- What is ENGAGE!?
- What does joining the program mean?
- What would I be committing myself to?
- Will I be solicited for money?
- Who is involved?
- What is the Community Foundation of Ottawa?
- Can I set up a fund at the Community Foundation before I'm successful? What's the minimum amount required?
- What are the benefits?
- Will my information be shared with fundraising organizations or any other organizations?
- Will I be able to support my alma mater elsewhere in Canada through the Community Foundation?
- I already support other local charities. Will this compete with my relationships there?
- Can I involve my family in this?
- Can my company be included in this?
- I'd like to help somehow, but I don't know what the needs are in the community. Can the Community Foundation help me?
- Who does the Community Foundation report to?
- What is the organization¹s financial management track record?
- How do I join?
1. What is ENGAGE!?
ENGAGE! is a program of the Community
Foundation of Ottawa aimed at engaging entrepreneurs
and investors in philanthropy and their community, by making a
commitment to contribute to the community when they are successful,
be it through a liquidity event, profits, etc.
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2. What does joining the program mean?
You now have access to a range of resources to help inform your
own charitable giving WHEN you are ready in a way that suits you,
or to more strategically consolidate your current giving. For
more information contact Bibi
Patel.
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3. What would I be committing myself to?
There is no hard commitment per se, only a willingness to be engaged
when you are ready. From time to time, the Community Foundation
or the Advisory
Council for the ENGAGE! program may send you updates
on the status of the program and/or invite you to events specially
designed for you and your peers.
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4. Will I be solicited for money?
No. The Community Foundation does not fundraise so you will not
be canvassed or solicited for money.
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5. Who is involved?
The ENGAGE! Advisory Council comprising business leaders from
the investment, service provider and entrepreneurial community
in Ottawa, have played a key role in the design of the program
and will continue their involvement as ambassadors of ENGAGE!
as it rolls out. Together they bring a wealth of knowledge to
the table and have been very generous with the gift of their time
and talent. Click here to see
a list of the Advisory Council members.
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6. What is the Community Foundation of Ottawa?
The Community Foundation of Ottawa is a public, non-profit organization
created by and for the people of Ottawa. It connects donors who
care with causes that matter and serves as a trusted resource
for addressing issues and leveraging opportunities in the community.
It attracts and manages a growing endowment, the earnings of which
provide grants to charitable organizations in the region. To learn
more about the Community Foundation, click
here.
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7. Can I set up a fund at the Community Foundation before I'm
successful? What's the
minimum amount required?
You are free to approach the Community Foundation at any time
about establishing a fund at the Foundation. The minimum required
for a named fund is $5,000 (and this can be spread over five years).
For more information, visit the donor
section of the Community Foundation¹s website or contact
Bibi Patel
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8. What are the benefits?
The key benefits of an association with the Community Foundation
include the ability to consolidate your giving easily and effectively;
the opportunity to tap into expert knowledge of the local community
across all sectors; access to a range of highly personalized philanthropic
services at a low cost with maximum tax benefits; flexible giving
options and the assurance that your gift will remain relevant
over time.
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9. Will my information be shared with fundraising organizations
or any other organizations?
No. The Community Foundation prides itself on the confidentiality
of its relationship with donors and other stakeholders and does
not share the information it holds on donors. At the same time,
it does support those who would like recognition for their contribution
in a way that is appropriate for both parties.
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10. Will I be able to support my alma mater elsewhere in Canada
through the Community Foundation? What about overseas giving?
Yes. Any organization which has charitable status with
the Canada Revenue Agency, can be supported by the Community Foundation.
Most universities and colleges have this status. Overseas giving
can be facilitated through an organization with charitable status
in Canada, but this is a complex area. For more information please
contact Bibi
Patel
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11. I already support other local charities. Will this compete
with my relationships there?
No. The Community Foundation itself is not the object of anyone¹s
charitable giving. It is simply a vehicle to facilitate philanthropy
so your current support to any charity is in no way comprised.
On the advice of its donors
and/or through its grantmaking
program the Community Foundation has supported almost
every charitable organization in Ottawa and does not compete with
them for donors.
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12. Can I involve my family in this?
Yes. The Community Foundation is keen to support family philanthropy
and encourages donors to consider and involve their children and/or
future generations.
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13. Can my company be included in this?
Yes. The Community Foundation has a number of funds which operate
like corporate giving programs.
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14. I'd like to help somehow, but I don't know what the needs
are in the community. Can the Community Foundation help me?
Yes. Because of its strong grantmaking
program and its leadership role in the community, the
Community Foundation¹s knowledge of the community is broad
and deep so it is ideally positioned to offer advice to those
wishing to help.
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15. Who does the Community Foundation report to?
The Community Foundation is independent, autonomous and accountable
to the community as a whole. As a way of ensuring that the Community
Foundation will be well managed today and into the future, the
governing body is appointed by an outside Nominating
Committee made up of the incumbents in positions of
responsibility and influence. This Committee is responsible for
selecting the best possible people to fill vacancies as they arise
on the Board
of Governors. The members of the Board are chosen for
their integrity, expertise and ability to serve the Community
Foundation without compensation. These Board appointments are
limited to three years, renewable once. The Board, in turn, hires
and oversees the CEO who is responsible for the day to day running
of the Community Foundation, including the hiring of other staff.
The Investment
Committee oversees the investment management policies
as well as the selection and performance of the Foundation¹s
investment management counsel.
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16. What is the organization¹s financial management track record?
The Community Foundation prides itself on stellar financial performance.
Retaining expert counsel, who have demonstrated relatively conservative
stewardship of the Foundation¹s portfolio in keeping with the latter's
mandate to manage its assets in perpetuity, while outperforming industry
benchmarks has earned the Foundation the enviable distinction of being one
of best managed public foundations in Canada. Following is a chart depicting
its historical rate of returns. Full financial statements are available on
the Foundation¹s website by clicking here.
17. How do I join?
If you have received the ENGAGE! brochure, simply insert your contact
information and send the tear-off piece to the
Community Foundation at 75
Albert Street, Suite 301, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7.
Alternatively, you can sign up by
clicking here or contact Bibi
Patel
