Over the past few decades the generosity of Calgarians has been great and the Foundation’s endowment has grown substantially.
With this growth comes a responsibility to lead change. We’re evolving into an entity that can take on some key issues in our community and rally resources around them. We call them our Vital Priorities.
Though we have identified areas that require greater leadership, the work we support is never siloed. It would be impossible to focus on one single priority because there are connections and crossovers among all the issues we face as a community. Priorities help focus some of our work, but one thing remains clear: we will continue with our robust 360º grantmaking process to touch every corner of our community. Through multi-staged consultations and extensive analysis of research, five vital priorities were identified.
Read about our Vital Journey.
Our Vital Priorities
Calgary Foundation will increase awareness and support endeavours that align with the Calgary Poverty Reduction Initiative’s Enough for All poverty reduction strategy in order to:
- Build inclusive communities
- Create opportunities to secure income and assets needed to thrive
- Provide accessible supports, services and resources
- Ensure equal participation for Indigenous people
Living Standards: Poverty Reduction is the first brief in a series intended to provide background and context for the policy landscape relative to Calgary Foundation’s Vital Priorities. As social policy goes, poverty is very complex because it lacks a clear definition and measurement; there are significantly conflicting perspectives on how best to reduce poverty; and there is a broad range of areas related to poverty policy development.
Calgary Foundation supports strategies that strengthen relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, that are built on mutual respect and traditional knowledge. In order to strategically grant for the most impact, it is necessary to study each of the priority areas to learn how to best support the work that needs to be done. This Impact Report provides insight as to how we might best affect change in this area.
- Acknowledging the land is an important part of reconciliation. To create understanding, acknowledging the land on which we stand honours the authentic history of Turtle Island (North America), its original people and the whole story of this land and this country. Learn more about Land Acknowledgement.
- Honouring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: Calgary Foundation stands in solidarity with the International Funders for Indigenous Peoples and The Circle for Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada to honour the memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada and to put the following calls to justice into motion to end violence, discrimination and violation of Indigenous women’s individual and collective rights. We encourage you to:
- Read the joint statement and calls to action
- Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Looking for ways to further your Reconciliation Journey? Check out our Indigenous Ally Toolkit.
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Promote a sustainable future through support for initiatives that:
- Educate and encourage individuals and groups to take action
- Strengthen the capacity of environmental groups to collaborate and develop community strategies
In order to strategically grant for the most impact, it is necessary to study each of the priority areas to learn how to best support the work that needs to be done. This environment Impact Report provides insight as to how we might best affect change in this area.
Environment: Pursuing a Sustainable Future is the second brief in a series intended to provide background and context for the policy landscape relative to Calgary Foundation’s Vital Priorities.
Promote a diverse arts sector that supports initiatives that align with Calgary Arts Development’s Living a Creative Life strategy in order to:
- Build community and engage citizens through arts participation
- Raise awareness of the arts as an essential part of creating a vibrant community
In 2010, Calgary Foundation and CADA gathered a group of leaders and visionaries in the Calgary Arts Community to answer the question: What is Calgary’s biggest need in the arts? If we could do one transformational thing in this area, what should it be? Calgary always seemed to lose artists to the bigger cities of Vancouver and Toronto. It was determined that an Arts incubator space was needed. In 2012, Calgary Arts Development and Calgary Foundation joined forces to purchase the King Edward School to create c-SPACE, a social enterprise that supports communities of artists, non-profits & entrepreneurs working at the creative edge of change.
Map and support mental health initiatives that:
- Ensure a coordinated community-based continuum of mental healthcare is available for children, youth and families
- Connect seniors to reduce social isolation
In order to strategically grant for the most impact, it is necessary to study each of the priority areas to learn how to best support the work that needs to be done. This mental health Impact Report provides insight as to how we might best affect change in this area.