On April 16 2026, PhiLab hosted a webinar on the growing movement of limited-life foundations, also known as sunsetting foundations. Since their emergence just over a century ago, philanthropic foundations have largely been designed to operate in perpetuity, preserving and growing their capital indefinitely. However, in a context marked by escalating social and environmental challenges, and driven by a desire to maximize impact, an increasing number of foundations are moving away from this traditional model. Instead, they are choosing to spend down their assets within a defined timeframe and cease operations after achieving specific goals.
The webinar provided an introduction to this alternative philanthropic approach. Drawing on the findings of a literature review, research assistants David Grant-Poitras and Sacha-Emmanuel Mossu presented an overview of the limited-life foundation movement, including its historical development, the motivations behind its growth, its commonly cited advantages and challenges, and key considerations for managing a foundation’s closure.
The second part of the webinar featured Dr. Bruce Lourie, President of the Ivey Foundation, who shared his organization’s experience with spending down its assets. After nearly 80 years of operation, the Toronto-based foundation has committed to deploying all of its capital between 2023 and 2027 in order to accelerate Canada’s energy transition. His presentation offered valuable insights into the practical realities, opportunities, and strategic considerations involved in winding up a philanthropic foundation.
