Al Eros, VE4ZB – RAC Scholarship Coordinator
Every year, through the RAC Foundation, Radio Amateurs of Canada provides grants and scholarships to worthy community programs and to young Canadian Amateurs who are studying at the post-secondary level.
RAC operates the RAC Foundation in cooperation with the Community Foundation of Ottawa (CFO) which administers and invests the donated funds and disburses the earnings from those invested funds to grant applicants, based upon the advice of the RAC Board.
All grant applications should be submitted to the RAC Foundation for processing and recommendation.
“It is with great pleasure that RAC British Columbia / Yukon Director Keith Witney, VE7KW and Scholarship Chair Al Eros, VE4ZB, announce the awarding of a $1,000 scholarship to Levente Buzás, VA7QF, on behalf of all Radio Amateurs of Canada members. Levente is a graduate research student at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.”
The RAC Foundation Program / Funds and Donor Designation
RAC is able to provide grants and scholarships thanks to the RAC Foundation Program.
RAC undertook the RAC Foundation Program in order to increase the relevance of our national organization at a local level, as well as to increase our relevance to youth.
RAC operates the RAC Foundation in cooperation with the Community Foundation of Ottawa (CFO) which administers and invests the donated funds and disburses the earnings from those invested funds to grant applicants, based upon direction from RAC.
All grant applications should be submitted to the RAC Foundation for processing and recommendation.
Fund Disbursement
The Canada Revenue Agency provides for the following charitable purposes relevant to Radio Amateurs of Canada, Inc.
Advancement of Education: This includes “providing scholarships, bursaries, and prizes for scholastic achievement”, and “undertaking research in a recognized field of knowledge (the research must be carried out for educational purposes and the results must be made available to the public)”. The former would be reserved for Radio Amateurs. The latter would be reserved for research/development which would benefit all Canadian Radio Amateurs.
Purposes Beneficial to the Community: Organizations which normally qualify as charitable include those “providing public amenities to benefit the community”, “establishing safety rescue operations” and “providing facilities for people with special needs”. The first could cover such activities as grants for Amateur Radio equipment and/or courses in schools, youth organizations or homes for the elderly or disabled. The second may apply to investment in groups that support their local communities and the Canadian Red Cross with public service and disaster communications. The latter could apply to support for equipment, courses or the development of suitable devices or techniques to facilitate access for the handicapped or disabled to Amateur Radio.
Donor Designation
RAC offers four categories for donor designation and grant applications.
Scholastic grants: Scholarships and bursaries for Radio Amateurs (must be a certified Amateur at time of the grant application) for full-time attendance at an educational institution such as a university or community college
Research grants: Research or development must be related to furtherance of Amateur Radio technology
Community grants: Grants for Amateur Radio equipment or courses relating to schools, community, seniors, youth or disabled homes or centres, for the benefit of these specific items or for the surrounding community
Emergency grants: Grants for Amateur Radio equipment or courses relating to emergency communications, Search and Rescue communications and related public service communications
Size of Grants and Application Deadlines
Scholastic grants will have a maximum value of $1,000. Decisions on grant eligibility and size will be at the sole discretion of the RAC Directors or their designees. RAC has set a minimum of $250 for a grant.
The application deadline for all grants is June 30 each year, however grant requests received after the deadline may be considered based upon urgency and merit.
Note: This year, the deadline has been extended to November 30 to compensate for the delays caused by the global pandemic.
Grant Applications:
Decisions on grant awards will be made on the merits of grant applications, within the limits of the RAC Foundation earnings on donations in that donation category. Unsuccessful applicants may re-submit applications for consideration in subsequent years.
Under Canadian tax regulations, Foundations may disburse funds only to institutions which are themselves charitable.
All disbursement cheques must be made payable to the charitable institution which the grant applicant designates on the grant application form. The cheque will be sent from the Community Foundation of Ottawa to the institution for presentation to the grant applicant.
Only institutions listed by the Canada Revenue Agency as “Qualified Donees” are considered qualified for support by a Foundation under Canadian tax regulations. Canadian universities, community colleges, hospitals and most seniors’, youth and community centres qualify.
Before deciding on the merits of a grant application, RAC will check the institution shown on the grant application to confirm that it is listed by the Canada Revenue Agency as a “Qualified Donee”.
Application forms:
Scholastic Grant Application form
Program Grant Application form
The RAC Foundation
c/o Radio Amateurs of Canada
720 Belfast Rd., Suite 217
Every year, through the RAC Scholarship and Grant Program, Radio Amateurs of Canada provides grants and scholarships to worthy Amateur Radio community programs and to Amateurs who are studying at the post-secondary level.
It is thanks to the continued generosity of Amateurs and Amateur Radio Clubs from all parts of Canada that we can support talented Canadian Amateurs who will contribute to our hobby for years to come.
In addition to the Scholarship and Grants Program, RAC also has a Youth Education Program (YEP).