In today’s Funder Profiles entry, we look at The Peter Gilgan Foundation, a Toronto-based private foundation that “is all about empowering charitable excellence“. Founded in 2006 by Peter Gilgan, the Chairman and CEO of Mattamy Homes, The Foundation’s board aims “to improve the lives of children and families by empowering charities that help the world transition to a more healthy, prosperous, and sustainable future”.
Unlike many traditional funding sources, The Foundation embraces the rather enlightened practice of supporting ongoing operating costs for charities. Traditionally private foundations are reluctant to cover “overhead” since they believe this was diverting monetary resources away from the cause. The reality is it is extraordinarily difficult to separate overhead from programming expenses and rising number of funders such as The Peter Gilgan Foundation are acknowledging this notion.
Grant submissions are accepted throughout the year as there are no deadlines. Applying to The Foundation involves three (3) distinct steps:
1) Create an account at the Foundation’s online application portal;
2) Complete a short Expression of Interest, and;
3) If accepted, submit a Full Application.
The turnaround time following the submission of the Expression of Interest and the assessment by the Review Committee is approximately six (6) weeks. If the Committee decides that a submission is aligned with The Foundation’s granting criteria, that organization is invited to complete a full application.
If your organization is considering a submission, The Foundation “provides funding in three (3) priority areas”:
1) Children, Youth & Families
Driven by the belief that “all children, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, deserve opportunities to thrive”, The Peter Gilgan Foundation supports “charities that equip children, youth, and families with skills, resources, and opportunities to reach their full potential”. The Foundation’s grants “empower organizations that enable economically vulnerable young people and families to overcome barriers to academic success, economic prosperity, and health and wellbeing”.
2) Climate Change
The board of The Peter Gilgan Foundation understands “that environmental reform is both an absolute necessity and an enormous opportunity for economic growth”. To that end they are thoroughly committed to halting and reversing the effects of climate change, building a green economy, and strengthening community resilience. Its climate change grants support nature-based solutions, renewable and low-emission technologies, green building, and vulnerable communities.
3) International Development
The objective of this priority area is supporting projects in developing nations that address the following issues:
Maternal and Child Health: The Foundation supports “projects that reduce the burden of diseases, improve nutrition for new and expectant mothers and their babies, strengthen health systems, and promote access to clean water and effective sanitation systems”.
Education and Economic Opportunities for Women and Girls: Preference is extended to projects that “put women and girls at the centre of economies and, in particular, provide access to opportunity for women engaged in small-scale agriculture”.
In 2020 the Peter Gilgan Foundation maintained assets totalling $6,930,059 and allocated $27,497,648 to 93 projects nation-wide – the majority being situated in Ontario. Grant size ranged from $1,000 to $11,615,000 that addressed a range of issues including health, environmental, social services, education and economic development.
To learn more about The Peter Gilgan Foundation’s application process, you can visit their website by clicking on the button below:
