Community-centred Impact Celebrated with 2023 Grants

In 2023, the AIMCo Foundation distributed $350,000 to fund 13 Alberta-based financial literacy and education initiatives.

We welcomed two new groups to our network of community partners and continued our work with 11 previously funded organizations, with more than 75% of available funding supporting initiatives primarily serving women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized people and other equity-seeking groups. These programs reach across our province and engage residents from all backgrounds through innovative approaches to financial education, creative problem solving and community-centred interventions.

We are grateful to all the organizations that took the time to share more about their work and are excited to see the continued impact of the funded initiatives in Alberta.

Thank you to our inspiring community partners, passionate volunteers and steadfast supporters for your ongoing commitment to this important work.

Grant Recipients and Funded Programs 2023

ABC Head Start Society

Multicultural Family Financial Literacy Workshops

Through financial planning, financial literacy training and peer networking, funding to ABC Head Start is supporting low-income multicultural families in Edmonton as they explore topics including money management, discussing money with loved ones and setting financial goals.

Africa Centre

Empowering Financial Futures Project

The Africa Centre exists to create opportunities for access and full participation of the African-descent community in Alberta society. Funding is supporting tax clinics and follow-up financial literacy workshops that help new immigrants learn to navigate unfamiliar Canadian financial systems.

Bissell Centre

Financial Empowerment Project

The Bissell Centre takes an inclusive, people-centred approach to poverty reduction in Edmonton. Among its unique delivery tactics, the Financial Empowerment Project aims to embed financial literacy within the centre’s support programs to increase financial well-being and boost outcomes across the board.

Bow Valley College

Centre for Financial Empowerment

Bow Valley College (BVC) is addressing the gap of financial literacy in low-income and Indigenous communities in Calgary. BVC’s grant is supporting the work of Jasmine Blood, Indigenous Financial Coach, by funding resource development, elder honorariums and multimedia content delivery.

Candora Society of Edmonton

Candora Employment Prep Program (CEPP) Financial Integration

With a goal to end the isolation of poverty, the Candora Society delivers participatory education programs in Northeast Edmonton. Funding is supporting the development of a financial literacy curriculum for pre-employment, as well as in-person guidance through Candora’s community resource centre.

Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories

More Than Money Program

One of the organization’s several in-classroom financial literacy offerings, More Than Money engages students in grades 4 and 5 in fun, hands-on learning. Funding is primarily supporting the play kits that contribute to the program’s activity-based approach by bringing age-appropriate financial concepts to life.

Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta

Financial Literacy Classroom Programs

Facing continued high demand following the introduction of financial literacy learner outcomes in Alberta’s elementary school curriculum, Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta is directing funding toward expanding delivery of its free classroom programming for students in grades 4 to 12.

Momentum Community Economic Development

Aspire Calgary Program

As Calgary’s Financial Empowerment Collaborative, Momentum is directing funds to continue building out the capacity of its community partners through financial education, coaching and credentialing. This support helps organizations integrate financial literacy best practices throughout their programs.

Team Windmill

Empowering New Albertans Project

Team Windmill offers financial literacy programs and microloans to help skilled new Canadians pay the costs of accreditation and training. Funding is exclusively supporting the Empowering New Albertans project, integrating financial literacy coaching and mentoring into the organization’s program delivery.

The Immigrant Education Society (TIES)

Enhancing Financial Literacy Skills Among Newcomers and Youth Program

TIES provides financial empowerment learning to new Canadians and low-income Calgarians. Funding is expanding the reach of financial literacy education, individual counselling and tax services for newcomers and youth, equipping participants to navigate Canada’s financial systems and make informed decisions.

United Way of Alberta Capital Region

Empower U – Building Confident Futures Program

A collaborative effort involving 15 partners, Empower U combines financial literacy education and coaching to increase financial knowledge, tools and resources for people who are financially vulnerable. The program primarily supports women who have experienced hardship.

Wellspring Alberta

Money Matters Program

A cancer diagnosis has profound impacts on the financial well-being of patients and their families. Funding through the Money Matters program helps people navigate the unexpected financial complexities of a diagnosis, including income replacement programs, as well as taxation, financial and estate planning.

YWCA Edmonton

YOUth Retreats and Financial Literacy Weekend Workshops

With a goal to empower women toward lifelong financial literacy, YWCA Edmonton is directing funding to expand its portfolio of youth engagement initiatives. The programs provide age-appropriate education and focus on the fundamentals of money management including saving, budgeting and investing.

Read more about how community grant recipients are centring the diverse lived experiences of Albertans and browse our impact report, Empowering Equity, to see all we accomplished together in 2023.