Capital Campaign

Moving First Forward

Demand for our services has outgrown our space at 320 East Hastings. And the space itself is falling into disrepair. To respond to the direct and growing needs of our community, we need your help.
DONATE NOW

We’re redeveloping our site into an 11-storey building purpose-built to suit the needs and interests of the community. The first four floors, operated by FIRST, will provide safe and inclusive community amenities with three times more space for our low-barrier services and programming. The seven floors above will offer safe, secure homes for Indigenous peoples operated by the Lu’ma Native Housing Society. Regardless of circumstance, all people deserve the dignity and care that a safe, purpose-built space can provide.

 

Revitalizing the corner of Hastings and Gore is a community-informed neighbourhood rejuvenation that centres reconciliation and healing. We cannot do this important work without you.

Will you join us to move First Forward?

First Forward Campaign

GOAL
$37 million

Secured Funds: $27.4 million

Funds to Raise: $9.6 million

Secured Funds

Funds to Raise

Donate Cash

If you would like to make your gift by cheque, please make your cheque(s) payable to First United and write “First Forward” in the memo. Print and mail this form along with your cheques to:

First United
320 East Hastings Street,
Vancouver, BC, V6A 1P4

IMPORTANT: If sending a cheque by courier (UPS, FedEX, etc.), please send to our administrative office at 368 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1G4.

To pay by credit card or bank transfer, please complete the form and submit it either by printing and mailing it to the address above or sending it electronically to [email protected].

Please include a void cheque (paper or digital) for bank transfers.

Donate by E-Transfer

For gifts of $3,000 or less, you can e-transfer. Add First United as a recipient and send your e-transfer to:

[email protected]

• In the “memo” field, please indicate that your e-transfer is a donation to First Forward
• Use the following as your security question:

Question: What is the purpose of this transaction?
Answer: redevelopment

Send us an email at [email protected] letting us know that you’ve made a donation by e-transfer and include your full name and address so we can issue your charitable tax receipt. For gifts of more than $3,000, please send a wire transfer.

Donate by Wire Transfer

Need to make a bank transfer for an amount larger than $3,000? No problem. You can make a wire transfer using the following information:

Our legal name: First United Church Community Ministry Society
Our address: 320 E Hastings St, Vancouver  V6A 1P4
Institution number: 003
Transit number: 07120
Account number: 1009059

Swift Code (international): ROYCCAT2VIC
Routing/ABA (U.S.): 02100021

Then send us an email at [email protected] letting us know that you’ve made a donation by wire transfer and include your full name and address so we can issue your charitable tax receipt.

Donate by Phone

If you would like to make a donation by phone using a credit card, our campaign team is happy to help. Give us a call at 604.336.3047.

Donate Online

Donating online with a credit card or direct debit is easy! Go to our First Forward donation page to make a one-time gift or pledge.

Donate Securities

Complete our First Forward Securities Donation Form and then email it to [email protected]. Please note that securities must be received in our accounts by the last business day of the calendar year in order to be eligible for a charitable tax receipt for the same year.

Make a Planned Gift

Whether it’s a gift of charitable annuities or a future contribution through a bequest, our campaign team can help. Give us a call at 604.336.3047.

Donations are tax deductible, and we welcome one-time donations or pledged gifts over a period of several years, with pledge payments completing in 2027. Interested in making a pledge?

Download our gift agreement and pledge form.

For information about corporate giving opportunities or our recognition program for gifts over $10,000, please contact us.

Why We Give

When we found FIRST UNITED, it was an absolute blessing. Without their help, I don’t know if we’d still be here. If you can see it in your heart to give, you should know that your help could change someone’s life. I know it changed mine.”

—Angelo, FIRST UNITED Community Member

Campaign Milestones

Enthusiastic support from both the public and private sectors has propelled First Forward. Check out some of our pivotal achievements.

Early

2020


FIRST receives pledge of a $10M leadership gift to kick-start the redevelopment project.

February

2021


The First Forward Cabinet is formed, and the fundraising campaign begins its quiet phase.

May

2021


United Church congregation St. Andrew’s-Wesley commits $1M to move First Forward.

June

2021


Wheaton Precious Metals makes a $1M corporate contribution to First Forward.

Reconciliation in Action

Safe, Secure Housing

We are excited to be partnering with Lu’ma Native Housing Society on this project to enable the development of over 100 below-market housing units for indigenous peoples in the DTES. Our facilities, meal program, and support services will be available and accessible to residents of the Lu’ma housing project as part of their tenancy.

A Welcoming Environment

To make the new FIRST safe and welcoming, and to honour the indigenous and spiritual roots of the land our building occupies, we’ve incorporated indigenous art and cultural elements into the design of the building in a respectful and appropriate way informed by direct consultation and input from Luugigyoo Dr. Patrick Stewart, Nisga’a architect, and Xalek/Sekyu Siyam Chief Ian Campbell. The building’s Sacred Space and outdoor gathering area will be interfaith spaces suitable for traditional indigenous ceremonies.

Naming Policy

All spaces in the building will be named after indigenous and spiritual roots of the land and indigenous leaders rather than after donors, who instead have the option of offering a dedication to these spaces—this is one of the most progressive naming policies undertaken in Vancouver that puts reconciliation front and centre in the fundraising and philanthropic space.

Latest news

Downtown Eastside charity FIRST UNITED featured on Nicola Wealth Podcast

Date 13 Mar, 2023

Category Blog, First Forward, Redevelopment

Listen to this February edition of the Nicola Wealth podcast featuring FIRST UNITED’s Interim Executive Director Amanda Burrows.

THANK YOU for making this happen

Date 5 Jan, 2023

Category Blog, First Forward

It’s the first week of the new year and our hearts are filled with gratitude! We’re blown away by how our community has come together, yet again, to make a difference in the Downtown Eastside. Our Christmas campaign has wrapped and we’re thrilled to share that for our programs and services, our supporters have collectively […]

A Fond Farewell to 320 East Hastings

Date 8 Jul, 2022

Category Blog, First Forward

Communities of Faith gather to say goodbye as we move First Forward On May 20, nearly 40 members of our Communities of Faith gathered at 320 East Hastings to help usdecommission the building with a thoughtful remembrance of the work that took place within the walls about to be dismantled. Led by the Rev. Bob […]

First Forward Capital Campaign Cabinet

We’re grateful for the dedication and support of our First Forward Cabinet members, who are as committed as we are to moving FIRST into its new home in 2025.

Rev. Cari Copeman-Haynes, Co-Chair

Rudy Kerklaan, Co-Chair

Mike Harcourt, Honorary Chair

The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne, Executive Director (on leave)

Amanda Burrows, Interim Executive Director and Campaign Director

Trista Baldwin, Campaign Manager

Dr. Heather Clarke

Don Evans

Jim Fletcher

Mark Paetkau

Randy Smallwood

Rev. Nancy Talbot

Nancy Trott

Community Endorsements

Congratulations to FIRST UNITED and Lu’ma Native Housing Society for successfully working together to bring new affordable and inclusive supportive housing to East Vancouver. I know the whole neighbourhood will benefit from this supportive space for people to live in community

—Niki Sharma, MLA Vancouver-Hastings, Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits, B.C.

Thank you for supporting First Forward!

Our corporate donors, media, and in-kind sponsors

Our Contributors

We’re grateful for the generous contributions of individuals, organizations, and foundations to this project. Thank you for helping us to move First Forward!

Join us to move First Forward.

You can’t put a price on dignity. But you can help us build a space that embodies it.