About Us

The Ottawa Community Foundation is a charity for charities. It leverages philanthropic resources to strengthen and empower the charitable sector in the National Capital Region and beyond. We create positive, systemic, and sustainable impact with engaged philanthropy, strategic granting, social infrastructure building, and community leadership. As an efficient, inclusive, and diverse giving platform, we support all charitable causes by helping philanthropic-minded citizens craft their legacies and make the community a better place for all.

Our Role

We Make Philanthropy Easy

  • Nimble response to windows of opportunity
  • Transactional excellence
  • Regulatory expertise in Canadian Revenue Agency guidelines
  • Support for the broadest spectrum of causes
  • Flexible gift vehicles from permanent endowments to flow-through

We Offer Dependable Asset Management and Governance

  • Top calibre, nationally-recognized Board appointed by an external Nominations Committee chaired by the Governor of the Bank of Canada
  • Enviable expertise on committees
  • Excellent track record with return on investments
  • Leading edge initiatives such as Responsible/Impact Investing

We Offer Deep Community Knowledge, Collaboration and Innovation

  • In-depth knowledge of local needs and issues
  • Users can view and act on a wide-range of indicators through the Ottawa Insights platform,
  • Collaborative approaches to addressing critical issues, through initiatives such as the New Leaf Community Challenge
  • Increased focus on social enterprise, capacity-building, collaborative grant making and the leveraging of partnerships.

We are Part of a National Movement through Community Foundations of Canada

  • 191 community foundations
  • Serving 86% of Canadian municipalities
  • Managing $5.2 Billion in Assets

Vision, Mission, Values

Our Vision

Ottawa fulfills its potential as a healthy, inclusive, environmentally balanced, culturally and economically vibrant city.

Our Mission

The Ottawa Community Foundation works with stakeholders as a trusted partner to bring about positive, systemic and sustainable change in our community and beyond.

Our Values

Integrity

We are built on principles of trust, fairness, transparency and accountability.

Collaboration

We embrace diverse voices and perspectives. We nurture our relationships.

Community Centred

We respect and support our community’s strengths and opportunities.

Humility

We recognize the contributions of others.

Leadership

We foster conditions for progress and innovation.

Reflection

We reflect on our work to evolve and improve. We listen, learn and adapt.