Focus Area

We believe that many organizations are working to build a more inclusive, innovative, sustainable and resilient society. While the legacy endowment provided by J.W. McConnell places us in a highly privileged position, our resources pale in comparison to the scale of the issues that communities and the environment are confronting. We therefore need to concentrate our funding and efforts. Responding to all needs — as acute and glaring as they are — is impossible. Our commitment is to partner selectively with organizations engaged in at least one of the following focus areas.

We use diverse approaches and methods that support each focus area. This includes supportive funding, impact investing, capability strengthening, supporting public policy change, and co-creating along with partners from the public, private and non-profit sectors. Throughout our work, social innovation practices and principles are integrated.

Overarching Frameworks

In addition, all three focus areas intend to support and carry out the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

We hope that our focus areas and frameworks contribute to fostering vibrant emerging or already existing ecosystems of change and acknowledge that we have much to learn.

Where we work

Canada

We support organizations and projects that are based anywhere in Canada, that have potential for replication in other parts of the country or that show ambition for national impact in one or more of our focus areas. We prioritize initiatives that seek to catalyze large-scale systems change.

Our commitment to Montreal

Since its founding in 1937, the McConnell Foundation has supported many organizations dedicated to improving the lives of Montrealers. Today, alongside our focus areas, the Foundation remains deeply committed to our Montreal roots, where we continue to support local projects. In addition to funding Montreal-based projects that advance our three focus areas, we allocate approximately $2,000,000 annually to Montreal charities. Montreal funding decisions are approved yearly in the spring.  

Important note: If you are a Montreal-based organization seeking funding to address community resilience, reconciliation and climate change, please submit an application through the McConnell Foundation’s focus areas funding streams. If you are not sure if your work is highly aligned under one of the focus areas, please submit under Montreal.

We accept a small number of applications for Montreal funding yearly. Download our Application Guidelines to learn about eligibility requirements and assessment criteria.

Transition

While our mission has remained constant, our funding strategies evolve in response to changing needs. Our current focus areas emerged from our pre-existing initiatives. Though initiatives are no longer accepting applications, the financial commitments made under their purview are being honoured. We are also refining our public interest journalism work in service of the three focus areas.

Cities for People, Re-Code, Sustainable Food Systems and WellAhead resources are still available. These can be found under Tools & Resources on our website.

Find out more about our focus areas as well as what we do and do not fund in our FAQ.