History
Winnipeg Foundation has experienced many memorable moments over its century-long history. Each milestone represents our community’s unwavering, collective generosity.
Supporting Winnipeg Forever
William Forbes Alloway established Winnipeg Foundation in 1921 with a gift of $100,000. He envisioned an organization built by everyday Winnipeggers that would support the community forever.
Memorable milestones
Winnipeg Foundation makes its first grants of $1,000, each to local organizations known for addressing poverty.
Elizabeth Alloway passed away and left her entire estate to the Foundation. Valued at more than $800,000, this gift was the largest ever made to a Manitoba charity and made headlines across the country. It was the first legacy gift to the Foundation.
William Alloway dies, leaving the rest of his estate to the Foundation, bringing the total Alloway bequest to almost $2.2 million.
The Foundation establishes a “Flower Fund” to help Winnipeggers memorialize a deceased friend or relative.
The Foundation’s Community Reserve Fund supports flood recovery efforts.
The Children’s Hospital receives a large grant to address the polio outbreak.
The Foundation begins to manage funds on behalf of charitable organizations.
New legislation allowed the Foundation to expand grants to arts, culture and recreation. Grants were made to The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Manitoba Theatre Centre, and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
A grant helps establish The United Way of Winnipeg.
The Foundation’s granting scope expands to include environmental and heritage activities.
The Foundation launches the Youth in Philanthropy program, giving local high school students a voice in granting.
The Foundation experiences unprecedented growth, marked by a $10 million gift from Israel Asper and a $100 million gift from the Moffat family.
The Foundation makes the largest grant in our history — $6 million to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
The Nourishing Potential Fund is established to support child and youth nutrition programs in Winnipeg.
The Growing Active Kids Fund is established to support educational, recreational and cultural activities for Winnipeg youth living in and around social housing neighbourhoods.
The Foundation releases Winnipeg’s Vital Signs® 2017, measuring the vitality of our community by identifying significant needs and trends, combining research with the results of community surveys and conversations.
The Foundation commits $1 million to support organizations in their efforts to work towards our shared goal of reconciliation in our community through a new Reconciliation Grants program.
COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants and Stabilization Grants support local charities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Foundation achieves Imagine Canada accreditation, which provides nationally recognized third-party verification of excellence in governance and nonprofit management.
Miriam Bergen leaves a gift in her will with an estimated value of $500 million, the largest gift to a Canadian charity by an individual.
The Foundation establishes a bold strategic plan, focusing attention on core community issues, while maintaining support and leadership for the entire charitable sector.