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United Church of Canada Foundation Named One of Canada’s Most Equitable Funders

The United Church of Canada Foundation is proud to announce its inclusion in the prestigious list of the 2024 Top 50 Equitable Funders in Canada. We come in at number 7 on the list! This recognition underscores the Foundation’s commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion practices in its grantmaking activities.

The annual research and ranking, compiled by Future of Good and QuakeLab highlights organizations that have demonstrated notable progress in promoting equitable funding practices and fostering positive social change. The Foundation’s inclusion in this group reflects its ongoing efforts to support initiatives that address systemic inequalities and enable a more just and inclusive society. Click here for the full list.

Intentionally Embedding Our Values

“We are honoured to be recognized among the Top 50 Equitable Funders in Canada,” says Sarah Charters, Foundation President. “Do we want to be part of the problem or the solution? In striving to be responsive to the changing needs of the many people and diverse communities served by United Church ministries across Canada, we’ve been on a journey to intentionally embed our values in everything that we do.”

Sarah continues, “We’re connecting resources—generosity, faithful stewardship, capacity building, shared learning- with the United Church community and its partners working to create a more just planet and celebrate God’s abundance in the world. But if our practices are set up to reinforce systems of oppression and power, then no “one” part of our work is going to make that happen by itself. It has to work holistically. So for us, that means having our values show up in our investments, in our grants, and how we do our work.”

Vinod Rajasekaran, CEO of Future of Good, emphasizes the significance of this recognition. “This annual list is groundbreaking in its ability to spotlight foundations that are truly advancing equitable funding practices. The United Church of Canada Foundation’s inclusion is a testament to their commitment to enabling positive social impact and fostering equity within their team and community.”

“We hope that this research and data serve as a catalyst for continuous improvement, inspiring foundations to reflect on their practices and strive for greater equity year on year,” says Sharon Nyangweso, CEO of QuakeLab.

About the Top 50 Rankings

The Top 50 Equitable Funders in Canada ranking recognizes organizations that have implemented innovative practices, policies, and initiatives to advance equity and inclusion in their funding activities. The United Church of Canada Foundation’s dedication to fostering inclusion and equity sets a positive example for other philanthropic and grantmaking organizations, inspiring action to advance diversity, inclusion, and equity in their own work and teams.

Gratitude

Our commitment will continue to evolve, but centring our work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a cornerstone of our journey. In 2022, our Board named four priority areas for our organization: Anti-Racism, Support for Communities of Faith, Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Climate Justice. Almost three years later, these priorities continue to guide our work; they’ve rooted us and helped create and deepen supportive, collaborative relationships with others across the Church and non-profit and social good sectors. This is hard work we’re tackling, and the strength and sustainability of the solutions comes from sharing the load. No one can (or should!) do this alone. We are grateful for our relationships with so many partners, colleagues, and organizations working to achieve similar goals!

But… what if every funding organization took a page from Canada’s Top 50 Equitable Funders and made equity the heart of its grantmaking strategy? Picture a landscape where fairness isn’t just a goal but a non-negotiable principle guiding every decision. 

What if this commitment sparked a ripple effect, inspiring all 10,000 foundations in Canada to prioritize inclusivity and diversity in their funding initiatives? Imagine the collective impact.

We congratulate all of the funders named to the list, and those working towards it. Celebrating the Top 50 Equitable Funders isn’t just about recognizing their achievements; it’s about envisioning a future where equity isn’t aspirational but foundational to every act of grantmaking driving meaningful change for generations to come.

About Future of Good and QuakeLab

Future of Good is a leading media, research, and learning organization for Canada’s social purpose world. They are the essential source of journalism, knowledge, and analysis to make sense of a sector and society in transition. Their mission is to enable a smarter social purpose world by enriching impact-oriented teams and leaders with insights and knowledge that fuel learning, development, and decision-making every day.

QuakeLab is a full-stack equity and justice agency that provides the tools, expertise and methods to take your vision for inclusion from idea to action.