your community foundation

Supporting your community since 1974

The Brockville and Area Community Foundation is dedicated to encouraging the establishment of endowment funds, supporting charitable initiatives and strengthening our community for the benefit of all by providing leadership on key local issues.

  • The most visible and well-known function of a community foundation is to make financial grants to local charities. Local volunteers evaluate funding applications and make decisions based on the needs of the community and funds available. Grants are made to a wide variety of sectors, from health to heritage, education to environment, and many others.

  • The perpetual nature of a community foundation, combined with its local focus, makes it an appealing place for donors who want to strengthen their community. A community foundation has the skills and tools to work with donors to help them achieve their charitable wishes.

  • As an autonomous, volunteer-driven, and locally focused organization, a community foundation can work with charities, local government and citizens to identify community needs and encourage collaboration and cooperation amongst stakeholders.

Our FUNDS

The Brockville Area Community Foundation currently oversees 23 funds dedicated to various charitable endeavors within our community, encompassing areas such as; arts and culture, community development, education, environment, health, heritage preservation, recreation, social services, youth and seniors. We invite you to explore these funds to potentially align with your philanthropic interests. Kindly peruse them through the link below.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD

The Brockville and Area Community Foundation (BACF) has been a pillar of support for our region’s charitable section for 49 years, it was established at the time by a group of community leaders: John Broome, Thomas Dailey, T.A. Lindsay, Dr. J.W. McDougall, E.R. O’Kelly, A.C. Runciman, and G. Egerton Brown . This past year has seen significant change for our organization, one change in particular has been the retirement of our long-standing Executive Director Erik Wang, and the hiring of our new Executive Director Stephanie Steed.  This change brought uncertainty, but also presented an opportunity to paint a vision for the future of the BACF.

Through an update to our strategic plan, we have transitioned to a focus on growth and modernization, and have made significant progress:

We have taken a very deliberate approach to Board recruitment, and have added Board volunteers with fundraising, marketing, legal, and financial expertise. All areas that we feel will support our continued growth. It should be highlighted that 100% of our Board members donate both their time and their money to the BACF.

  • We have created and launched our new website, with a focus on a user friendly design for our partners and potential donors. Creating a fund, or donating to a fund is now only one click away. We have also incorporated elements of digital transformation into our internal operations both in terms of file management and security.

  • We have prioritized communication with our existing fund holders, while also focusing on forging new partnerships in the region. This all revolves around a re-invigorated marketing strategy aimed at raising awareness on the BACFs presence, our impact, and the opportunities that exist for partnership.  You might have noticed the BACF Instagram and Facebook pages as of late, please engage with us, and if you haven’t yet, follow! We want the public to know what we are doing, and how they can get involved.

As we move into 2023 we are going to elevate our focus on growth.  We are currently developing a 3-year operational fundraising plan which will put an emphasis on new fund development, and a return to events-based fundraising.  We are confident that our growth will continue, and that the region and its stakeholders will continue to see the value in creating and growing sustainable mechanisms for supporting our charitable sector. 

2023 will also be highlighted by the Community Service Recovery Fund.  This is a $400 Million investment from the Federal Government to support the Country’s charitable sector.  The BACF will be granting $320,000 to our region’s non-profit sector in 2023, with the application portal closing February 21.  This is excellent support for our non-profit sector, but also a catalytic opportunity for the BACF to advance on it’s priorities in the region.

As we approach our 50th year, we are excited about the prospect of strategic philanthropy in the region.  We can feel the ground moving, and we are optimistic that our team can make a difference.   We are always seeking new volunteers, new organizations, and new donors so please get in touch if you want to be part of this change!

Jamie Puddicombe

Board Chair
January 2023

View fullsize 🇨🇦 Happy Canada Day! Today, we celebrate the generosity, kindness and connection that make our community so special. At the Brockville and Area Community Foundation, we are proud to support the people and places that help our region thrive. Wish
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View fullsize 🧡SOLD OUT!🧡 Our Making Waves River Cruise is officially a sell-out event! THANK YOU to everyone who signed up to Make Waves with us TOMORROW, SATURDAY JUNE 28, 2025! 🌊 Event Reminders: 📍 Please arrive at Blockhouse Island around 6:40 p.m. a
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View fullsize 🧡 New Fund 🧡 We are thrilled to introduce you to the Beamish Family Endowment Fund, established in loving memory of David Beamish - a cherished husband, father, and community member. This donor-advised fund will support health-related initiatives
View fullsize ☕️🌳🧡 Join us for our third community coffee at @sweetofeliacafemarket on Wednesday, June 25th from 10–11 a.m. Come grab a coffee (provided by Sweet Ofelia’s!) and learn more about our Grow Our Roots campaign, a powerful 2-to-1 match o
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View fullsize June is here and that means graduation is on the horizon for many students in our community! 🎓 Celebrate the power of education with us! At the Brockville & Area Community Foundation, our educational funds support students from our local high s
View fullsize HELP US GROW OUR ROOTS! 🌳 Now through October 1, 2025 (or until matching funds are fully used), your donation will be tripled thanks to a special 2:1 match campaign! This opportunity not only helps grow our endowment, but also strengthens our grant
 

explore our latest impact

Impact
A Night of Gratitude and Celebration: Reflecting on Our 50th Anniversary Event
A Night of Gratitude and Celebration: Reflecting on Our 50th Anniversary Event

On November 15, 2024, The Brockville and Area Community Foundation (BACF) hosted an unforgettable celebration of 50 years of community impact. The event was filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and joy, as we gathered alongside our dedicated fund-holders, generous donors, and community partners. It was a night to remember, as we reflected on the incredible support that has made our mission possible for the past five decades.

The Children’s Mental Health Fund
The Children’s Mental Health Fund

The Brockville and Area Community Foundation is proud to announce the launch of The Children's Mental Health Fund, generously established by Jamie Puddicombe and Hilary Maxwell. This fund will provide support to Children’s Mental Health of Leeds and Grenville on an annual basis, helping to support the mental health of children and families in our region

The Brockville Healthy Families Fund
The Brockville Healthy Families Fund

The Brockville Healthy Families Fund was established by our Executive Director, Stephanie Steed, and her family. The goal of this fund is to provide financial support to local organizations focused on supporting families in the areas of: health, mental health, food security, safe shelter, transportation to safe shelter, basic needs and education.