Opinion | Canada’s foundations are independent and vital aspects of our civil society

Opinion | Canada’s foundations are independent and vital aspects of our civil society

Given recent headlines about the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, more Canadians now know the term “charitable foundation.” Few, however, know what foundations do. Indeed, Canada’s 10,000 foundations usually operate in the background, in partnership with the other 76,000 charities in Canada, and the many other non-profit and social-purpose organizations across society.

At their core, foundations are independent legal entities that operate solely for charitable purposes. Their typical operating model is to endow assets, which are received as gifts, invest them in perpetuity, with earnings used to make grants or deliver their own charitable activities — or both.

They make many decisions, from mission to investments to granting all toward bringing the country closer to the one we aspire to be. This exercise of independence must conform with the law. The work is an important aspect of civil society — an element essential in healthy democracies.

Civil society pushes, informs, and compliments the important work of business and government, to keep communities dynamic and vital. The work is premised on the principles of agency and independence to ensure sole focus on the common good, free from private or partisan interests.

Recently, however, the independence of philanthropy has been questioned.

These questions are understandable. Public scrutiny is legally built-in and is welcome. While foundations in Canada have a vast array of origins and purposes, they are all public-serving assets, as tax benefits were afforded for the gifts made to establish them. And so foundations are required to have audits and to file annual reports to the Canada Revenue Agency to maintain public trust and legitimacy. In addition, foundations are increasingly more transparent and collaborative, increasingly sharing their work with the wider public.

From issues as distinct as child care and the climate crisis, to decent work and diabetes, Canada’s foundations assist their partners on some of the most important issues of our time.

The strategic choices that each foundation makes — in its governance, its priorities, its impact — can be, and are — up to ongoing learning and debate. Philanthropy is a human endeavour and is always a work in progress. It’s the raison d’être of Philanthropic Foundations Canada — to strengthen philanthropy, in all of its diversity — in its pursuit of a just, equitable and sustainable world.

Canada and the world need more giving, more expressions of solidarity, more ambitious experiments in addressing our challenges, especially in areas where governments and markets are ill-equipped to provide solutions. Canada would be poorer if the work of any foundation dedicated to service, learning and community falters.

Our culture of giving, our trust in each other, regardless of background, and Canada’s foundations should not become collateral damage to the great stresses currently experienced by democratic societies and institutions around the world. I invite Canadians to learn more about the contributions of Canada’s foundations and to participate in their development and resilience.

Jean-Marc Mangin is president and CEO of Philanthropic Foundations Canada.

#Opinion #Canadas #foundations #independent #vital #aspects #civil #society

TOP