The Guelph Community Foundation, federally incorporated in 1999 as a registered charitable public foundation, began its operation in 2000 with $13,000 in donations. The first fund to be established was the William K. Greenaway and Anne C. Bawden Fund, supporting our broad community as an unrestricted fund. “We are proof that people need not be fabulously wealthy to establish a named fund and we decided not to specify the use of the fund as the needs and priorities of the community are bound to change over time”, states Bill Greenaway, Founding Board Member and first fund holder of The Foundation.
The Founders Circle, our first donors who launched The Guelph Community Foundation, were comprised of 40 individuals and corporations in our community. “We wanted to offer a unique way for caring people to fulfill their charitable interests and strengthen our community”, states Ken Hammill, Guelph resident and Founder of The Guelph Community Foundation.
celebrating 10 years of giving & granting
2005: Received our largest bequest gift of $1 million from the late Normal Earl Webb. Our community will benefit from Mr. Webb’s generosity forever.
2005: The Musagetes Fund reaches over $1.5 million and still, to this day, remains our largest endowed fund supporting arts and culture with over $186,000 in grants.
2006: The elimination of capital gains tax on gifts of appreciated securities stimulated charitable giving. In just four years following this federal change, The Guelph Community Foundation has received over $1.5 million in gifts of securities.
2007: Our largest granting year with total grants over $630,000 to 110 community organizations.
2008: Launched our first Vital Signs report ... to help measure the health of our community and better inform us in our grant making, highlight issues and opportunities for donors, and serve as a guidepost for conversations and plans.
2009: Released our second Vital Signs report. In response to Vital Signs, The Foundation granted $50,000 to Building Vital Communities, a grant program developed to reduce poverty in Guelph and Wellington County. In Fall 2010, an additional $20,000 was granted to further support this initiative.
Today, The Guelph Community Foundation is home to over 100 funds and has received over $10 million in contributions in the form of cash, stock, mutual funds, life insurance, and bequests. We manage over $8 million in capital assets. Most importantly, we have distributed over $1.9 million in grants to over 500 charitable initiatives.