FCU Community Financial and Vancity invest $250,000 in community foundations across coastal and island communities

FCU Community Financial and Vancity are investing $250,000 in community foundations and funds serving rural, coastal and island communities across Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and Gulf Islands.

The new Community First Investment Initiative will provide funding to seven foundations and community funds across FCU Community Financial's legacy service area, helping build permanent community assets and strengthen communities FCU has served for generations.

"Community foundations help ensure local resources remain connected to local priorities, local leadership and long-term community wellbeing," said Caitlin Bryant, Impact Manager, Community Banking at FCU Community Financial. "This investment reflects the values that have guided FCU throughout its history and creates a lasting legacy for the communities that helped build our organization."

The Community First Investment Initiative will support community foundations and funds serving Comox Valley, Powell River, Bowen Island, Hornby Island, Texada Island, Bowser and Cortes Island. Examples include the creation of the Bowser Community Fund, a permanent community endowment supporting the Lighthouse Country area, and an impact-investing endowment being developed by the Cortes Island Community Foundation

"FCU Community Financial has a proud history of supporting the communities it serves and working alongside local partners to help communities thrive," said Wellington Holbrook, president and CEO of Vancity. "The Community First Investment Initiative builds on that legacy by investing in trusted local organizations and creating new opportunities for community impact. It's an example of how joining a larger values-based credit union can bring additional resources while staying rooted in local priorities."

The initiative reflects FCU Community Financial and Vancity's shared commitment to supporting strong communities while creating additional capacity for local impact through FCU's integration with Vancity.

The $250,000 investment will support:

• $60,000 to the Comox Valley Community Foundation, serving Courtenay, Cumberland and Union Bay

• $55,000 to the Powell River Community Foundation, serving the qathet region

• $35,000 to the Bowen Island Community Foundation

• $30,000 to the Hornby Island Community Fund, held by the Comox Valley Community Foundation

• $25,000 to the Texada Island Named Fund, held by the Powell River Community Foundation

• $25,000 to the Bowser Community Fund, held by the Parksville Qualicum Community Foundation

• $20,000 to the Cortes Island Community Foundation

About FCU Community Financial, a division of Vancity

FCU Community Financial is a division of Vancity, Canada's largest community credit union. Built on the legacy of First Credit Union, British Columbia's first chartered credit union established in 1939, FCU has a long history of serving coastal, rural, and island communities across British Columbia.  

Since becoming part of Vancity on December 1, 2025, FCU has continued serving members and communities while building on a longstanding commitment to community wellbeing. Through Vancity's Shared Success model, approximately 30% of net earnings are returned to members and communities through member value and community investments that support affordable housing, co-operative and local economic development, climate action, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation.  

FCU Community Financial operates on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, K'ómoks, Qualicum, Tla'amin, Klahoose, and Homalco First Nations.