The Foundation is dedicated primarily to the social improvement of Winnipeg. It pools and permanently invests gifts from donors to support the local charitable sector, through grants in a broad range of areas, including; community service, education and employment, health, environment, heritage, arts and culture, and recreation.[2]
In 2021, the Winnipeg Foundation made $84.9 million in grants to charitable organizations in Winnipeg.[3] In 2020, it received over $187 million in gifts and distributed $73 million to approximately 1,000 charitable organizations.[1][4]
History
The Winnipeg Foundation was founded in 1921 with a gift of $100,000 from local businessman and banker, William Forbes Alloway.[5] Founding board members included Justice Robert Maxwell Dennistoun, Chief Justice Thomas Graham Mathers, Archdeacon R.B. McElheran, and Hugh John MacDonald.[6] In 2001, the Foundation experienced an unprecedented gift when it received a $100 million donation—at the time it was the largest gift ever made to a Canadian community foundation - from Randall Moffat and his family. Moffat is the former president of Moffat Communications.[5]
In 2003, The Winnipeg Foundation made its largest grant to date ($6 million) to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.[5] In 2012, the Foundation surpassed $300 million in total cumulative grants.[7] In 2014, the Foundation made $22.9 million in grants to 860 charitable organizations.[3] In 2020, it received over $187 million in gifts and distributed $73 million to approximately 1,000 charitable organizations.[1][4]
