Looking to make contribution! Donate now and help us support more local initiatives responding to the urgent needs of our wildfire-affected communities.

Donate Here

The United Way of Northern BC’s Urgent Response Fund was established in response to the devastating wildfires sweeping through Northern BC. Its primary purpose is to provide immediate support to communities affected by these wildfires, addressing critical social needs within these communities.

United Way is uniquely positioned to respond to these needs due to our extensive regional connections and a broad network of over 1000 agency contacts. We aim to identify gaps in community resources around wildfire response swiftly. Collaborating with local responders, corporate partners, and our public communications network, we ensure our response is cohesive, effective, and reaches those most in need.

The Urgent Response Fund not only offers financial support but also extends to resources such as volunteers, network connections, and staff time and efforts – all valuable in responding to the crisis at hand.

Registered charity organizations operating in Northern British Columbia within the footprint of the United Way of Northern BC can apply for funding from the Urgent Response Fund. The fund is specifically directed towards social services agencies, programs, and services that have been directly or indirectly affected by the wildfires in Northern BC.

To apply for funding:

1. Send an email to apply@unitedwaynbc.ca indicating that this is a request for the Urgent Response Fund.
2. In your email, include the following information:
   • Agency Name
   • Contact Name
   • Contact Phone Number
   • Contact Email
   • Community/Communities Impacted
   • Outline of the Request for Funding – what you’re looking for and why, include budgetary information here if applicable
   • Total Funding Requested

Applications can be submitted at any time, but they must be submitted before 12pm noon each Thursday to be considered in the Friday review.

Approved requests will be notified by the end of the day on the Friday after they’ve submitted their application, provided they submitted their application by noon on Thursday.

Once approved, agencies will be required to sign a letter of agreement and provide a brief report on the use of the funding by October 31, 2023. Click here to submit a final report.

For any inquiries or further assistance, please call us at 250-561-1040 or email us at info@unitedwaynbc.ca.

We are here to support our community through this challenging time. Together, we can help our communities recover and rebuild.

With the proceeds from the Urgent Response Fund, we have been able to approve the following supports to date in Northern BC. The list will be updated weekly so please check back for additions to see the incredible work being done throughout the region.