December 2025 Newsletter

Since our last edition...

• We held well-attended Member Gatherings in Vancouver (Nov 12) and Montreal (Nov 26), wrapping up our 2025 Meet the Moment series on how, together as a network, we could navigate Canada’s evolving political and economic landscape.

• We supported a very successful Walrus Talks on Philanthropy in Vancouver, where Jean-Marc Mangin, our partners Kris Archie and Pamela Uppal-Sandhu, as well as our Board Director Djaka Blais, were among eight insightful "talkers” who spoke of how philanthropy is evolving to serve the needs of our communities. 

• Past PFC Chair Simon Mallett and Director of Learning and Collaboration André Vashist joined dozens of sector partners on November 27 at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough to participate in the Marking 10 Years of the Philanthropic Declaration of Action event. At the gathering Dr. Marie Delorme also spoke and followed up with a Guest Blog “Reflecting on Ten Years of the Philanthropic Declaration of Action”. 

• We have received an amazing 126+ proposals for the 2026 National Conference “Sector Solutions Day” sessions, which we will carefully read through and select from to build a fabulous full day program. Don't forget to save the date - September 23-25, 2026. Office 365 | Outlook | Google 

• We received close to 90 responses to the Foundation Staff Survey from individuals working in Foundations across Canada. One of four datasets for our forthcoming new signature Working in Foundations report, our Lead Researcher Michele Fugiel Gartner is looking forward to combing through the findings. 

• We have received insightful feedback to inform our work in 2026 from the 50+ responses via our Member Engagement Survey. We would like to thank everyone who took the time, and a last reminder to provide us your feedback before December 19!  

PFC Updates

• As we send you the last newsletter of the year, we want you to know that we are very grateful to have you as part of our growing network. We wish you a restful and energizing holiday season, warm gatherings with family and friends, reconnecting with nature, or catching up on your reading. However you choose to reconnect with yourself and loved ones, we offer you our heartiest wishes for healthy and joyful holidays and look forward to seeing you in the new year! 

• Please note that the PFC Team will be off from Monday, December 22 to Friday, January 2, 2026. 

PFC Programming

Check out our 
Winter/Spring 2026 Programming Round-Up!

Already looking ahead to 2026? Check out our Winter/Spring 2026 Programming, which we published last week in our Round-Up eblast. 

All our events are also viewable at-a-glance 
in our online events calendar. 

New Members

PFC is happy to welcome this newest member to our network: 

Calgary Arts Development

Calgary Arts Development - the city’s designated arts development authority - supports and strengthens the arts to benefit all Calgarians. It invests and allocates municipal funding for the arts provided by The City of Calgary and leverages these funds to provide additional resources to the arts sector. Its programs support hundreds of non-profit and charitable arts organizations, individual artists, artist collectives, and ad hoc groups in Calgary. It strives to increase and use its resources wisely, foster collaborative relationships, and make the arts integral to the lives of Calgarians.

Announcements, Appointments
and Awards

• Barbara Zvan, a member of the McConnell Foundation's Investment Committee, received CEO of the Year Award by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. 

• J. Scott McCain, Chair of the Board of the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation Inc., is among esteemed business leaders who have joined the recently created Atlantic Economic Panel - a private-sector-led group that will help chart Atlantic Canada's economic future. 

• Vinod Rajasekaran to transition from CEO to Future of Good board member. 

Have any exciting news you’d like to share with our network? Let us know! 

Member & Sector Job Board

• Senior Manager, Data Operations and Systems – Canadian Women’s Foundation 

• Instructor for “Foundations of Philanthropy” Course Master / Diploma of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Carleton University, School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University 

Member & Sector Insights

• Philea released “Philanthropy Infrastructure in Focus: Supporting, Empowering and Catalysing European Philanthropy”, an online guide that explores the unique role and characteristics of Philanthropy Infrastructure Organisations and how they drive transformation despite operating with limited resources. 

• Malcolm Burrows' discussion paper for The Pemsel Case Foundation "Improving the Regulation of Canadian Foundations with Donor Advised Funds" argues that the Canada Revenue Agency, through its guidance products, education programs and audit activities, can lead a reform process and rule clarification for foundations with donor advised funds. 

• Imagine Canada issued this “Statement on the NSIRA Report on the Canada Revenue Agency’s Review and Analysis Division” which encourages the CRA to work with the charitable sector to build more transparent, consistent, and trust-based oversight. 

• Given an inherent power dynamic in funder/fund recipient relationships, McConnell Foundation has published "Guidelines and Guardrails: Ethical Partnership in the Practice of Philanthropy", in the spirit of respecting partners' independence, while also ensuring partnerships reflect funders' vision, mission, values and principles. 

• New "Charity Governance Code," authored by a cross-sector, voluntary steering group in the United Kingdom, sets out eight universal principles of governance for charities, including leadership and equity, diversity and inclusion. 

• The philanthropic sector is changing, questioning itself, and exploring new ways of giving that are bolder, more conscious, and more transformative, such as ephemeral philanthropy in “Fondations à durée de vie déterminées : gage d’un secteur en pleine mutation" (Sunset foundations: a sign of a rapidly changing sector). 

• In Maytree’s “Five Good Ideas on what great non-profit boards get right”, Aleem Punja, Executive Director, Future Ready Initiative, Aga Khan Council for Canada, shared lessons from leading and advising boards across sectors. 

• Definity Foundation reflects on some of the defining questions they started with in 2022. Watch and listen as Justin Wiebe and Arti Freeman reflect on how they’ve grown, what they’ve learned, and where they’re heading next - a look back and a look forward at how listening, learning, and trust continue to shape their path. 

• Indigenous Community Foundations across Canada and the Lawson Foundation come together to share a reciprocity-based investment that advances Indigenous-led philanthropy in "Reciprocity-Based Investment in Indigenous Community Foundations Marks 10th Anniversary of the Philanthropic Declaration of Action". 

• “The Year of Deep Listening”, which reflect a series of conversational interviews and surveys held with Indigenous members and settler philanthropic members of The Circle in 2024-2025, has helped them develop wise programmatic and strategic decisions that are grounded in their members’ and partners’ priorities, wisdom, and needs. 

• In this time when Canada is challenged to become stronger, Hilary Pearson believes that a philanthropic commitment to reinforcing civic empathy and civic culture could not be more important in “Philanthropy and Civic Empathy”. 

• Inspirit Foundation-shared "Messages to Grow and Uproot” by Race Forward is a guide for organizations working to advance equity and justice in service of communities most impacted by systemic inequities and racism. 

• Inspirit Foundation shared “Muslim Artists Live Here”, a first-ever report to examine Census data about Muslim artists across Canada. 

• Tanya Rumble states that by integrating ethical storytelling into their fundraising and communications practices, organizations can build trust, celebrate complexity, and restore dignity in Philanthropist Journal’s “When storytelling isn’t neutral: Lessons from Vietnam and the future of philanthropy”. 

• MakeWay's Lee Burton reminds us that “Philanthropy, in the context of systems change, is not primarily about how much or where we give; it is about how we show up in the work in ”Reflections from a talk at Hamilton Community Foundation’s Women4Change Gathering". 

• Mastercard Foundation-supported Africa Health Collaborative Convening, which allows the University of Toronto to work alongside eight African universities to strengthen health sectors, is mentioned in "Reflections on global partnership and shared learning". 

• Imagine Canada's "People First: A Portrait of Canada’s Nonprofit Workforce" draws on Statistics Canada data to provide a clear picture and a comprehensive overview of who works in nonprofits and how they compare to the broader Canadian workforce. 

• Environment Funders Canada refers to a report from UK-based Environmental Funders Network (EFN), which reveals trends and lessons that may also resonate in Canada, in “Turning grants into change: lessons learned from our UK colleagues”. 

• Real Estate Foundation of BC, whose Director of Strategic Programs and Partnerships - Leanne Sexsmith - is also a member of the BC Watershed Security Coalition’s Knowledge Council, puts a spotlight on the “Ending the Great Water Giveaway” report, which outlines a fiscally responsible path to modernize industrial water rates, protect freshwater sources, and reinvest in watershed security. 

• Gaspé Beaubien Foundation, whose mission is to raise awareness of water security as a national security issue, states that the scale of the current drought in Quebec requires us to rethink our relationship with water as a fragile, precious, and interconnected resource in “When rivers die of thirst, a wake-up call for all of Quebec”. 

• Representatives from the Fondation Lucie and André Chagnon foundation and the Foundation Béati foundation are among the signatories of “Perspectives d’avenir: les tout-petits au cœur de nos choix politiques" (Future Prospects: Young Children at the Heart of Our Policy Choices). 

• Although Quebec's Black communities contribute to the common good, their philanthropic actions often go unrecognized and are rarely documented. That is why the Foundation of Greater Montreal, in collaboration with the Observatoire des communautés noires du Québec, has published “Signes vitaux 2025: la philanthropie dans les communautés noires du Québec” (Vital Signs 2025: Philanthropy in Quebec's Black Communities). 

• Recently-launched New Power Labs initiative "Fund Canada", which aims to direct $500 million in grants and investments to underfunded and overlooked leaders and communities by 2030, calls on all Canadian foundations, impact funds, family offices, fund managers, financial institutions, venture capital firms, and other asset holders and managers to pledge dollars toward diverse-led organizations and businesses. 

• Imagine Canada's new "Strategic Action Plan: Building Our Collective Power 2026–2030" focuses on three aspirations: a sector that is trusted and community-driven; resourced equitably and ambitiously; and led by future-ready leaders who reflect communities and drive change. 

• ERRATUM- In our last edition, the following Metcalf Foundation reports were wrongly attributed to Maytree: “From the Ground Up: History of the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust” and “Grounding Transformation: Possibilities for Community Land Trusts”, which examine what it takes to build a Community land trust from the ground up, what tensions emerge along the way, and how does scale impact its transformative intent?

Upcoming Member & Sector Activities

• Wednesday, January 28 and Thursday, January 29 | SocialNext’s Non-Profit & Public Sector Marketing Workshops & Conference in Ottawa. Learn more and register here. 

• Wednesday, January 28, 1:30 PM ET | Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s Quebec Dialogues: Empowering Community Voices. Learn more and register here. 

• Thursday, January 29, 1-2 PM ET | Imagine Canada’s Sector Signals: The Trends Shaping the Sector in 2026. Learn more and register here. 

• Mid-January – end February | Ontario Trillium Foundation, Community Foundations of Canada, MaRS Discovery District, and Mastercard’s AI Stewardship Practice Program v.2.2 (2026 Session 1). Learn more and register here. 

Members in the News

• Windsor Foundation grant, that will help build 10 secure and affordable homes for intellectual disabilities in Souris, PEI is mentioned in "Canada marks National Housing Day and makes a housing investment in Souris". 

• Sean Condon, Director of Social and Economic Innovation at Vancity Community Foundation, which partnered with the Jim Green Foundation to operate a community hub in Vancouver, is quoted in "Vancouver’s Nonprofits Were Getting Priced Out—This Building Changed That". 

• Real Estate Foundation of BC, who has collected $2-million in trust interest in 2024, is mentioned in "Many Ontario brokerages are pocketing interest on trust account funds". 

• Alva Foundation donation, which is helping Hospice Quinte to continue offering grief groups for children and youth, is recognized in "Alva Foundation supports Hospice Quinte's youth grief group". 

• LesLois Shaw Foundation, who funded and co-developed the Shaw Visionary Scholars Program alongside Visions of Science - a scholarship and leadership experience designed to close the educational attainment gap for youth, is mentioned in “Visions of Science and LLSF Launch Groundbreaking Shaw Visionary Scholars Program to Empower GTA Youth”. 

• Max Bell Foundation-funded research, which demonstrates how civic engagement can lead to change and challenge the feelings of powerlessness that drive disengagement, is the basis of article entitled "Encouraging young people to vote requires understanding why they don’t". 

• Rideau Hall Foundation-funded projects, which are advancing learning access for thousands of young people, are highlighted in "Rideau Hall Foundation Invests Over $4 Million to Expand Learning Opportunities for 16,000 Youth Across Canada". 

• Lawson Foundation support, which helped create the Sunshine Coast Foundation - among 22 community foundations across Canada delivering the Free to Play program - is mentioned in ”Sunshine Coast Foundation launches fund to support local outdoor play projects" 

• Azrieli Foundation's philanthropic contribution to the McCord Stewart Museum's accessibility program on the first Sunday of every month is mentioned in "Ogilvy’s Iconic Christmas Windows On Display at McCord Stewart Museum this Holiday Season". 

• Pathy Family Foundation's financial support, which enabled the creation of a new community-based Indigenous health clinic in downtown Montreal, is highlighted in “Une clinique pour Autochtones en situation d’itinérance voit le jour à Montréal". (A clinic for Indigenous people experiencing homelessness opens in Montreal). 

• Mastercard Foundation-supported EleV Program, an initiative which reflects First Nations University’s enduring commitment to Indigenous-led, student-centered education and culturally grounded learning, is highlighted in "Students Lead Powerful New Art Installation at First Nations University of Canada". 

• Mastercard Foundation gift to elevate innovation in academic programs, supports and services for Indigenous students is mentioned in "Roots in Reconciliation: McMaster reflects on 10-year anniversary of TRC’s Call to Action". 

• Mastercard Foundation-funded entrepreneurship program called Launchpad, which will allow the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation to provide early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs with practical business training, mentorship, access to early-stage resources, and a pathway toward long-term economic opportunity, is highlighted in "Building Pathways to Indigenous Prosperity". 

• Mastercard Foundation grants, that will strengthen the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation's ability to reach young people across Canada with reconciliation-focused education and will help University of Manitoba expand access to post-secondary education and support to its growing community of 3,248 Indigenous students, are highlighted in "Philanthropy is what Bisons do". 

• Definity Foundation Director of Climate and Health, Dana Decent, is quoted as stating "We make hope through our actions. Hope is a verb, not a noun, and we create it with every step we take towards a better future" in "How young sustainability leaders see the future of the climate movement". 

• RBC Foundation philanthropic gift, which helps the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation get closer to its $30-million fundraising goal for the new hospital currently under construction, is mentioned in "RBC Foundation investing $600,000 in new Prince Edward County hospital". 

• Peter Gilgan Foundation's philanthropic contribution, which will be used to establish the Peter Gilgan Centre for Early Cancer Detection Research, is celebrated in "‘Generosity of this magnitude is transformative’: Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation receives $50M donation". 

• Law Foundation of Ontario's financial support, which has allowed Peace for All Canada to launch the Community Legal Information Project - a cost-effective, adaptive model for delivering high-quality legal information and resources directly to low-income and marginalized individuals in Kitchener-Waterloo - is mentioned in "One for All and All for One: A Spotlight on Peace for All Canada". 

• Weston Family Foundation initiative, which helps consumers, researchers, health professionals and the food industry share science-based expertise and information about fermented foods, is highlighted in "Weston Family Foundation funds Canadian Fermented Foods Initiative". 

• Maytree Foundation, which noted in its analysis of the federal budget that “The missing ingredient in the government’s nation-building recipe is people, especially those who live on low incomes and who continue to struggle with the high cost of living”, is highlighted in "Carney offers 20th-century responses to 21st-century challenges". 

• Vani Jain's recent article in Foundation Magazine “Forging a Path: Philanthropists Tackling Underserved Issues”, which highlights funders tackling issues others often overlook, features Daymark Foundation for its leadership in women’s mental health and bipolar disorder. 

• Azrieli Foundation-funded performance and lecture series, which is dedicated to showcasing the multicultural diversity of Jewish musical expression as well as the ongoing intersections between Jewish and non-Jewish musical practices and communities, is mentioned in "Sound And Sense Jewish Music At York Launches Fourth Season With YIVO Centennial Celebration" and The Biennial Azrieli Music Prizes, which were created for the Azrieli Foundation to offer opportunities for celebrating excellence in music composition, is highlighted in "The Azrieli Foundation Announces 2026 Azrieli Music Prizes Laureates". 

• Northpine Foundation's support, which was inspired by StartWork's innovative approach to providing meaningful employment outcomes for refugees, is highlighted in "New social funding model rewards results". 

• Canadian Race Relations Foundation's conference “Finding Common Ground,” focused on combating hatred and racism, is highlighted in the Education and Public Awareness section of the "2024-2025 Annual Report: A Canada Where Everyone Belongs" from the Office of the Representative. 

• Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s National Anti-Racism Fund, which has helped fund Together Against Hate Durham - a coalition developing a community-driven public awareness campaign - is mentioned in "Taking a stand against hate in all its forms: Why collective action matters". 

• Mohammed Hashim, CEO and Executive Director, Canadian Race Relations Foundation, who provided summary remarks at the Globe and Mail's Finding Common Ground series of national conversations focused on systemic racism and policy needs in Canada, is mentioned in "Addressing systemic racism in Canada". 

• Law Foundation of Ontario grant, which will allow the Agape Center to empower community members living in poverty with the opportunity to access legal services, is highlighted in "Access to Justice Hub fills gap". 

• Law Foundation of British Columbia's philanthropic gift, alongside other donors, toward building a new Indigenous law wing allowing students at the University of Victoria law school to have a dedicated space to learn Indigenous laws and legal traditions, is mentioned in "New Indigenous law wing supports learning Indigenous legal traditions”. 

• Northpine Foundation's philanthropic commitment, which ensures a new Food Hub will run for the next few years and which already supports another one the east coast, is highlighted in "Farmers and their customers expand connection on Newfoundland's west coast with food hub". 

• Temerty Foundation, which continues its ongoing philanthropic support that allows the Royal Ontario Museum to showcase its world-class paleontology collection, is mentioned in "James and Louise Temerty Gallery of the Age of Dinosaurs reopens after exciting new expansion". 

• RBC Foundation (and RBC), who over the past 20 years, have invested more than $130 million to arts organizations around the world, reflecting their deep appreciation for the role of art in connecting our communities, are highlighted in "Tailored planning with RBC Wealth Management for your art collections". 

• Claire Trottier, who chairs the board of directors of the Euphrosine Foundation and is a director of the Trottier Family Foundation, recounts her struggles and concerns in “Un café avec… Claire Trottier, l’ultrariche la plus atypique du Québec.” (A coffee with... Claire Trottier, Quebec's most atypical ultra-rich woman) 

• Hal Jackman, who has donated about $200 million over a lifetime of giving to a host of causes, believes 'Everybody should be a philanthropist, if they can be' in "Advice from a Canadian billionaire: 'If you have money, give it away'". 

In Memoriam

Alban D’Amours (1940-2025)

The significant contribution of economist and philanthropist Alban D’Amours, who served on the board of the Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon Foundation and was a long-time member of the Board of Governors of the Fondation Québec Philanthrope Foundation, is recounted in “L’ex-président de Desjardins et apôtre du coopératisme Alban D’Amours est décédé" (Former Desjardins president and cooperative advocate Alban D'Amours has passed away) and “Alban D'Amours 1940-2025 : un bâtisseur au service de la coopération et de l'humain" (Alban D'Amours 1940-2025: a builder dedicated to cooperation and humanity). 

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