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April 2024 Newsletter
Since our last edition...
Over a hundred members and sector experts attended our recent Lobbying for Change webinar, our Investment Roundtable meeting, our Montreal Regional Member Gathering, and our Healthy Aging Affinity Group meeting. As always, we are grateful to every single participant for their time and energy -- and especially to our members, partners and speakers who offer their support, expertise, and insight to our network through our programming. Your contributions and commitment to peer learning are what makes our community so valuable.
Thank you to the Trottier Family Foundation, the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation, The Foundation of Greater Montreal, Karen Cooper Professional Corporation, the CRA Charity Directorate’s Zachary Euler and Guy Gagnon, and the Waltons Trust.PFC’s upcoming 2024 Landscape Report is highlighted in the Insights section of the latest issue of Foundation Magazine on pages 22-23. For those who registered for the Toronto Regional Member Gathering, we will be offering a sneak peek of the report!
PFC Updates & Insights
Jean-Marc Mangin was interviewed by SETSI’s Victor Beausoleil telling stories of what inspires him (greater number of charitable funders stepping up), what concerns him (slow progress on reconciliation and climate, growing global tensions dividing Canadian society), and how Canada’s new charitable regulations are opening up new possibilities.
Earlier in March, Jean-Marc Mangin took part in SETSI’s Peoples Social Impact Conference in The Future of Philanthropy in Canada panel session together with sector colleagues including PFC member Makeway’s CEO, Joanna Kerr.
Stay tuned for upcoming Together 25 Conference updates! So far, 25 speakers have already accepted our invitation to speak in Ottawa... and many more to come!
PFC Programming
Toronto Regional Member Gathering
(at capacity)
Sneak peek of
An Evolving Landscape:
Reflecting Canada’s Philanthropic Foundations
Author and Presenter: Michele Fugiel Gartner
Lead Researcher, Philanthropic Foundations Canada
Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2024 - 8:30-10:00 AM ET
Location: Foundation House, 2 Clair Ave E - Suite 300, Toronto, ON
Coffee and a light breakfast will be served upon arrival
The presentation will begin at 9:00 AM
For this get-together, Michele will offer a special sneak peek of PFC's upcoming Landscape Report - which looks at the history of foundations in Canada, the current state of regulation, assets, and grantmaking in the country, and seeks to better understand the current trends and tensions impacting the philanthropic sector.
This event is open to Toronto and Ontario-based PFC member boards and staff, to PFC members from other parts of the country who wish to join us in Toronto, as well as other foundations and grantmakers strongly considering membership in our network.
Communications Affinity Group Meeting
Thursday, April 18, 2024
2 PM AT | 1 PM ET | 12 PM CT | 11 AM MT | 10 AM PT (Online)
Topic: Narrative change and impact storytelling
This regularly scheduled monthly meeting is open to all communications specialists to discuss important or emerging strategic communications and public affairs issues relevant to Canadian foundations and philanthropy.
Visit our event page.
Program and Grantmaking Staff Affinity Group Rendez-Vous
Friday, April 19, 2024
2 PM AT | 1 PM ET | 12 PM CT | 11 AM MT | 10 AM PT (Online)
This peer-to-peer learning session will be an opportunity to bring your questions, stories of success, and have robust conversations with your colleagues in the sector. We invite you to join the session ready to chat, or to listen in. You can confirm your attendance by registering here. We hope to see you there!
Visit the program page on our website for more details.
Healthy Aging Affinity Group
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
2 PM AT | 1 PM ET | 12 PM CT| 11 AM MT | 10 PM PT (Online)
Following the meeting held on March 26, participants will continue to expand their knowledge of their collective efforts and will start to explore new ways to support the healthy aging sector. Visit our program page and sign-up to join this Affinity Group.
Annual CEO Retreat (at capacity)
Monday, May 13 to Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Location: Millcroft Inn in Alton, Ontario
Our annual in-person gathering, where the community of PFC member CEO/EDs comes together to discuss key issues and important developments in our sector, will take place from May 13-15, in Alton, ON.
Visit our event page here.
New Appointments
- Definity Insurance Foundation welcomed Shauna Sylvester as their inaugural Senior Fellow in advancement of Climate Justice and equitable climate action in Canada. For more details click here.
Member & Sector Job Board
Operations Specialist, McConnell Foundation (Deadline to apply: April 8)
Board Directors, Environment Funders Canada (Deadline to apply: April 15)
Member & Sector Insights
The Canada Revenue Agency has released version 24 of Form T3010, Registered Charity Information Return, to reflect new reporting requirements. If you file your annual information return using the downloadable PDF, make sure you choose the correct version of Form T3010, depending on your fiscal period ending.
Statistics Canada’s “National Insights into Non-profit Organizations, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, 2023” highlights the profound impact non-profit organizations have on Canadians' lives, as well as the ongoing significance of these organizations as vital players in a diverse society and a dynamic economy.
Canada’s Charities Directorate recently released Report on the Charities Program 2021 to 2022 which provides an update on the directorate’s activities and the regulation of Canadian charities, from registration to compliance, includes updated statistics and covers a variety of topics, including policy-related activities, such as consultations and stakeholder engagements.
Peter Fardy mentions that endowments are not the only model for philanthropic giving. In "What’s the best way to make a difference with your charitable gift? (Globe and Mail), he outlines other options such as annuities to stretch giving and, if well designed, increase impact over a 10-20 year period.
Hilary Pearson’s book review of the “The Price of Humanity: How philanthropy went wrong and how to fix it” in The Philanthropist Journal summarized author Amy Schiller arguments for a democratic, shared, and aspirational conception of philanthropy that distinguishes it from the individualized and transactional giving.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s article entitled “How Transparent Philanthropy Can Liberate Billions of Dollars — and Do More Good” demonstrates how, by sharing knowledge and data, grant makers can make their giving more accessible, equitable, and — crucially — effective.
Canadian Race Relations Foundation-sponsored podcast featuring Sarah Kolker, Director of jkid4all, a program for Jewish families of colour in Philadelphia which aims to foster a cohesive, welcoming, diverse community in the city, shows how she uses art to inspire her communities—Jewish, Black and beyond.
Carleton University’s Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership instructor, and founder of Watermark Philanthropic Counsel, Dr. Sharilyn Hale, speaks of governance issues in this interview entitled “Governance Excellence and the Board-CEO Relationship”.
Alliance Magazine’s article entitled “Philea Research Forum: How can foundations shape future innovation” uncovers how in modern Italian philanthropy savings banks’ foundations hold half of all Italian philanthropic assets, or 21 per cent of the European total.
Laetitia Gill published "From diversity to pluralism: Is everyone included?" in the Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing
Trico Charitable Foundation's co-founder and Board Director, Eleanor Chiu, recently spoke about community building through social entrepreneurship at The Women’s Canadian Club of Calgary.
New Power Labs’s ‘Equity Shot’ entitled “Learning out loud” recommends openly communicating decisions and learnings, thereby alleviating fear of the unknown, promoting accountability, and helping facilitate healthier collaboration among funders, and between funders, leaders, and communities.
Upcoming Member & Sector Activities
Bhayana Family Foundation’s Guest Blog on PFC ‘s website entitled “Recognizing the impact of Canada’s secret superpower-The Invisible Champions” which sings the praises of nonprofit organization workers across the country seeks your support for the creation of a Nonprofit Day of Appreciation in Canada via this petition.
Trottier Family Foundation-supported panel discussion to explore the role and potential of green hydrogen in Canada's decarbonization strategy. With perspectives from public, private, academic, and non-profit stakeholders, find out about sectors to prioritize, main roadblocks ahead, and resources and actions needed to effectively implement this technology. Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET |The McGill Faculty Club: 3450 McTavish Street | Free Event. Register here
Greater Montreal Foundation Rendez-Vous. Juniper Glass will discuss the principles of trust-based philanthropy with Marie-Andrée Farmer (Foundation of Greater Montreal), Michelle LeDonne (Pathy Family Foundation) and Ousseynou Ndiaye (Un itinéraire pour tous).Register here. (April 10, 12:00 – 1:30 PM ET)
Canadian Race Relations Foundation-supported book launch at the Ellipse Lobby, Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre in Burnaby, BC for “Gaman – Perseverance: Japanese Canadians’ Journey to Justice”, an in-depth memoir detailing the negotiations which resulted in the historic Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement and the acknowledgment that Canada had wronged its own citizens. Friday, April 12, 2024 - Doors open at 6:30 PM; the event begins at 7:00 PM. Attendance is free! Seating is first-come, first-served.
Canada Climate Law Initiative’s webinar on “Strengthening climate resilience in the financial services sector: Perspective from Québec’s AMF Climate Risk Management Guideline”. Wednesday, April 24 from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (PT) Virtual. Register here.
The Foundation, Endowment & Not for Profit Investment Summit, Canada’s longest-running event for the investment community, will be taking place in Toronto on May 1-2. Learn more and register here.
Vancity Community Foundation-supported workshop to explore building housing on under-utilized land. Tuesday, May 7 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue (580 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C).
Imagine Canada’s Federal Nonprofit Data Coalition-presented webinar on the Introduction to Data Best Practices for Nonprofits to explore what the rapid digital transformation and burgeoning adoption of AI technologies means for our sector. Tuesday, May 7 at 1 PM ET. Register here.
Trottier Family Foundation-supported Montreal Climate Summit is back for its third edition on May 7-8, 2024 focussing on nurturing connections and encouraging mutual support to help organizations break down barriers to climate action and build on the commitments made during the first two Summits. Register here.
McLean Foundation-supported Ontario Envirothon program has been empowering Youth Environmental Leadership for 30 Years. Regional events, hosted across select communities, will culminate in an eagerly anticipated provincial event set to take place at the University of Waterloo from May 26-29, 2024. Contact envirothon@forestontario.ca to inquire about registering a team.
Future of Good's Social Finance Summit will be taking place June 12-13. To learn more and register click here.
Members in the News
Mastercard Foundation and Inspirit Foundation both mentioned in “New Bachelor’s Degree in Indigenous Journalism coming to Saskatchewan” as key supporters of The First Nations University of Canada’s launch of a new four-year program blending journalism and multimedia training with the study of Indigenous issues and languages.
Equality Fund highlighted to illustrate how Canada proudly supports women’s rights organizations, human rights defenders and feminist movements that work to protect the rights of women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ communities around the world in “International Women’s Day statement by ministers Joly, Hussen and Ng”.
Azrieli Foundation’s support to the Future Leaders program is highlighted in “Meeting the critical need to retain young brain researchers in Canada.” (Globe & Mail). Alongside other supporters, since 2019 they have helped fund 88 researchers with an investment of $8.8 million - matched 1:1 by Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund.
Law Foundation of BC-supported youth debating championships culminate at grand final with topic of “granting legal personhood to certain natural entities, such as rivers and forests, to protect environmental rights" as reported in “West Kootenay debate team excels at provincial championships”.
The Cole Foundation’s fifteen-year tradition of granting to theater companies to cultivate and strengthen theatrical work incorporating themes of inclusion and dialogue is described in ”Celebrating 15 years of crucial conversation”.
United Church of Canada Foundation’s support for healthy aging through reduced rent, social connections, shared household responsibilities is highlighted in “Georgian Bay Home Share: A solution for affordable housing and senior care”.
RBC Foundation’s donation through RBC Future Launch program to help support youth with mental health and substance use disorders highlighted in “RIH Foundation gets $50K to support local youth”.
Weston Family Foundation’s funding toward researchers at McMaster University and Stanford University who have invented a new generative artificial intelligence model which can design billions of new inexpensive and easy to build antibiotic molecules is underscored in “Researchers invent artificial intelligence model to design new superbug-fighting antibiotics”.
The Calgary Foundation’s contribution toward the construction of a new youth centre to open in March 2025 featuring a makerspace, a feasting area, a kitchen and a multipurpose room, as well as a rooftop garden where elders will hold teachings about medicines and tradition is highlighted in “New centre for Indigenous youth breaks ground in Calgary”.
RBC Foundation’s support toward United Way’s film festival, which presents thought-provoking documentaries that shed light on complex social issues and inspires positive change is mentioned in “Orillia woman designs logo for United Way’s Real2Reel film fest”.
Azrieli Foundation’s support of The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE), which empowers family caregivers and care providers across Canada, is highlighted in “A Social Prescription for Care: New Pan-Canadian Social Prescribing Initiative Aims to Improve the Well-Being of Caregivers Across the Country.”
Law Foundation of BC’s grant toward enhancement and expansion of programs to help people who have been harmed, and those who are responsible for the harm, to understand the impacts their actions had on others and to take positive action to redress that hurt is highlighted in “B.C. supports organizations to strengthen restorative justice services”
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