Philanthropic Foundations Canada (PFC) and PhiLab are pleased to announce the release of the 2024 Landscape Report. This report provides a comprehensive study on the current state and changing dynamics of philanthropic foundations in Canada. It reflects the management of over $135 billion in assets by more than 11,000 public and private foundations and is a milestone in advancing philanthropic research and practice.
The Significance of the 2024 Landscape Report
Building on over a decade of foundational research, the 2024 Landscape Report synthesizes quantitative data and rich qualitative insights gathered from extensive interviews with foundation CEOs across Canada. This holistic approach offers a state-of-the-art snapshot of the sector, highlighting its vibrant and diverse nature, regulatory evolution, and emerging trends in asset management and grantmaking.
Key Findings and Insights
Active and Vibrant Sector: The report underscores the rich, unique history of Canadian philanthropy, shaped by cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity. It traces the historical development of foundations and the impact of new philanthropic tools, such as Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs).
Regulation, Assets, and Grantmaking:
Regulation: The evolving regulatory framework since World War II includes distinctions between public and private foundations, disbursement quotas, and the rise of nonqualified donees.
Assets: Despite significant growth in foundation assets over the past 15 years, balancing capital preservation with charitable mandates remains challenging amid market uncertainties.
Grantmaking: Foundations gifted nearly $10 billion to qualified donees. From 2018-2021, both public and private foundation giving grew by 23% and 72% respectively. Identifying specific grantmaking trends remains complex due to data aggregation challenges.
Canada-Specific Research Gap: The report calls for more Canada-specific research, moving beyond reliance on US and UK contexts. It introduces the Foundation Triangle model to provide a better conceptualization of how Canadian foundations’ purposes, approaches, and roles support Canada’s civil society.
The Partnership and Its Impact
This landmark report was produced through a collaborative effort between PFC and PhiLab, which created a postdoctoral research role specifically for this project. This partnership underscores the importance of investing in academic research to advance the philanthropic sector. By combining PFC’s practitioner network and PhiLab’s academic research expertise, the report offers valuable insights and paves the way for future research and policy initiatives. It emphasizes the need for greater investment in philanthropic education, intermediary organizations, and researcher training to build a more robust and insightful philanthropic landscape.
As we move forward, continued collaboration and investment in research will be crucial in driving the positive impact of philanthropy in Canada and beyond.
For more information on the 2024 Landscape Report and to access the full document : Français · English
Dr. Michele Fugiel Gartner is the Lead Researcher at Philanthropic Foundations Canada. From 2023 to 2024, she produced the 2024 Landscape Report as part of her postdoctoral research role, a partnership between PhiLab and PFC.