Community Foundations of Canada

I recently attended the Victoria Forum, where over 800 philanthropic leaders gathered to discuss the future of Canada, our communities, reconciliation, public policy and how we as leaders can best tackle the complex issues in front of us. The environment was filled with courage, optimism and a commitment to “act”. I left reflecting on one important question on my flight back home: Have we over financialized generosity? Generosity is one of humanity’s oldest social technologies.

Some of the most important work we do is for people we’ll never meet. Every day, community foundations help communities navigate uncertainty, strengthen trust, respond to change, and invest in possibilities that will outlast all of us. Every grant creates an opportunity. Every investment reflects a belief in what’s possible. Every volunteer hour strengthens the fabric of community. Together, these everyday acts shape a future beyond ourselves.

If the disbursement quota (DQ) conversation begins and ends with a percentage, we are asking too small a question. The real question is how the DQ is working in practice, across different kinds of foundations and very different community realities. The DQ shapes how foundations plan. It influences how community foundations balance today’s urgent needs with tomorrow’s responsibilities.

Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) has submitted a 2026 Pre-Budget Submission to the Government of Canada, outlining key recommendations to strengthen community resilience, mobilize locally driven economic development, and ensure Canada’s charitable framework supports long-term community wellbeing. Today, Canadian communities are navigating a period of economic and social uncertainty.

Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) welcomes the Government of Canada’s continued focus on building a more resilient, inclusive and locally responsive economy. Many of the priorities outlined, including supporting communities, strengthening social infrastructure and advancing equitable economic participation, align closely with the work of community foundations across the country.

The Community Foundations Conference returns in 2027, bringing together leaders, community members, and partners from across the country. This national gathering is a space to connect, learn, and explore the ideas shaping the future of community philanthropy. We will gather in Winnipeg from June 1–3, 2027, for conversation, collaboration, and shared learning with peers from coast to coast to coast. Stay tuned for more details, including registration and program information, in the coming months.

CFC’s Annual General Meeting 2026 On June 11, 2026 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET, Community Foundations of Canada will host its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) electronically via Zoom video conferencing. The AGM is part of our commitment to the network and, as a non-profit organization, a legal requirement. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the past year, recognize the impact of community foundations across the country, and look ahead to how we can continue to serve our communities together.

This feels like an important moment to share what we’re hearing, following the release of Imagine Canada’s first analysis of the disbursement quota under the updated guidelines. At CFC, we are closely tracking how the updated DQ is playing out across community foundations, drawing on insights from our learning sessions, annual surveys, ongoing conversations, and external analysis.

The Transformation Storytelling Fellowship brings together passionate and ambitious young leaders who aspire to challenge the status quo through storytelling. This year, two Fellows are joining Community Foundations of Canada (CFC). They will bring an equitable and intergenerational lens into storytelling, with the goal of enabling systems transformation by exploring how transformation is unfolding across our network and what the next steps in our journey will be.

This winter and spring, CFC is focused on action — staying connected across the network and turning that connection into change. This work is building toward our next full-network gathering in Winnipeg, June 1–3, 2027. Strong community foundations are built through relationships — learning from peers, strengthening leadership, and working across roles, regions, and lived realities. The opportunities below are designed to support that work in practical ways.