Canada’s 170 community foundations – a group that includes 45 Manitoba foundations – made grants totaling more than $140 million last year. While granting is down by approximately $25 million from 2008, the numbers show that foundations have continued to provide significant support to communities despite the financial downturn. Community foundations have also made huge strides in rebuilding capital over the past year, reaching $2.8 billion. These statistics were released last week by Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), a national membership group. Community foundations are endowment-based charitable organizations that distribute income earned on invested donations to a wide variety of local causes.

“We’ve all been through difficult financial times, but these numbers are heartening,” says Richard L. Frost, CEO of The Winnipeg Foundation. “We’re hearing good news from our colleagues across the country that recovery is beginning. We’re proud that foundations have been able to help our communities through this downturn and we hope that donors will continue to recognize and support the work we do.”

The Winnipeg Foundation, Canada’s first community foundation, was responsible for approximately 14% of the total national granting reported by CFC. The Foundation announced its 2009 figures in January, including a record $20.8 million in grants to more than 650 organizations. The Foundation received gifts of more than $19 million last year; combined with positive returns, these contributions brought the Foundation’s asset base back up to $443 million – slightly below its 2007 level.

A number of long-standing policies also helped the Foundation weather the economic turmoil. For more information on how The Winnipeg Foundation fared during the downturn, click here.

The first community foundation in Canada, The Winnipeg Foundation has served our community since 1921. The Foundation pools and permanently invests gifts from donors of all walks of life. Through its spending formula the Foundation make grants to charitable agencies in the areas of: community service, education, health, arts and culture, heritage, environment and recreation. During its 89 years, the Foundation has granted more than $240 million.

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For more information, please contact:

Richard L. Frost, CEO
The Winnipeg Foundation
P: 944.9474 E: Rick Frost