2026 Community Match Program

Your Co-op. Your Voice. Your Community.

As a Four Rivers Co-op member-owner, this is your Co-op. We’re proud to introduce the new Community Match Program, launching in 2026 in partnership with Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL). Through this program, members have the opportunity to help decide which local non-profit organization will receive up to $40,000 investment to support food security across the communities we proudly serve.

Four Rivers Co-op will contribute up to $20,000 to one eligible local non-profit organization, with the potential for an additional $20,000 from Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), for a total community investment of up to $40,000.

Member participation is an important part of the Community Match Program. Your vote will help guide the selection of the organization that may receive this year’s funding.

2026 Community Focus: Food Security

Each year, the Community Match Program will focus on a different community priority based on the evolving needs of the communities within the Four Rivers Co-op trading area.

For 2026, the focus is Food Security.

Food security means ensuring individuals and families have reliable access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food. This year’s funding will support organizations dedicated to improving food access and reducing food insecurity throughout our communities.

Examples of eligible initiatives may include:

• Food banks
• Community meal programs
• School breakfast and lunch programs
• Community kitchens
• Food recovery or food rescue programs
• Other non-profit organizations working to improve food security

How Member Voting Works

The Community Match Program is open to eligible Four Rivers Co-op members.
Members are invited to vote for the local non-profit organization they believe is making a meaningful impact on food security within the Four Rivers Co-op trading area.

Voting Period

DEADLINE: August 31, 2026 – Each eligible member may submit one vote during the voting period.

Submit Your Vote HERE

Member Eligibility

To vote, members must:

• Be a current Four Rivers Co-op member
• Reside within the Four Rivers Co-op trading area
• Provide accurate membership information when submitting their vote
• Submit only one vote per membership

All memberships will be verified before votes are counted. Duplicate, incomplete or fraudulent submissions may be removed from the final count.

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Non-Profit Organization Eligibility

Members are not responsible for confirming whether an organization meets the program’s eligibility requirements. Members may submit the organization they wish to support, and the Four Rivers Co-op team will complete the eligibility review.

To be eligible for the Community Match Program, nominated organizations must:

• Be a registered non-profit organization or registered charity
• Operate primarily within the Four Rivers Co-op trading area
• Deliver programs or services that align with the 2026 Food Security focus
• Demonstrate a positive and measurable benefit to the broader community
• Provide services that are accessible and inclusive to the people and communities they are intended to serve
• Have a positive reputation for responsible governance, financial accountability and community impact
• Be in good standing with applicable regulatory requirements
• Be willing to enter into a funding agreement with Four Rivers Co-op if selected
• All nominated organizations will be carefully reviewed by Four Rivers Co-op before the voting results are finalized.

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How Organizations Are Reviewed

Member votes are an important part of the selection process. Following the close of voting, Four Rivers Co-op will review the highest-voted organization or organizations to confirm they meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
The review may include:

• Alignment with the annual Community Match Program focus
• Community reach and impact
• Location within the Four Rivers Co-op trading area
• Organizational governance and reputation
• Financial accountability
• Capacity to responsibly manage the funding
• Compliance with Four Rivers Co-op funding policies and values

This review helps ensure the Community Match Program supports an eligible organization that can create a meaningful and positive impact within the communities we serve.

Following the eligibility review, the successful organization will be contacted by Four Rivers Co-op.

Before receiving the funding, the organization will be required to complete a funding agreement and provide any additional documentation requested by Four Rivers Co-op. This process helps support transparency, accountability and the appropriate use of Community Match Program funds.

The successful organization will be publicly announced in the weeks following the voting deadline, after the organization has been contacted and all required documentation has been completed.

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Important Information

• Voting Deadline is August 31, 2026
• Only one vote per eligible Four Rivers Co-op member will be accepted
• Membership information will be verified before votes are counted
• Members are not required to confirm an organization’s eligibility
• All nominated organizations are subject to review by Four Rivers Co-op
• The successful organization will receive a total up to $40,000 investment from Four Rivers Co-op and Federated Co-operatives Limited

Program Disclaimer

The Community Match Program is administered by Four Rivers Co-op in partnership with Federated Co-operatives Limited.
Submitting a vote does not guarantee funding for any nominated organization. All votes are subject to membership verification, and all nominated organizations must meet the Community Match Program eligibility requirements before funding can be awarded.

Four Rivers Co-op reserves the right to verify submitted information, request additional information, determine member and organization eligibility, reject incomplete, duplicate or fraudulent submissions, and make final decisions regarding the administration of the program and the awarding of funds. Four Rivers Co-op may select another eligible organization if the highest-voted organization does not meet the program requirements, declines the funding or is unable to complete the required documentation.

All decisions made by Four Rivers Co-op regarding program eligibility, administration and funding are final.