PROJECT CANADA: UNITED FOR CHANGE ---> READ MORE ABOUT THE BIG IDEA IN ISSUE #24 OF THE SLANT - SUBSCRIBE BELOW!
OUR FALL/WINTER GRANT ACCEPTANCE PERIOD IS CLOSED FOR NEW INQUIRIES. NOTIFICATIONS FOR ADVANCEMENT TO SUBMIT FORMAL PROPOSALS WERE ISSUED ON OCTOBER 15th. THE DEADLINE FOR FORMAL PROPOSAL SUBMISSION IS 11:59PM NOVEMBER 15TH. THE SPRING/SUMMER 2025 LETTER OF INQUIRY PERIOD IS NOW OPEN UNTIL MARCH 31, 2025. APPLY NOW!

Our Funding Philosophy

We like to do things
a little differently.

Our funding philosophy may not be conventional, but Bob Kerr wasn’t either. Our approach is governed by a set of principles rooted in his values. We’d like to think he’d approve.

We take risks.

We’re not just chance givers. We’re chance takers. We’re drawn to innovation, but only if it’s backed by a proven track record or the demonstrable promise of one. If we like what we see, often we’re the first ones in.

We’re just as interested in the nuances as the numbers.

Metrics matter to us, but we view them as just one part of a bigger picture, so we often look beyond them to the finer points of a charity’s goals and approach. We don’t let charities off the hook. We still ask tough questions. But we don’t just tick boxes. We like to explore the totality of their thinking.

We know how to cut through red tape.

Like Bob Kerr, we’re not fans of bureaucracy or waste. We figure leaders of charitable organizations have better things to do with their time than fill out byzantine grant applications, so we don’t make them jump through hoops. Check out our exquisitely simple application process here.

We don’t have to pretend with Robert Kerr. They’re like family to us.

We’re committed partners.

We see ourselves as more than short-term funders, so we don’t just write cheques. We find if we treat charities like family, try to understand their aspirations, and build relationships based on trust and accountability, they’re likelier to tell us if they’re struggling, and we’ll get to share ideas, mentor, troubleshoot, and better protect our investment.

We let charities run their
own businesses.

We assume organizations are the experts on what they do every day, so we don’t tell them how to operate. We stay in touch, but if they’ve proven themselves, and done so again and again, we’re happy to inject capital and let them fly.

Their willingness to roll the dice on us helped us launch fantastic new programs.