Canadian philanthropy, a “third way” and a third voice?
By Laetitia Gill Motte, a Montreal-based expert in philanthropy and co-director of the Master’s in Philanthropy at the University of Geneva. She notably spoke about the specific characteristics of Canadian philanthropy at the conference on the anthropology of giving around the world co-organised by Fondation de France and the Inalco Foundation last July.
Today, philanthropy is a fast-growing field of research, revealing the diversity of the cultural, political and institutional traditions that shape it. While the specific features of philanthropy in the United States and Europe are the subject of much research, other countries offer particularly interesting subjects for study. This is the case in Canada, where philanthropy is distinguished by the diversity of its roots.
Canadian philanthropy: multiple roots
While indigenous philanthropy predates colonial Canadian philanthropy, the latter developed from several socio-cultural approaches: British, French and American, along with the various contributions of its diasporas.
French heritage is particularly evident in Quebec, where the relationship between the State and civil society is deeply influenced by a civil law tradition. This encourages close partnerships between the public sector and private organisations, structured by codified rules, and underlines the role of the State as a regulator and active partner in financing and supporting association-led and philanthropic initiatives.
The British influence can be seen in community mutual assistance and common law, a system based on case law where judges’ decisions set precedents. Inherited from this framework, the regulation of philanthropic organisations continues to structure their governance and taxation.
The influence of the US philanthropic approach on Canada is clear, as evidenced by figures such as Redpath Webster and J.W. McConnell, a member of the first generation of Canadian philanthropists, inspired by philanthropists such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. In the 20th century, two philanthropic traditions emerged in parallel: in the East, a traditional philanthropy carried by the economic elites; in the West, a community philanthropy based on local mutual aid. The creation of the Winnipeg Foundation in 1921, a contemporary of the Cleveland Foundation, then the community foundations of Vancouver (1943) and Calgary (1955), illustrate the consolidation of this model in Canada. These two traditions – traditional and community-based – continue to shape the Canadian philanthropic landscape of today, marked by a balance between social innovation, territorial anchoring and collective engagement.
Canadian philanthropy shares with the United States a high level of civic engagement that nurtures a strong culture of volunteering and generosity, often described as the “joy of giving” and values individual responsibility and voluntary contribution to the common good. In both countries, philanthropy is underpinned by strong private sector involvement and powerful institutional foundations that play a driving role in social innovation, research and public policy.
Despite this influence, philanthropy in Canada is asserting itself as a complement to public action, rather than a substitute for it, as is the case in the United States. Historically, the Canadian government has provided substantial support for health, primary and secondary education and social services, which brings it closer to European models. Nevertheless, austerity measures reflect a relative withdrawal of the State in Canada in response to social needs, fuelling a crisis of confidence in institutions. This new political environment is redefining the role of foundations.
Immigrant diasporas are also helping to enrich and diversify the Canadian philanthropic landscape. This is notably true of Jewish communities who, since the 19th century, have been involved in large-scale philanthropic initiatives, especially in the construction of hospitals and support for education. This commitment continues today through foundations such as the Azrieli Foundation , which supports scientific research, education and cultural heritage protection projects.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, indigenous traditions have exerted a certain influence on Canadian philanthropy by reintroducing values of reciprocity, interdependence and respect for all living beings. These values encourage foundations to move beyond the transactional model of giving to adopt a relational and community-based approach, where giving and receiving are seen as mutual acts of responsibility. As part of the reconciliation process initiated in 2015 by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, these long-marginalised traditions are helping to transform philanthropic practice by encouraging listening, co-construction and power-sharing. They invite Canadian philanthropy to become a lever for relational justice and sustainable social transformation.
A historically discreet and cautious sector…
The professionalisation of the sector accelerated from the 1960s onwards and became more pronounced in the 1990s and 2000s, marked by increasing institutionalisation. These include Fondations Communautaires du Canada (FCC), the first network to professionalise community foundation practices, Imagine Canada , which champions the cause of Canada’s not-for-profit sector, and Fondations Philanthropiques Canada (PFC), the pan-Canadian network of funders.
Today, there are more than 11,000 foundations in Canada, representing around CAD 135 billion in assets and distributing almost CAD 10 billion a year (FPC, 2023). The legal and tax framework, which is closely supervised by the Canada Revenue Agency, is similar to that in many European countries. Although foundations are subject to strict transparency obligations, their public visibility remains limited, sometimes fuelling debate about their legitimacy and role (Imagine Canada, 2021).
Historically, Canadian foundations have focused on traditional sectors such as health, university education and social services. Fondation Chagnon, for example, invests tens of millions of Canadian dollars every year in social services in Quebec. Most foundations are shy about tackling structural issues such as tax reform, social inequality, decolonisation and the ecological transition. They give priority to supporting initiatives that are secure or innovative, but rarely subversive. Unlike in the United States, political divisions are less pronounced and international involvement remains limited, with the exception of the Mastercard Foundation, which carries out large-scale initiatives on the African continent.
...but one that is gradually evolving
In recent years, new priorities have emerged in the causes supported by Canadian foundations: reconciliation with indigenous peoples, equity and social justice, promoting collaboration, shared learning and the inclusion of marginalised voices. The fight against climate change is also gaining momentum. By joining the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change (IPCCC), Canada is joining a global effort launched in 2021 by WINGS and Philea. This movement is accompanied by the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change (CPCCC), which mobilises Canadian foundations to take action on climate change.
In addition, some progressive foundations are becoming more visible on the public stage, seeking to influence policies and support large-scale social change. The new Euphrosine Foundation , founded by scientist, philanthropist and public policy advocate, Claire Trottier, focuses on strengthening democracy and promoting human rights in Canada. Inspirit Foundation promotes inclusion and pluralism, for example by also funding programmes and a guide to support independent journalism, which is considered essential to a functioning democracy. The Definity Foundation takes a strategic approach to tackling social and economic inequalities, improving health and well-being, and contributing to climate justice through partnerships and community projects.
As a result, we are seeing the development of trust-based philanthropy that acts to promote social justice and reconciliation, sometimes involving significant direct transfers of assets to community organisations. For example, as part of its commitment to reconciliation, the McConnell Foundation transferred $30 million to indigenous foundations in 2023.
Trust-based philanthropy is still a marginal practice in Europe, but a significant one in Canada as a means of rebalancing power relationships. This philanthropic initiative further explores proximity, social justice and advocacy.
Canadian philanthropy thus embodies a middle way: less powerful and assertive than US philanthropy, but more structured and professionalised than in many European countries. It stands out for its consensus-driven character, its modesty and its growing openness to contemporary issues of social justice, equity, reconciliation and ecological transition. As such, it represents not only an original subject of study, but also a “third way” and a third voice in the international debate on philanthropy.