January 2025 Newsletter

Since our last edition...

• Our Board approved PFC’s 2025-2028 Strategic Framework, which is now featured on our website. Read all about it in Jean-Marc Mangin’s message to the community,  “Reflecting on 2024 to prepare for a tumultuous 2025.” 

• Sara Krynitzki took on the newly created position of Associate Chief Executive Officer. She will be working closely with the President & CEO overseeing thought-leadership, organizational management, and operations, while guiding PFC’s public policy and advocacy agenda, research, and public relations activities.    

• Please join us in welcoming Andre Williams to our team in the role of Program Coordinator, in which he will play a pivotal role supporting all aspects of PFC programming. 

PFC Updates & Insights

• The 2025 PFC Compensation Survey will open January 21! 
  Since 2001, PFC has conducted this survey to provide foundations with valuable operational data and unique insights into the grantmaking sector. The 2025 survey will invite all Members and PFC Supporters to participate. Watch your inbox for the email with your unique survey link—your input is essential to this important resource. The final report will be available in April 2025, free for PFC members and all survey participants. For more information and to make sure you are included, please contact Michele Fugiel Gartner, Lead Researcher. 

• PFC’s Sara Krynitzki has an article published in Policy Options entitled “Foundations underpin the structure of Canadian charities.” In it she shows how foundations contribute to the charitable sector, and how tax policy can be used to advance quality of life in Canada by helping foundations and charities build a better Canada. 

• As part of PFC’s partnership with Carleton University’s MNPL Program, four Masters students with diverse backgrounds in philanthropy, grantmaking, charities, public policy, and qualitative/quantitative research methods, guided by PFC’s Lead Researcher, Michele Fugiel Gartner, undertook a research project, which results are summarized in this Guest Blog post entitled: “Mind Blowing, Powerful, Deficient: Scoping Philanthropic Grantmaking Data in Canada.” 

• The Philanthropic Journal’s article “Why some foundations are not letting ‘risk’ stop them from partnering with non-qualified donees” explores important themes from PFC’s 2024 conference. Despite systemic barriers to funding traditionally under-resourced organizations and communities, some foundations’ partnerships transform community organizations that are often left out of the conversation. 

Upcoming PFC Programming

Good Governance for Family Philanthropy 
Info Session (Online) 

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 
2:00 – 2:30 PM ET 
Facilitators: Dr. Sharilyn Hale, C.Dir, Principal at Watermark Philanthropic Counsel and André Pawan Vashist, Director of Learning & Collaboration at Philanthropic Foundations Canada. 

This new 6-week program will offer an opportunity for governance exploration, learning and development for those involved in family philanthropy, regardless of what vehicle they give through (be it foundation, DAF, or business).  

Through a combination of governance theory, critical considerations, case studies, and practical tools, participants will gain greater knowledge of governance principles, approaches to apply them in their unique contexts, and tools to diagnose and solve common family philanthropy governance challenges. 

To learn more and to register, click here.

New Members

Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation

The Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation helps strengthen the relationships between Canada’s philanthropic sector and the First Nations communities of Atlantic Canada. The Foundation works with businesses, organizations, individuals, and families to achieve their philanthropic goals and offers six types of funds to benefit Indigenous qualified donees. 

Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund 

The Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund is an Indigenous-led, community-driven fund that supports Indigenous communities across Canada. Grounded in Indigenous values and worldviews, they provide grants and resources to initiatives that enhance community resilience and focus on supporting solutions that empower communities, advance sovereignty, and foster a resilient future for Indigenous Peoples. 

WES Mariam Assefa Fund (STEM World Educational Services)   

The WES Mariam Assefa Fund practices a trust-based model of philanthropy that engages flexible capital to address the diverse and interconnected needs of the communities they serve. Their goal is to unwind power imbalances in philanthropy, and their approach includes a commitment to participatory grantmaking, and emphasis on trust-based practices such as flexible funding and long-term operating support. 

Annauma Community Foundation

Annauma Community Foundation is the first community foundation in Nunavut, created to support Inuit communities creating solutions to the issues and challenges they are experiencing. Annauma connects caring philanthropists, corporate partners, funders, and governments with opportunities to invest in inspired community-based action to deliver funding and support that strengthens Inuit values, skills, and worldview and nurtures community relationships. 

Kw'umut Lelum Foundation 

The Kw’umut Lelum Foundation is the only Indigenous-led community foundation in British Columbia. It is led and stewarded by nine Coast Salish Nations and collaborates with a vibrant community of private and public donors, united in their efforts to expand cultural, economic, social, educational and recreational access in support of Indigenous children and their families. 

Member & Sector Job Board

• Grants Manager (2), The Law Foundation of Ontario 

• Director of Finance, The Canadian Race Relations Foundation 

Appointment and Awards

Appointments to the Order of Canada: 

• John Anthony “Tony” Boeckh, C.M. founder of the Graham Boeckh Foundation, has been an early and dedicated champion of youth mental health. With leading global experts, he has established new, successful strategies to transform Canada’s mental health care system. His targeted philanthropy has created integrated youth mental health services. 

• Louise MacCallum and Michael Barnstijn, founders of the Musagetes Foundation, are dedicated and purposeful philanthropists. Through discreet donations totalling several dozens of millions, they have supported various causes, notably sustainable environmental and cultural initiatives. Committed volunteers, they are also the founders of the rare Charitable Research Reserve urban land trust. 

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

Member & Sector Insights

• The second edition of the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, funded in part by the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation, reports that screens are ever-present in the lives of toddlers. 

• Imagine Canada’s "Addressing The Nonprofit Data Deficit: A 25 Year Review" provides an overview of a quarter century of reports on the state of data in and about the nonprofit sector, ultimately recommending establishing a Home in Government and prioritization of nonprofit data; filling capacity gaps with intermediaries and sectoral leadership; and, provisioning more data and better access to existing data. 

• United Church of Canada Foundation's 2024 Wrapped webinar recording with Jim Simpson (Board Chair), and Sarah Charters (President), gives insights on the Foundation’s work in 2024 and how it shapes its plans for the coming year(s). 

• This Chronicle of Philanthropy article entitled "DAFs, Wall Street, and the Changing Culture of Giving", argues that altruism in the US is losing ground to greed and self-interest as donations increasingly get structured as personal investments. 

• MakeWay's "2024 Year in Review: Learning Together, Deepening Impact" shows what incredible things can happen when committing to meaningful change, shifting power and systems, and more deeply engaging in continued learning and unlearning. 

• Canadian Race Relations Foundation, whose expertise was shared during the Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime's consultation, is recognized in the "Strengthening Access to Justice for Victims of Hate Crime in Canada Study." 

• WINGS article, “Another disappointing COP? Three takeaways for philanthropy from COP29” underscores how: 1. COP29 outcomes have deepened distrust in multilateralism; 2. Philanthropy must embrace its role as a connector, systems thinker, and advocate; 3. It must transform itself to redress historical inequity and work for those most impacted by the climate crisis.

Upcoming Member & Sector Activities

• The Definity Foundation and the Lawson Foundation are supporting and attending The People’s Social Impact Conference (January 29–February 3, 2025), a free conference open to everyone, ensuring no barriers to access, with sessions available online and one in-person day in Toronto on January 31. Over 100 speakers, including Arti Freeman (Impact Investing), Cathy Taylor (Future of Philanthropy), Mritunjay (MJ) Sinha (Community Wealth), will address social innovation, community resilience, and funding. Learn more and register here. 

Members in the News

• Balsam Foundation-supported program called Ontario Community Changemakers is mentioned in "Young Sudburian hailed as a community changemaker." The program recognizes 30 Ontarians who exemplify leadership and work on projects focusing on public engagement and creating inclusion in their communities. 

• Real Estate Foundation of BC grant is highlighted in “Wetland restoration to increase water access and enhance biodiversity on ʔaq̓am lands.” The grant is supporting enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem health, Indigenous culture and food sovereignty, and creating greater drought, flood, and wildfire resilience. 

• Alva Foundation grant to the Hastings and Prince Edward Learning Foundation is highlighted in "Alva Foundation shares with the Learning Foundation". The grant supports the Sharing Cupboards program and the new Rescue Readers program. 

• Weston Family Foundation’s Homegrown Innovation Challenge grant is mentioned in "A systems approach to health and agriculture". The grant was awarded recently to Toronto Metropolitan University researchers for the development of new sustainable agriculture technology. 

• The Calgary Foundation’s 2024 Quality of Life Report is mentioned in "Helping Hands provide Harsh Weather Haven for homeless". A key finding from the report is that nearly half of Albertans are now only $200 away from being unable to meet their financial obligations. 

• Trottier Family Foundation and R. Howard Webster Foundation's philanthropic gifts to the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation is highlighted in "MUHC cardiac surgeon wins $100K award for stem cell research". The grant supports outstanding projects at the Research Institute of the MUHC.  

• Solcz Family Foundation donation to the Miracle League program is highlighted in "Holiday concert to benefit special needs baseball league." The grant is helping support over 100 special needs children throughout the year, giving them an opportunity enjoy the game of baseball. 

• Future Generations Foundation grants are highlighted in "Book vending machine program unveiled at St. Catharines school" and "Employment gathering supports future generations in the work force". The grants support free Indigenous-authored books to students and help bring together youth, educators and Indigenous employers to talk about their plans in terms of hiring Indigenous youth. 

• Law Foundation of Ontario announced its continued partnership with the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF). It approved a grant doubling its previous investment, to support year-two of BOF’s Justice Grant Program. BOF’s call for applications is now open and initial grant disbursements are planned for early 2025. 

• Rideau Hall Foundation-led “Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships” will, for the first time, support initiatives at colleges and institutes as well as universities. This year’s winners are listed in "Prestigious Queen Elizabeth Scholars Program supports twenty-two international projects through Canadian post-secondary institutions." 

• Max Bell Foundation grant providing funding to support public policy advocacy projects is mentioned in "Max Bell Foundation grant helps TMU test AI’s potential for building a vibrant democracy." 

• RBC Foundation's community infrastructure fund to advance sustainability and accessibility is mentioned in "RBC Foundation grants big boost to Agapè Centre in Cornwall". 

• Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation-supported study is highlighted in "Children in vulnerable situations: Outaouais shows a high rate of 32.2%." related to five major areas of child development shows some improvement since the last survey 

• The Trottier Family Foundation's philanthropic support of the McGill Trottier Space Institute, which has helped advance our understanding of one of the universe’s most perplexing phenomena, is highlighted in this article entitled "Scientists link mysterious cosmic signals to collapsed stars." 

• Equality Fund's Strategic Partnerships Senior Advisor argues that "women’s rights organizations are doing critical work in Gaza but are dramatically underfunded" in opinion piece entitled "Women are essential to the peace process". 

• Azrieli Foundation-supported Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE)'s new podcast entitled "Who Cares", which will take listeners through the moments of joy and meaning, and also the hidden and, at times, difficult truths of caregiving, is headlined in this Press Release entitled "Who Cares: New Podcast Explores the Hidden Realities of Caregiving in Canada".  

• Mastercard Foundation's new partnership with the First Nations University of Canada, which sets it on the path to fulfill its vision since its establishment in 1976, is highlighted in "Autonomy on the horizon for First Nations University of Canada with new partnership." 

• Northpine Foundation's three-year grant made in 2023 to Men of the North, which has made a significant impact via a full-time paid group director, additional staff and an office and facilitation space in La Ronge, is highlighted in "Men of the North celebrates five years of supporting, engaging northerners." And, it’s philanthropic investments in Winnipeg, which prioritize gainful employment opportunities for people on social assistance and those who are precariously employed, are highlighted in "MTA offers free truck driver training to 90 eligible candidates in Winnipeg." 

• Chamandy Foundation philanthropic support, which helps the David Suzuki Foundation run The Butterflyway Project, whose community builders and nature lovers, artists and scientists, novice and master gardeners are commited to working together on native plant and pollinator protection, is highlighted in "Cultivating biodiversity across Canada with Butterflyway Rangers." 

In Memoriam

Joan Elizabeth Vanduzer, O.Ont. -  (November 26, 1940 – November 17, 2024) 

Joan Vanduzer’s firm belief in inclusiveness, culture and community prompted her to serve as President of the Lawson Foundation in the '90s, and then to start her own Harbinger Foundation. these two philanthropic organizations have helped thousands of Canadians, with Harbinger alone granting several million dollars across three decades. Read more here. 

Tracy Friesen (October 16, 1966 – January 6, 2025) 

Tracey Friesen was a bright light in the Canadian media industry. She built connections with people across the screen, radio, non-profit, social and environmental justice sectors. She brought them together to strengthen collective efforts towards a more inclusive world. Tracey’s collaborations with the Inspirit Foundation over the past decade had a tangible impact on the foundation’s work.   

Pierre Comtois (1943-2024)  

Mr. Pierre Comtois and his wife, the late Micheline, were among the most steadfast builders and ambassadors of the Foundation of Greater Montreal, where they created their fund in 2009 to support the many causes and institutions close to their hearts.

Get in touch!

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