
Empowering Legacies of Black Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs
Black Women Professional Co‑operative (BWP Co‑op) is a multi-stakeholder co‑op that aims to empower women professionals and entrepreneurs, including those in the food ecosystem, to operationalize their businesses and scale up to mainstream local channels and international markets. As a recipient of our Co‑operative Development Program, Co‑operators is supporting their efforts to offer access to professional mentorship, coaching and business training, networking opportunities, tools and resources.
“We are inspired by the vision of building a culturally informed co‑operative that meets the needs of Black women in Canada, and around the world.”