Community Foundations

Community Foundations bring together people who care about their communities. They are independent, volunteer-driven charitable organizations that aim to strengthen their communities by facilitating philanthropy, by partnering with donors to build permanent endowments and other funds from which they support community projects, and by providing leadership on issues of broad community concern.

Founded on trust, Community Foundations help donors achieve their charitable goals and invest financial capital in their communities. But they also stimulate and nurture the relationships that link us to others and that create our sense of belonging to a community. These vital connections are called “social capital,” and they are linked to many measurements of community and individual well-being. Community Foundations, experienced in building financial capital for their communities, also have a leadership role in building social capital—the glue that holds communities together.

In 2010 it was reported that there are 173 community foundations operating as members of the Community Foundations of Canada. In 2008 alone, these organizations contributed $169 million in grants to their communities and have combined assets of over $2.4 billion.