Three local organizations get this year’s Chrysalis Fund grants totaling $13,000
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The Chrysalis Fund held its annual general meeting last Tuesday where seven of the eight organizations were on hand to pitch their projects for funding. Members choose three non-profits to donate to with grants totaling more than $13,000.
“Since the Chrysalis Fund began in 2009, we have supported a variety of organizations and projects (primarily focused on children, youth, and families). And it just always surprises me and delights me to see how much good is being done in this community,” said chair Debbie Krahn.
The female driven non-profit started in 2009 with only 11 members and has now grown to 89. Each woman donates a one-time gift of $1,000, which is then given to the Steinbach Community Foundation, which gives it to the Winnipeg Foundation to invest and grow. The interest earned on the investment is used to fund local projects.
This year there were eight local projects that applied for Chrysalis funding, but only three were voted by membership as being the most in need.
The first was Steinbach Community Outreach with its ask of $5,000 to buy warm winter clothing for its clients, made up of children and adults.
“We have families, people who are coming in, who are deciding between, ‘Do I buy my child a parka this winter to be able to go to school? Or do I pay my hydro this month so I can keep my home?’” said general manager Charlene Kroeker.
She noted that Manitoba Housing in Steinbach is largely located in the southeast of town, but the services and shopping is all located on the north side. Since there is no public transportation and her clients can’t afford a car, the winter can be very difficult as they walk five miles to reach those services.
“So, they’re deciding if that five-mile walk is worth the risk of frostbite to their fingers because they bought their children mittens, but they did not have enough money to buy themselves mittens, and children always come first,” she said.
Agape House was the second non-profit to receive funding for its Healing Spaces: Refreshing the Shelter with Furniture and Art initiative. It received $6,500 to buy new couches and art for its shelter.
“At Agape House, we want our shelter to be more than simply a place where someone can stay for just a few nights. We want it to be a place where people feel safe, welcomed, respected, and supported as they begin to heal. The main living area of our shelter is at the heart of that environment,” said Lisa Fast, outreach coordinator for Agape.
In 2025, Agape House provided 2,957 bed nights to adults and children combined and responded to 1,500 crisis calls. In the first six months of 2026, it has provided more than 1,300 adult and children bed nights and responded to nearly 1,000 crisis calls.
The final non-profit to receive money was the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation, which wanted to buy an adaptive bike for an 18-year-old Steinbach teen with cerebral palsy and a chill-out seat for another disabled 18-year-old Steinbacher which would allow him to sit without getting sores and be active within his day-to-day life.
“These pieces of equipment aren’t luxuries,” said Mia Dunn, fund development officer. “They are necessities to give these youth the best quality of life to reach their full abilities, and I ask you today to please consider funding our $11,425 funding request to support these youth so that they can live their fullest lives.”
Although the foundation asked for $11,425, it received $2,603 as it was the third-place candidate that was chosen to receive funding.
Funds donated by the Chrysalis Fund make an impact in the community as shared by Bev Dueck of Southeast Cancer Support Services, which in 2024 received $830 for its Kids Together program (formally Kids Can Cope). This program helps children deal with their emotions as one of their parents goes through cancer treatment.
“I continue to marvel at the impact that this group of women has on our community,” said Dueck.
She said one child has entered the Kids Together program and it has helped her vocalize her feelings.
“The grandmother stated that the little girl was able to express concerns that she had never vocalized before using her worries and wonders box…The child has developed a vocabulary for feelings that she didn’t have prior and some coping strategies for these feelings,” said Dueck.
To date, the Chrysalis Fund has donated $127,523 to various non-profits and organizations over the past 17 years.
In regards to finances, Chrysalis Fund treasurer Simone Penner said the organization has $4,191 in its operating fund and $249,981 in its capital fund, an increase of $11,182 from last year.
“It’s pretty exciting (having almost a quarter of a million dollars), and the generosity in the community with this giving circle of giving ladies is amazing,” said Penner, who noted when she and Krahn founded Chrysalis they never imagined it would turn into the philanthropic organization it is today.
The fund has a market value of $364,650 as of June 30, giving an average of about 4.5 percent interest annually.
The fund also has a Youth Giving Back Award, which is $500 given to a youth’s charity of choice. Youth are chosen for their volunteerism and for raising awareness for their particular organization. This year there were two applicants, with Chrysalis splitting the award equally between Soup’s On and Steinbach Cancer Care, which is managed by the Bethesda Foundation. The youth also received a $25 gift card each. The closing date to apply for next year’s Youth Giving Back Award is Oct. 30.
What makes Chrysalis different from other philanthropic organizations, according to Penner, is that it’s women giving back to the community, which is very empowering.
“It’s the heartstrings, you know. It’s just different when women put their hearts and their minds together to give back into the community.”
