This blog post is really an invitation for feedback about an idea. Foundation staff are actively doing our homework on the possibility of launching a new endowment to support nutrition programs in community organizations and schools. Having adequate food continues to be a major challenge in Winnipeg and, while the Foundation cannot solve this problem, we could augment and enhance the resources that are currently available.
About seven years ago, we introduced the Literacy for Life Fund to provide financial support for family literacy – intergenerational programs where children and parents read and learn together. It was a niche that we felt needed to be filled. Today the Literacy for Life Fund is capitalized with over $2 million and about 200 grants have been paid to community agencies. It has been rather remarkable to see how these modest grants are making a meaningful difference for local families.
Our research suggests that Winnipeggers are very sympathetic to the issue of food security. Everyone seems to agree that in a country with such wealth, it is simply wrong that children and young people should go to school or to bed hungry. Foundation staff recently met with representatives of about 15 agencies that have knowledge and experience in addressing this issue. We heard from a variety of different perspectives that there are many challenges.
The question we must ask ourselves is: should the Foundation, as a grant-making and endowment-building organization, take a stronger and more proactive stance on nutrition? We already make grants specifically into this area and, of course, we support a wide range of community charities that are also providing support. Where does the role of philanthropy end and public policy take over? Should public policy be providing more support and encouragement to philanthropy as an efficient and less costly alternative to government programs?
Our current idea is to create a $5 million endowment that would generate about $250,000 annually to augment the resources currently available to address a problem that does not seem to be going away. Providing nourishment to our children so they can reach their potential is obviously a good cause. My question is: would you be willing to donate to a special endowment-building effort or do you see community need in this area as something that must be balanced with many other good causes? I welcome your feedback.
