The Portage Foundation owes its existence to the Thomas Sill Foundation’s commitment to rural philanthropy and to the Portagers who foresaw the value of a community foundation to all the citizens of Portage and District.  Fortunately for us, the Thomas Sill Foundation was committed to promote community self-sufficiency and Portage was selected to be one of the first ten communities in Manitoba to participate in the initiative.  The organization was incorporated on June 2, 1994 as the Portage and District Foundation Inc.

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The Board of Directors finalized a fundraising strategy named the “Founders Club”. Membership was open to all families, individuals, businesses and service organizations who contributed at least $1,000 by December 31,1995. The goal was to raise $200,000 in that time in order to ensure the maximum matching grant of $100,000 was received from the Thomas Sill Foundation. This campaign ensured a significant pool of capital in the endowment fund which would provide the basis for the income for grantmaking.

The 159 Founders have their names commemorated on a plaque which is permanently housed in the Portage la Prairie Regional Library.

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In 1995, a new slogan was adopted to demonstrate a clear separation from the Founders Club – Founding is done, long term has begun. A new long term donor recognition program was adopted: contributors of $100 to $499 became “Friends of the Foundation” and contributors of $500 and up became members of the “Builders Club.”

Talk about a win/win situation! All the anonymous donor asked is that our communities continue to support the Community Foundation of Portage and District by increasing our undesignated permanent endowment fund. In doing that, the anonymous donor doubled our money by matching what we had donated.

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All donors received a certificate in recognition of their donation.  Categories were as follows:

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• Platinum $5000 and up

• Gold $1000 – 4999

• Silver $ 500 – 999

• Bronze $ 100 – 499

In 2004, our anonymous donor has issued the Community Foundation of Portage and District (CFPD) with another challenge, this time to increase our undesignated permanent endowment fund by $75,000 before December 31, 2006. CFPD has named this project the “Community Match Challenge.”

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If we were successful in meeting this challenge, the anonymous donor would donate a matching amount of $75,000 to us to make immediate charitable grants of $25,000 per year for three years to qualified recipients in the community.

We have another Win/Win Situation! All the anonymous donor asked was that our community continues to support the Community Foundation of Portage and District by increasing our undesignated permanent endowment fund. If we do that, the anonymous donor shall double our money by matching what we have donated.

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All donors received a certificate in recognition of their donation.  Categories follow:

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• Platinum $5000 and up

• Gold $1000 – 4999

• Silver $ 500 – 999

• Bronze $ 100 – 499