January 2024 Newsletter

Shining a light on the year ahead... Message from PFC's President & CEO

The challenges faced in Canada and around the world throughout 2023 have been undeniably daunting, from deep-seated housing and affordability challenges, to the accelerating impacts of climate change, to armed conflict with devastating civilian casualties – and more.

Yet, within the context of our daunting collective challenges, the commitment and belief for change and making a difference across PFC’s network is what stands out to me and what gives me hope and optimism. I am awed meeting people every day who are responsible for stewarding and sharing our philanthropic resources rising to the occasion, with tremendous intention, purpose, and humility.  

Similarly, I am inspired by the dedication of PFC’s sensational board and staff, and the incredible partners we work with to strengthen philanthropy for a more just, equitable and sustainable world.

Read Jean-Marc Mangin's full message in our President & CEO's Blog here.

Since our last edition...

• We have received many inspiring proposals for speakers for our upcoming TOGETHER 25 National Conference! Don’t forget to submit a speaker nominations here before January 31 (extended deadline), and check out our programming streams and potential sessions here.

• We have been continuing with our strategic planning consultation process, and will be holding more in-person and online focus groups and one-on-ones in the coming weeks. In the meantime, don’t forget to fill out our Strategic Directions Feedback Survey.

• Our 2024 membership renewal campaign is ongoing - thank you to everyone who has renewed, and we look forward to collaborating throughout 2024!

• In case you missed it, CRA released the finalized guidance on granting to non-qualified donees. Have a look at the new guidelines here, and see below for opportunities to learn more from us on the new guidelines and what they mean for the PFC network. 

PFC Updates & Insights

• PFC and some member foundations are exploring the possibility of putting together an affinity group for family foundations. If you are interested in joining a steering committee to help define the group and set the agenda for a kick-off meeting, please get in touch! 
• Following the first year of implementation, signatories of The Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change (CPCCC) have shared their journeys through our CPCCC YEAR 1 Report, launched last month. Download the report here, and enjoy reading it, sharing it with your network, and perhaps allowing it to inspire you to join the commitment, if you have not already!
• In case you missed it, check out our new Funding Journalism: A Guide for Canadian Philanthropy resource, developed in collaboration with Inspirit Foundation and the Local News Research Project at Toronto Metropolitan University.

PFC Programming: January-February

Together 25 Webinar: Introduction to Impact Investing for Foundations

Tuesday, January 23, 2024
3 PM AT | 2 PM ET | 1 PM CT| 12 PM MT | 11 AM PT (Online)
Speakers: Kelly Gauthier, President, Rally Assets
Edmund Piro, Chief Investment Officer, McConnell Foundation 

This is an introductory session on the basics of impact investing – what it is, what it is not, and how foundations use impact investing as a strategy to align their assets with their mission. This is the inaugural session of our Together25 Webinar Series, gearing up for our national conference in September!

Communications Affinity Group

Thursday, January 25, 2024
2 PM AT | 1 PM ET | 12 PM CT| 11 AM MT | 10 AM PT (Online)

For this first session of the year, we'll be discussing what participants are looking to learn and discuss in 2024, and also exchange on professional goals and priorities for the year. Join us to help shape the agenda for this affinity group for the year ahead!  

CEO Peer Support Group Call

Thursday, February 1, 2024
4 PM AT | 3 PM ET | 2 PM CT| 1 PM MT | 12 PM PT (Online)
Topic: Working with non-qualified donees
Speaker: Jehad Aliweiwi, Executive Director of Laidlaw Foundation

Following the CRA's recent release of the the long-awaited guidance on working with non-qualified donees (NQDs), this call will highlight some key elements of the new guidance and potential ways in which to work with NQDs. Our speaker will also focus on the importance of foundations working with NQDs. Please note, this call is for PFC member Executive Directors/CEOs only (or equivalent title). 

Funders' Role in the Data Ecosystem

Thursday, February 8, 2024
2 PM AT | 1 PM ET | 12 PM CT| 11 AM MT | 10 AM PT (Online)

Jointly hosted by the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR), Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN), Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), and Philanthropic Foundations of Canada (PFC), this gathering designed for CEOs will build on the November 30 kick-off meeting to bring those who were unable to attend into the conversation around funders' roles in the nonprofit and philanthropic data ecosystem.

Together 25 Webinar: Granting to Non-qualified Donees: Finalized CRA Guidelines & Practical Considerations

Wednesday, February 14, 2024
2 PM AT | 1 PM ET | 12 PM CT| 11 AM MT | 10 AM PT (Online)

In this webinar, participants will be provided with a high-level overview of the rules and the guidance, practical examples to consider in partnering with NQDs, and information about a forthcoming resource to support foundations in these types of partnerships.

Program and Grantmaking Staff Affinity Group 

Friday, February 16, 2024
2 PM AT | 1 PM ET | 12 PM CT| 11 AM MT | 10 AM PT (Online)

Join this dynamic online sessions designed to offer peer-driven collaboration, professional development and networking opportunities. Topic to be announced soon - stay tuned!

Communications Affinity Group

Thursday, February 22, 2024
2 PM AT | 1 PM ET | 12 PM CT| 11 AM MT | 10 AM PT (Online)

Join the next session of our monthly meetings to discuss important or emerging strategic communications and public affairs issues relevant to Canadian foundations and philanthropy. Topic to be announced soon - stay tuned!

Engaging as Stewards in
the Nonprofit & Philanthropic Data Ecosystem

Tuesday, February 27, 2024
2 PM AT | 1 PM ET | 12 PM CT| 11 AM MT | 10 AM PT (Online)

Building on our initial conversations to explore our roles in the data ecosystem, we are bringing together funders and collaborators interested in acting as stewards to cultivate the nonprofit and philanthropic data ecosystem. As a collective, we will discuss how to advance a thriving digitally enabled data ecosystem that centers the needs of nonprofits and charities.

Spring 2024 Programming Preview

CEO Peer Support Group

• March 7, April 4 - learn more and register here.

Communications Affinity Group

• March 21, April 18, May 23, June 20 - learn more and register here

Investment Roundtable

• March 26, June 11 - learn more here and save the date

Healthy Aging Affinity Group

• March 27 - learn more here and save the date

Regional Member Gatherings

• Save the dates for our spring regional gatherings: March 27 (Montreal), April 9 (Toronto), May 7 (Ottawa-Gatineau), June 14 (Vancouver), June 17 (Calgary)

Program and Grantmaking Staff Affinity Group (PGSAG)

• April 19, June 7 - learn more and register here

CEO Retreat

• May 13-15 - learn more here and save the date

Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change

• Dates to be announced soon - stay tuned!

TOGETHER 25 Webinar Series

• Additional dates and details to be announced soon - stay tuned! 

Check out the event page on our website for
full calendar, registration information, and event updates

New PFC Members

Aqueduct Foundation

A warm welcome to Aqueduct Foundation - one of the largest grantmakers in Canada and a pioneer in flexible granting. Founded in 2006, Aqueduct is managed by Scotiatrust, which is part of Scotia Wealth Management, and is based in Vancouver. Aqueduct has donors from across Canada, and makes grants to registered charities and qualified donees anywhere in the country. As a cause neutral foundation, Aqueduct  supports the charitable priorities of its donors, with each donor advised fund, or personal foundation, having its own mission and charitable priorities.​​​ 

Thistledown Foundation

A warm welcome to the Thistledown Foundation, a private foundation based in Ottawa, whose core mission is to advance technological solutions for decarbonization. This remains their long-term goal, however in light of the global pandemic, Thistledown has responded to the urgent need for all citizens to step up in any way they can by pivoting its team and resources to focus on accelerating academic research projects, and improving domestic supply chain for PPE.​​

Member & Sector Job Board

• Board member positions, The Counselling Foundation of Canada
• Communications Director, Trottier Family Foundation
• Impact Investment Analyst, McConnell Foundation
• Program Associate, McConnell Foundation
• Engagement and Development Manager, KBF CANADA
• Administrative & Gift Coordinator, The Jarislowsky Foundation
• Program Manager, Conservation – Weston Family Foundation

Member & Sector Insights

• Using the correct version of CRA’s Form T3010 - Important Notice: Charities with fiscal periods ending on or before December 30, 2023, should file their T3010 using version 23. Charities with fiscal periods ending on or after December 31, 2023, must file their T3010 using version 24. If your charity sends an outdated version, CRA will not accept the return for filing and your charity’s registered status may be revoked. Learn more here. The CRA is also conducting a research survey on user experience filing the Form T3010, Registered Charity Information Return. Click here to respond to the survey.

• Future of Good’s article: “Major victory’ or disappointment? Mixed reviews on whether new CRA guidance will spur more granting to non-qualified donees” presents the recent debate around the new CRA guidelines.  

• The Philanthropist Journal’s article “The decision to step down: Reflections from four foundation leaders” features the wise thoughts of Bruce Lawson, former President and CEO of Counselling Foundation of Canada; Laura Manning former Executive Director of the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation; Sandy Houston, former President and CEO of the Metcalf Foundation, and Marcel Lauzière, outgoing President and CEO of the Lawson Foundation.  

• The Metcalf Foundation announced Jamison Steeve as its new President and CEO effective February 5, 2024, succeeding Sandy Houston in the role. Read details here.

• Imagine Canada is inviting you to share your thoughts to help shape their future detailed proposals around their vision for a home in government for the nonprofit sector.  

• Private Giving Foundation, TD Wealth’s report “Trust and Transformation: Canadian Women and Philanthropy” highlights trust as an essential ingredient in women’s philanthropy, influencing whom they seek input from on deciding where to give, and choices around when and how much they continue to give. 

• Spitfire Strategies’ new Trust Guide and Toolkit, “Replenishing Trust: Civil Society’s Guide to Reversing the Trust Deficit,” offers promising practices for civil society leaders to try to increase trust. (USA context) 

• Imagine Canada's report "Journey to Impact: Unlocking Purpose through Social Finance" sheds light on how a focus on social impact and sustainability drives collaborative partnerships. 

• The Philanthropist Journal published Hilary Pearson’s Review of Jacob Harold’s book “The Toolbox: Strategies for Crafting Social Impact” in which she concludes that “kindness is his guiding thread, and a summation of this optimistic book’s belief in the why of social change.” 

• This Ontario Nonprofit Network report “Boosting Ontario’s prosperity and innovation through social procurement” believes nonprofit social enterprises and cooperatives can optimize Ontario government’s purchasing power while increasing economic opportunities for all.  

• The Systems Sanctuary's research paper "The Art of Scaling Deep", referred to in New Power Lab’s weekly Equity Shots, is designed to equip the change sector with a more inclusive, expansive, and powerful approach to tackling the myriad challenges we face.

• Trottier Family Foundation's board member, Claire Trottier, speaks briefly to the media bout wealth redistribution and wealth taxes in this interview. 

• Hilary Pearson makes sense of the year behind and the year ahead in “What Next for Philanthropy in 2024?”  

• BNP Performance philanthropique/BNP Goldie Canada's VP, Daniel Lanteigne, shares his "Top 11 list of what to expect in 2024 for philanthropy" here (in French only).

Upcoming Member & Sector Activities

• Community Foundations of Canada panel discussion on Impact Investing in Housing (Jan 23 @ 1 PM ET) facilitated by PFC Board member Mritunjay (MJ) Sinha: Discover how community foundations can lead in impact investing by prioritizing local needs and fostering collaborative initiatives that support affordable housing. Learn more and register here.  

• Jointly register until Jan 26 for the 2024 Funders Forum and the National Alliance to End Homelessness's 2024 Innovations and Solutions for Ending Unsheltered Homelessness, to be held on Mar 4 in San Francisco, which will explore the intersections of housing and racial justice. Learn more and register here. 

• Karma & Cents’ In conversation with… Rhodri Davies (Feb 8 @ 12 PM ET) will answer the question "What is philanthropy for?". Register here. 

• Free self-paced introductory virtual Gender Lens Investing 101 (GLI) course (starting Feb 12), designed for all Canadian accredited investors who are eager to begin or advance their understanding of GLI principles. Learn more and enroll here.

• The next meeting of the SOGI Funders’ Affinity Group is on Feb 14, 2024. This is a pan-Canadian network of philanthropic and government funders initiated in 2022, which supports efforts to strengthen collaboration, provides a forum for knowledge exchange and helps members maximize their impact in supporting the 2SLGBTQi+ community. Register here.

• Law Foundation of Ontario’s 2024 Guthrie Award call for nominations is open until Apr 5. Nominate individuals here. 

• The Foundation, Endowment & Not for Profit Investment Summit, Canada’s longest-running event for the investment community, is taking place on May 1 & 2 in Toronto. Learn more and register here. 

• Future of Good's Social Finance Summit will take place June 12-13. To learn more and register click here.

Members in the News

• RBC Foundation-funded Youth Outlook Study conducted by Ipsos asks young Canadians about their lives in Study reveals that young Canadians are excited about the future – but are they ready for it? 

• Canadian Race relations Foundation’s Executive Director, Mohammed Hashim, on CBC’s Ontario Today discusses why it’s so hard to report hate and how to close that gap. 

• A Solcz Family Foundation donation helps reopen a special Food Bank closed since October in Kids First Food Bank preparing to reopen to the public.

• Ivey Foundation’s president Bruce Lourie states it was Alberta’s deregulated electricity market that exacerbated pressures on the province’s grid in Experts take issue with Premier Smith chastising renewables during Alberta grid crisis.

• A Trottier Family Foundation gift helps the University of Toronto procure and distribute thousands of pairs of eclipse glasses to classrooms across Canada in Eclipse 2024: How U of T is helping with solar eclipse viewing and education.

• Northpine Foundation’s Impact Director, Sara Tessier states that “Everybody does have a right to an education” in Halifax group working to help people earn university degrees from prison. 

Get in touch!

Are you a PFC member and have news to share with our broader network?
Get in touch to share your updates