UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO
Ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world (Center for World University Rankings 2024), Western University now counts an enrolment of 44,000 students from 128 countries, and 362,000+ alumni around the world.
Founded in 1878 ‘The Western University of London Ontario’ opened its doors to students for the first time in 1881. The university was renamed The University of Western Ontario in 1923 and is now more popularly called Western University, harkening back to its original name.
Western’s 1,300+ acre campus is one of the most beautiful in Canada, offering a mixture of modern and historic architecture and over 1,200 species of animals and plants. Eleven on-campus residences provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming living community for students and scholars. Its athletic facilities include the Western Student Recreation Centre, Thompson Recreation and Athletic Centre, Thompson Arena, the Western Alumni Stadium, and Rugby’s Alumni Field.
Among Western’s 46 varsity teams and clubs are the Men’s and Women’s Rugby teams. Both compete in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) rugby; the Men competing to qualify for the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship, and the Women competing to qualify for the U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship.
While the Western Women were a power in the OUA at one time (winning the OUA championship in 2003-2005 and 2007) and the U SPORTS national title in 2004 and 2005) the competitive balance has shifted in the intervening years. It is for this reason that a new approach to raising funds for the team has now been started.
WESTERN WOMEN’S RUGBY ALUMNI FUND
Established in October 2024, the Western Women’s Rugby Alumni Fund is intended to provide funding to further the objectives of the Western University Women’s Rugby Team and is consistent with the broad objects and purposes of Rugby Canada and the Canadian Rugby Foundation, to develop and grow rugby across Canada, while meeting all CRA requirements.
The Fund has been launched as an initiative of the current (2024) Women’s Rugby coaches and Alumni/Alumnae to provide a vehicle for soliciting tax receipt-eligible donations to financially support the Women’s Rugby program -including the Varsity team and development activities – all to enable the team to regain its competitiveness in the OUA and at U SPORTS Rugby Nationals in future.
The Fund is a Hybrid University Fund with the Canadian Rugby Foundation. As such, 50% of donations made in the first 5 years beginning November 1, 2024 will be accessible to meet the current operating needs of the team, while the remaining 50% is allocated to a permanent endowment in which assets are invested in perpetuity. After 5 years, the Fund reverts to a 100% Endowment Fund.
The first $80,000 of donations will be matched by the Foundation at the rate of 25%, beginning once the Fund reaches the $20,000 threshold. In this way the Foundation encourages its start-up funds to accelerate their growth and reach an endowment that will generate sufficient funds through its investment returns to take the place of traditional fund-raising efforts. Your donations to the Fund are appreciated, and will make a significant impact on the team’s financial health, and thereby its performance on the pitch.
The following are examples of the kinds of projects or uses for which a disbursement from the fund may be approved.
OPERATING EXPENSES including but not limited to any of the following, which MUST be rugby-related:
- Labour expenses, fees, coach salaries and honoraria
- University charges (e.g., facilities, security, overhead allocation)
- Club member services (uniforms, personal equipment and attire)
- Administration
- Competitions (e.g., travel, accommodations, meals)
- Awards and scholarships
- Team clothing and apparel
- Hospitality services (banquets, post-game, hosting of visiting teams)
- Recruitment-related expenses
- Other miscellaneous rugby-related expenses
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES including any of the following which may fall outside the university’s operating or capital budgets:
- Facilities equipment purchase
- Specialized strength & conditioning equipment
- Rugby training equipment
TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE WESTERN WOMEN’S RUGBY ALUMNI FUND, PLEASE GO HERE:
