There is more to life than simply being entertained. That’s why everything we do is backed by a bigger purpose; we want to make lives better. GOCF gives back by raising urgently-needed donations, creating jobs and bringing a spotlight to local causes and charities through the newly established Great Outdoors Community Fund. Together, we’re making a positive and meaningful impact.
Charitable donations since 2021!
In 2024, GOCF has committed to deploying another $250,000 into the communities we are bringing the festival to! Laugh a little harder and cheer a little longer; enjoy the good feeling of knowing your ticket purchase is an investment in your community too.
Great Outdoors Community Fund donations will fall under three main pillars of support:
Arts and culture enrich civic life, help inspire children to learn and create, and strengthen local economies. Bringing people with varying backgrounds together with art to see, experience and understand the world in new ways; expanding the role that cultural vibrancy plays in our communities. We are looking to support Arts & Culture focused organizations who encourage education, accessibility and appreciation of numerous artistic disciplines, particularly comedy and improv, where possible. Making programs and classes more accessible to underrepresented communities and/or those with financial barriers to give everyone the chance to discover new passions and talents.
Laughter, often described as the best medicine, possesses a remarkable power to heal both the body and the spirit. It acts as a universal language, capable of transcending barriers and connecting people in moments of joy and mirth. Scientifically proven to reduce stress hormones and boost the immune system, laughter serves as a natural remedy for a myriad of ailments, from physical pain to emotional distress. In a world often fraught with challenges, the simple act of laughter offers respite, reminding us of the beauty found in life’s lighter moments and the profound healing that accompanies genuine laughter. We are looking to support Mental Health focused nonprofits and charities who are purpose-built and designed to help end the stigma and drive change around mental health.
Gathering together to share a laugh is important, but we also acknowledge the impacts this has on our planet. That’s why GOCF is committed to paving a path to a more sustainable festival in future years, leaving nothing but laughter in our wake. We are looking to provide funding to Sustainability focused organizations who are supporting environmental education, research and advocacy to provide climate solutions and/or charities that protect, grow and nurture the health, diversity and sustainability of our environment. From animal welfare to marine protection to climate change, we will ensure the environmental charities will put the Great Outdoors Community Fund donations to good use to pursue a more sustainable future and advance environmental solutions.
Submissions for potential 2024 funding partners closed on May 3, 2024 at 5:00pm EST. Open to charities or not-for-profits operating in Edmonton, Winnipeg, London, Ottawa, Halifax, Calgary, Spokane and Vancouver. Chosen partners will be informed no later than May 31, 2024. Public announcement of recipients will take place throughout June, and funding will be dispersed between July 1, 2024 and September 30, 2024 at the discretion of GOCF.
$32M+
LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT
14k+
JOBS CREATED
During a time when the pandemic caused many of our fundraising events to be canceled, GOCF was able to step up and help STARS continue to be there for the next patient in need. Their entire team was incredible to work with and everything ran seamlessly. We can not thank the GOCF team enough for their support and dedication to supporting the community!
When businesses like GOCF support organizations like ours, they signal their desire to create inclusive communities and support vulnerable Edmontonian’s to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. Our partnership with GOCF is an amazing example of what we can accomplish when we work towards a common goal. We look forward to continued partnership in the years to come!
It was clear to us from the beginning of our relationship that the GOCF team was on board with our belief that the CAM Program and Students are our #1 priority. Decisions we made as a team were made based on what would be best for our goals. The festival’s support produced a very successful fundraiser for us!
Our experience from the start was amazing! GOCF supplied everything we needed to coordinate the clean-up and basically handed us the reins on it. Everything went beautifully and our interaction and communication during all the shows has been outstanding.
CommUnity works because of U. When we needed it the most, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival was there for Edmonton and the Alberta Avenue District. The laughter added pure joy to our neighbourhoods and helped people discover our local businesses and the positive impact of the community working together to make it happen. Thank you for supporting our community!
We worked with GOCF when Hope Mission operated a temporary homeless shelter near one of their event series. We were amazed by how engaged their team was in supporting our operations and finding a way to work together. They really cared about the work we were doing and were eager to be partners in supporting Edmonton’s more vulnerable community members. It is great to see a local Edmonton business being so community minded!
Check out some of the incredible organizations we’ve partnered with over the years!
Produced by Trixstar LIVE » Events with Purpose