2016 Annual Report

Over the past few years, Canada’s community foundation network has been on an incredible journey of collective leadership and engagement. Inspired by a common interest in building more inviting and inclusive communities, our network reached new heights in 2016, working together through an unprecedented wave of opportunities.

The uptake by community foundations to help welcome and settle refugees from Syria or to engage more meaningfully around Reconciliation are examples of the kind of spirit that truly reflects the heart of our movement, and our country.

Through local, national and international activities, our community foundation network embraced new challenges, while supporting one another with the values that are at the core of our work.

The future is bright and I’m hopeful as we continue to build a community of Canada where we all belong.

Victoria Grant
Board Chair

The 2016 year was filled with big milestones and the continued commitment of our movement which came together for the greater good of our communities.

Through the Welcome Fund for Syrian Refugees, established with contributions from Manulife, CN and GM, we worked with community foundations to distribute more than $5.5 million to local organizations. We also helped government-sponsored refugees from Syria settle in 27 communities across the country. Early events with the Calgary Foundation and London Community Foundation for the Welcome Fund kicked off a wave of investments across Canada – in everything from rent subsidies to emergency loan funds to mental health care.

We launched the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th, a collaborative national effort seeded by the Government of Canada and delivered locally by our network. The Elkhorn and Area Community Foundation jumped on board first, followed by another 175 community foundations supporting projects in every province and territory. By the end of 2017, the Fund will have supported 2,000 local projects in over 400 communities, while engaging 100,000 volunteers across Canada along the way.

Our activation around Canada’s 150th was also supported by a growing Alliance 150 network of 2,000 organizations, groups and individuals working to make the most of the country’s sesquicentennial. Alliance 150 held gatherings in St. John’s, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Richmond and Montreal, connecting community foundations with local groups looking to get involved.

We continued our shared efforts to strengthen the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, contribute to meaningful Reconciliation, and foster a greater sense of belonging in our communities. The Philanthropic Community’s Declaration of Action continues to be a springboard for those on the path towards Reconciliation, including early signatories: Victoria Foundation, The Winnipeg Foundation, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, and Temagami Community Foundation, to name a few.

We were also there when our communities needed us most. In the wake of the Northern Alberta wildfires, the Edmonton Community Foundation, Calgary Foundation, Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta and community foundations across the province pooled their resources to support the long-term recovery efforts in the Wood Buffalo region through a new Rebuilding Fort McMurray Fund.

New contributions from IDRC and SSHRC expanded the reach of the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program to more low- and middle-income countries. This gave 450 doctoral, postdoctoral and early-career researchers the opportunity to undertake global research projects, strengthening the exchange of talent between Canada and other countries. Early engagement between local universities and community foundations have seeded new mentorship and education opportunities for promising young scholars.

Our movement also mobilized local data and knowledge through a growing Vital Signs program that continues to measure community vitality, inspire civic engagement and provide a focus for public dialogue. Thirty-four Canadian communities, and another 23 internationally, participated in the 2016 program which culminated with local reports and talks during Vital Signs week in October.

Finally, a strong, well-rounded foundation development practice, new philanthropy fellowships, and ongoing learning opportunities all continued to help community foundation leaders adapt to the changing world around us.