Author name: Aruna

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When fundholders come together for collective impact

What's-up / /

We talk about Toronto Foundation being an engaged community and you can see it in action when our fundholders rally at pivotal moments to create collective impact. In recent years, the Community-Led Change Fund and the Black and Indigenous Futures Fund (BIFF) galvanized over 80 fundholders to pool over $1.53M in top-up funding for the […]

When fundholders come together for collective impact Read More »

We talk about Toronto Foundation being an engaged community and you can see it in action when our fundholders rally at pivotal moments to create collective impact. In recent years, the Community-Led Change Fund and the Black and Indigenous Futures Fund (BIFF) galvanized over 80 fundholders to pool over $1.53M in top-up funding for the

Gender-based philanthropy: Where did we go wrong?

Advancing Equality, Funding & Grants, Philanthropy / /

In March 2023 The Philanthropist published Toronto Foundation’s Nicola Hives’ reflection on our organization’s three-year learning journey via the Trust Collective, a group of women philanthropists and community organizations serving women and girls. “We made a lot of mistakes,” she says, but we also learned some important lessons. First and foremost: “We can’t let our

Gender-based philanthropy: Where did we go wrong? Read More »

In March 2023 The Philanthropist published Toronto Foundation’s Nicola Hives’ reflection on our organization’s three-year learning journey via the Trust Collective, a group of women philanthropists and community organizations serving women and girls. “We made a lot of mistakes,” she says, but we also learned some important lessons. First and foremost: “We can’t let our

Black and Indigenous Futures Fund: A new program shifts paradigms

Discover Community Organizations, Indigenous Toronto, Philanthropy, Uncategorized / /

Conceived in 2020 at a time of collective racial reckoning, the Black and Indigenous Futures Fund became a reality when we reached out to several donors to explore how best to mobilize philanthropy to tackle inequality in new and creative ways. A group of seed donors committed to a new way of doing philanthropy based

Black and Indigenous Futures Fund: A new program shifts paradigms Read More »

Conceived in 2020 at a time of collective racial reckoning, the Black and Indigenous Futures Fund became a reality when we reached out to several donors to explore how best to mobilize philanthropy to tackle inequality in new and creative ways. A group of seed donors committed to a new way of doing philanthropy based

The new Good to Give Guide is here

Uncategorized / /

Last fall the Toronto Social Capital Study revealed that Torontonians are not well, civic engagement has plummeted and a staggering 300,000 amongst us say they have no one to turn to. Based on those insights, we’re profiling 14 donation-ready organizations who are rebuilding social capital and creating systems change together. Five of the 14 are our 2022

The new Good to Give Guide is here Read More »

Last fall the Toronto Social Capital Study revealed that Torontonians are not well, civic engagement has plummeted and a staggering 300,000 amongst us say they have no one to turn to. Based on those insights, we’re profiling 14 donation-ready organizations who are rebuilding social capital and creating systems change together. Five of the 14 are our 2022

Family Can Still Come First: Leaving a Charity in Your Will

Advancing Equality, Donor Stories, Philanthropy, Uncategorized / /

When people start writing a will, they usually have one main goal: to ensure that family members and loved ones are taken care of. This is frequently the main barrier that prevents people from leaving a legacy gift to charity in their wills, because they are concerned that it will take resources away from family.

Family Can Still Come First: Leaving a Charity in Your Will Read More »

When people start writing a will, they usually have one main goal: to ensure that family members and loved ones are taken care of. This is frequently the main barrier that prevents people from leaving a legacy gift to charity in their wills, because they are concerned that it will take resources away from family.

Black Torontonians believe community can create change

Advancing Equality, Discover Community Organizations, Philanthropy, Toronto Insights, Uncategorized / /

The 2022 Toronto Social Capital Study offers important insights on the wellbeing of Black Torontonians.   Designed to assess the health of our relationships, the Study revealed stark differences in wellbeing depending on racial identity and for Black residents in particular.  As we celebrate Black History Month, we’re highlighting findings on the unique strengths and challenges

Black Torontonians believe community can create change Read More »

The 2022 Toronto Social Capital Study offers important insights on the wellbeing of Black Torontonians.   Designed to assess the health of our relationships, the Study revealed stark differences in wellbeing depending on racial identity and for Black residents in particular.  As we celebrate Black History Month, we’re highlighting findings on the unique strengths and challenges

Legacy of love: One couple’s commitment to chosen family

Advancing Equality, Donor Stories, Philanthropy, Uncategorized / /

The concept of chosen family – or close relationships with people and groups you aren’t biologically related to based on love, commitment and mutual aid – has long been one of the ways in which people find support and create community. For LGBTQ2S+ communities in particular, chosen family has often been equally as important, and in

Legacy of love: One couple’s commitment to chosen family Read More »

The concept of chosen family – or close relationships with people and groups you aren’t biologically related to based on love, commitment and mutual aid – has long been one of the ways in which people find support and create community. For LGBTQ2S+ communities in particular, chosen family has often been equally as important, and in

Small Gifts, Big Impacts

Advancing Equality, Donor Stories, Philanthropy, Uncategorized / /

A commonly held misconception about leaving a legacy gift to charity is that it’s only worthwhile if you have substantial funds to give. Many don’t even consider it because they feel their gift won’t be big enough to make a difference. In fact, a gift of any size can have a transformative impact – especially

Small Gifts, Big Impacts Read More »

A commonly held misconception about leaving a legacy gift to charity is that it’s only worthwhile if you have substantial funds to give. Many don’t even consider it because they feel their gift won’t be big enough to make a difference. In fact, a gift of any size can have a transformative impact – especially

Wills: Dreaded conversation brings comfort

Advancing Equality, Donor Stories, Philanthropy / /

Talking about wills can feel morbid or bring on feelings of dread and anxiety. After all, wills are most commonly associated with death and worst-case scenarios.   But people who’ve crossed this threshold resoundingly feel that talking about wills actually brings comfort. Two couples, Emma Lewzey and Ingrid Randoja, and Samantha Luc and Lars Bogglid, discuss

Wills: Dreaded conversation brings comfort Read More »

Talking about wills can feel morbid or bring on feelings of dread and anxiety. After all, wills are most commonly associated with death and worst-case scenarios.   But people who’ve crossed this threshold resoundingly feel that talking about wills actually brings comfort. Two couples, Emma Lewzey and Ingrid Randoja, and Samantha Luc and Lars Bogglid, discuss

Family bonds fuel new fund: 1 of 26 new funds later in 2022

Advancing Equality, Donor Stories, Funding & Grants, Philanthropy / /

Family meant everything to Filomena “Mena” Ricardo Mari. At sixteen, it’s what compelled she and her twin sister to leave home in the Azores, so that she could work in Canada to supplement the lost income of her critically injured father. Here she raised her own family and in more recent years, doted on her seven grandchildren—nourishing everyone with love and

Family bonds fuel new fund: 1 of 26 new funds later in 2022 Read More »

Family meant everything to Filomena “Mena” Ricardo Mari. At sixteen, it’s what compelled she and her twin sister to leave home in the Azores, so that she could work in Canada to supplement the lost income of her critically injured father. Here she raised her own family and in more recent years, doted on her seven grandchildren—nourishing everyone with love and

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