The Central Okanagan Foundation is being named one of the top 50 equitable funders in the country for 2024.

The Future of Good, a leading media, research and learning organization for Canada's social purpose world, compiled the rankings of funders. 

It is an annual independent ranking and analysis that is put together to analyze, assess and publish the 鈥渟ay-do鈥� gap which according to the Future of Good is, 鈥渢he shortfall between what funders want to achieve and what progress they are actually making when it comes to becoming more diverse, inclusive and equitable.鈥�

The other aim of Future of Good for creating the rankings is to celebrate the 50 most equitable funders from across Canada as well as spotlight their approaches and practices. 

The Central Okanagan Foundation (COF) is ranked 24 out of 50 in the country and tenth of out 10 in B.C. 

Kristine Bugayong the executive director with the COF said her team is humbled by the recognition. 

鈥淭his is a nod to the path we are on and we are inspired to be better and do better. Thank you to Future of Good and Quake Lab for creating this program. Hopefully, foundations are able to continue to view all our activities with an equity lens, internally and externally,鈥� said  Bugayong. 

Board 鈥渃hair member Dustyn Baulkham said, 鈥淚 am incredibly proud of our organization鈥檚 inclusion in Future of Good's Top 50 Equitable Funders ranking. This recognition speaks to the hard work and commitment of our entire team, whose efforts are making a meaningful difference in advancing equity within our community. 

At COF, we remain dedicated to fostering inclusion and supporting initiatives that help build a more just and accessible future for all. Being acknowledged alongside other impactful foundations is a tremendous honour and a reflection of our shared mission to drive positive change."