Fostering the Philanthropic Spirit: How the Ottawa Community Foundation Engages Young Donors

In a world constantly evolving and grappling with social, economic, and environmental issues, the Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF) believes in the power of philanthropy. By cultivating a rich culture of giving in Canada’s capital city, the Foundation not only works to address the community’s needs but also invites diverse voices and perspectives, including those of young donors.

Among the largest of Canada’s 205 community foundations, the OCF manages and invests $250 million in assets, supporting hundreds of charities across all sectors, with an annual granting average of around $15 million. Community foundations offer the opportunity for donors to set up their own named funds, pooling and investing them for long-term growth. The OCF also runs various grant programs that directly impact the community. The essence of the OCF’s work is encapsulated in two Greek words – philanthropy, or “love of humanity,” and synergy, meaning “working together.”

“When it comes to younger donors, we know they’re well-informed, engaged, and digitally savvy. They can be change agents, reshaping philanthropy as the donors of tomorrow. But the truth is that these up-and-coming generations can be the donors of now. We have seen this happen at the OCF,” shares Janet Adams, Manager of Philanthropic Services.

Kyle Slinn is a shining example of the younger generation leveraging the OCF to engage in meaningful, impactful giving. At age 30, Slinn set up the Kyle Slinn Foundation through the OCF, focused on the environment and projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gases. Being one of the youngest fundholders, he was drawn to the OCF’s adaptability in aligning with donors’ preferences, his focus being on the environment and curbing climate change. Inspired by a close friend who took over the care of a family foundation, Slinn aims to replicate that legacy of continual impact and bring his community together for a shared cause.

“It’s such a great idea, and I hope that more people in the city learn about it and do something they’re interested in,” says Slinn. He elaborates that a fund can be set up with no initial donation and can be built up over five years, breaking the misconception that substantial wealth is needed to start a charitable fund.

“For me, a big component is to try and encourage other people to do similar things. I do the same thing with the City of Ottawa and help them with their environmental programs to promote energy efficiency. You know, it’s all great and good, you can see all the advertisements saying ‘Hey, you should do these things’ but people aren’t really going to change their behaviour unless they see other people doing it,” shares Slinn.

He also emphasizes the OCF’s accessibility and ability to cater to individual preferences, “The Ottawa Community Foundation is this amazing organization that you can donate to and set up a fund with. They will do all that back-end work that can be really complex and expensive. Even if there’s no one to advise on decisions after you’re gone, the OCF will carry out your wishes so that the fund can keep making an impact.”

The needs of younger donors are unique. They often seek hands-on engagement and involvement when giving. Donors who set up a fund can leverage the OCF”s deep community knowledge to inform their granting. And they can learn about and directly support innovative projects on the ground through the OCF’s Community Grants Program. The foundation’s role as a community convener allows them to bring together donors, agencies, and other partners to address critical issues.

Apart from facilitating impactful giving, the OCF provides young donors the flexibility to approach giving in their own way. Whether donors are juggling career development or family, having a dedicated fund manager to assist them makes philanthropy easy. Young donors, like all OCF fundholders, can start a family tradition of giving to leave their mark on the world; they can also choose to give anonymously if desired. The OCF offers various fund types that allow donors to customize the structure of the fund, including funds that allow for immediate granting instead of the traditional endowment model.

The next generation of donors wants to engage organizations that seek innovative approaches and invite new ideas, particularly when it comes to investing. The OCF has championed responsible investing and has implemented an Impact Investing strategy which aligns with its mission and investment approach. By signing onto the UN Principles of Responsible Investing, the Foundation has incorporated environmental, social, and governance issues into investment decisions. Donors can feel good about how their fund grows, on top of how it grants.

As the landscape of philanthropy evolves, the OCF is ready to engage younger generations who want to make the world a better place. In its effort to harness ‘the love of humanity,’ the OCF continues to be an ideal partner for the donors of tomorrow, today.

Click here to learn more about the Ottawa Community Foundation and how to set up a fund.

This Content is made possible by our Sponsor; it is not written by and does not reflect the views of the editorial staff