Burlington Foundation distributes $300,000 -largest grant funding in its 25 year history

By Staff

November 28^th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

The Burlington Foundation announced the distribution of $300,000 in local grant funding, the largest single round of granting made from its Burlington Community Fund in the organization’s 25-year history.

This amount is a significant boost from the last cycle of funding from the Burlington Community Fund, thanks to the generosity of community donors who continue to entrust the Foundation with their giving.

These grants will benefit 33 charitable organizations to address important needs in our community. This year’s areas of focus included mental health, food security, the needs of children and youth, and safe housing, to name a few. Collectively, these grants will provide vital resources to community organizations working to advance the well-being of Burlington.

“Burlington is a deeply generous community, and we are grateful to partner with people and businesses that care about the well-being of everyone in Burlington,” says Burlington Foundation CEO Megan Tregunno. “As Burlington’s trusted partner in philanthropy, we have a unique ability to evolve with the needs of our city and bring research, insights and learning to residents who want to join us as donors and be part of addressing our community’s most vital needs.”

Those baking trays are a clue to how local Megan Tregunno is  – her grandmother, Norma Bidwell, was the longtime Recipe Editor at the Hamilton Spectator. “She was one of the first mentors in my life — growing up with her was a pretty special experience,.”

The Burlington Foundation’s annual granting program provides grants through its Burlington Community Fund – a dedicated unrestricted endowment Fund established to support the greatest needs of our community. This represents one cycle of funding provided by the Burlington Foundation on an annual basis. The Foundation stewards more than 100 donor advised funds, which are permanently invested and provide annual returns that are then granted back to the community year over year.

The Burlington Community Fund is made up of donations from the community and named donor-advised funds from generous individuals and businesses. These grants will support programs aimed at mental health (Capillary Wave Community for Men, Canadian Mental Health Association Halton), food security (Food4Kids Halton, Burlington Food Bank), and children and youth (The Lighthouse for Grieving Children, Centre for Diverse Learners), and more.

The need for these essential services is immediate and growing. A recent report from the Canadian Mental Health Association found that youth across Canada, especially girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, are more likely to struggle with their mental health and a lack of services. In 2019, 12% of youth-rated their mental health as “poor” or “fair.” In 2023, that number more than doubled to 26%.

Food security also continues to be a concern in many communities, including Burlington. According to

Statistics Canada, nearly 23% of Canadians – about 8.7 million people – lived in households experiencing food insecurity in 2022. This was an increase of nearly 1.8 million people from the previous year and was the second consecutive year of increases since the pandemic began.

The Burlington Foundation is proud to support these community organizations in the important work they undertake for the benefit of community well-being. Together, we are creating an informed, engaged and generous community.

About the Burlington Foundation

Since 1999, the Burlington Foundation has been our city’s trusted partner in philanthropy. Thanks to the generosity and vision of its donors and fundholders, the Burlington Foundation has provided $11.4 million in charitable grants to community organizations since its inception. Last year, the Foundation granted over $1.2M in funding to more than 120 organizations across Burlington and surrounding communities. The Burlington Foundation is part of a network of more than 200 community foundations across Canada, working to create communities where everyone belongs.

The 33 organizations receiving grants from the Burlington Foundation are listed below. While these organizations may represent a primary category, the intersectional nature of the social determinants of health means these organizations are addressing many important outcomes, such as improved mental health and inclusion.

• Art Gallery of Burlington– in support of the Youth Art Bursary Program
• ArtHouse for Children and Youth – in support of the CREATE 0 program, part of offering free arts-based programs for children and youth ages 7-17.
• Burlington Symphony Orchestra – in support of BSO Operation Youth
• Centre for Diverse Learners – in support of the Mastering Mathematics Program
• Community Development Halton – in support of the creation of a youth leadership team
• Community Living Burlington – in support of the Sibshops Workshop Initiative, which will expand the existing sibling support program for children and teens who have siblings with disabilities.
• Dare To Be Youth (DTBY) Charity – in support of the Building Bridges Program, which will help youth who are ineligible for programs after age 18.
• ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development – in support of the respite program
• Food4Kids Halton – in support of the Weekends Without Hunger Program, providing food to children in need for the weekend, when there are no school programs.
• Halton Food for Thought – in support of continued programming to provide student nutrition programs in Halton schools
• Halton Women’s Place – to support the creation of a dedicated Teen Zone, as there has been a rising number of youth ages 12-16 arriving with their mothers fleeing domestic violence.
• Re-Imagine Ontario – in support of the G.A.M.E. Program, which provides sports and mentoring initiatives aimed at male youths 10-17 years The organization has a particular focus on Black youth.
• STEM Camp Foundation – in support of STEM camp bursaries, awards, and scholarships (summer 2025)
• STRIDE-Supported Training and Rehabilitation in Diverse Environments – in support of the continuation of STRIDE’s existing initiatives to help youth employment outcomes.
• The Cedarbrook Society O/A The Darling Home for Kids – in support of the Opportunities Fund, which will help with the existing purpose of providing respite, residential and hospice palliative care to children.
• The Lighthouse for Grieving Children – in support of grief support programs
• YMCA Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford – in support of the Rise Up! & Elevate BIPOC Youth Program

Related news story:

Burlington Foundation gets new President