Our Purpose

Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) is the national leadership organization for Canada’s 191 local community foundations.

Together with foundations from coast to coast to coast, we help drive local solutions and national systems-level change on the issues that matter most to Canadians.

Our team works in a collaborative and networked approach with many partners from across sectors. We like to combine support for locally-driven solutions with ambitious and innovative national-scale programs that help local communities flourish.

Our programming targets pressing social issues in Canada, including youth engagement, gender equality, support for entrepreneurship and social innovation, and community-level connections with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among many other topics. In addition to our thematic programming, we also host a bi-annual national conference for community and private foundations, run the country’s largest community-driven data program, and host The Learning Institute, a resource centre for local foundations which provides programming guides, webinars, and events. Explore our Initiatives and News & Journal to learn more about our work and the issues we care about.

What is a community foundation?

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Belonging

“Relentlessly pursuing a future where everyone belongs.”

We believe in a future that is bright, a future that is just and sustainable, and a future that is not the status quo. A future where, no matter a person’s background, they feel a sense of belonging in Canada. We’re building a movement that connects community foundations, partners, and Canadians to make this future a reality.

We foster a space of belonging by following three foundational pillars:

Shifting power

We have a responsibility to shift power to those who best know the needs of our communities, as well as ensure diverse voices are at the table where important decisions about our future are being made.

Strengthening community

Resilient communities are strong communities. Investing and supporting all facets of community and civic life is at the core of who we are.

Taking the long view

We have the opportunity of taking the long view. The capacity to work nimbly and collaboratively toward systemic change.

Our History

Community Foundations of Canada was founded in 1992 to connect and support community foundations that were previously working independently across Canada. Since its founding, the community foundation movement has continued to grow. Today, more than 90% of Canadian communities have access to a community foundation. Our network stewards combined assets of more than $6.2 billion, and we’ve put hundreds of millions back into communities.

Community Foundations of Canada is connected to the Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF), as well as Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS). We are honoured to be connected to the global community foundation movement.