Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, with direct impacts on the wellbeing, safety, and prosperity of communities across Canada. Community foundations—rooted in place, with deep local knowledge and trusted relationships—are uniquely positioned to catalyze action and support community resilience.
Communities for Climate Resilience (CCR) is a national initiative led by Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) that supports community foundations in advancing locally driven climate action. Through practical learning, peer exchange, and hands-on support, CCR helps foundations integrate climate considerations into their governance, grantmaking, and investment decisions—while strengthening their role as convenors and community leaders.
What Communities for Climate Resilience offers
Over a 15-month period, CCR brings together a cohort of up to 40 community foundations from across the country to build knowledge, share experiences, and take action. The initiative combines:
- Expert-led learning sessions on climate and philanthropy
- Peer exchange and collaboration across the network
- Practical tools and templates to support implementation
- Coaching and tailored support from CFC and initiative co-chairs
Participants develop a clear, measurable climate resilience plan aligned with their local context and priorities, and leave the initiative better equipped to implement and sustain this work.
Focus Areas
CCR is structured around three core pillars:
Capital: Aligning grantmaking and investment strategies with climate action and long-term community resilience.
Data: Strengthening access to and use of local climate data to identify risks and opportunities.
Convening: Engaging partners, donors, and community stakeholders to build shared approaches to resilience.
Timeline
CCR launched in October 2025 and runs through October 2026, with ongoing opportunities for engagement beyond the formal program.
Key milestones include:
- Monthly learning sessions (October 2025 – February 2026)
- Virtual coaching and office hours (Spring 2026)
- Participation in the 2026 WINGSForum in Montréal
- Continued peer exchange and a cohort retreat at CFC’s 2027 Biennial Conference
Participating Community Foundations
| Campbell River Community Foundation | North Shore Community Foundation |
| Central Okanagan Foundation | Oakville Community Foundation |
| Clayoquot Biosphere Trust | Oxford Community Foundation |
| Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta | Philanthropie Lanaudière |
| Community Foundation For Kingston & Area | Philanthropie Laurentides |
| Community Foundation of Campbellford-Seymour and Northumberland | Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia |
| Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough | South Saskatchewan Community Foundation |
| Community Foundation of the South Okanagan | Similkameen | Squamish Community Foundation |
| Fondation Communautaire De L’Estrie | Waterloo Region Community Foundation |
| Fondation communautaire de la Péninsule acadienne | Westshore Community Foundation |
| Foundation of Greater Montreal | Whistler Community Foundation |
| Fondation Philanthropie Outaouais | WindsorEssex Community Foundation |
| Guelph Community Foundation | Yellowknife Community Foundation |
| Kw’umut Lelum Foundation | Yukon Foundation |
| Nanaimo Foundation | West Vancouver Community Foundation |
Leadership and Partners
CCR is co-chaired by Karel Mayrand, CEO of the Trottier Family Foundation, and Megan Tate, Vice President at The Winnipeg Foundation—both leaders in climate action and philanthropy.
Devika Shah, Executive Director at Environment Funders Canada (EFC), serves as a strategic advisor to the initiative.
CFC coordinates the program and serves as the secretariat, working closely with partners to support and scale this work across the network.
Outcomes
Through CCR, community foundations are:
- Increasing their use of local climate data to inform decision-making
- Strengthening their role as convenors and community connectors
- Advancing alignment of capital with climate goals
- Building actionable, community-specific climate resilience plans
Ultimately, CCR is helping community foundations move from intention to action—contributing to more resilient, sustainable, and thriving communities across Canada.
The CCR cohort will gather in person at the 2026 WINGSForum in Montréal for shared learning, exchange, and conversation on next steps, including how to advance and implement their climate resilience plans.
