The purpose of this guide is to describe the Foundation’s approach to funding and partnerships The McConnell Foundation receives hundreds of proposals each year and many people participate in due diligence and partnership development. The guide is used to create parameters for our staff to be consistent in our approach in order to help reduce bias, enhance equity, and ensure that […]
Learn moreIn September 2020, The Philanthropist and the McConnell Foundation co-published a new book called Social Innovation in Canada: Reflections on Past, Present and Future Directions. It explores the possibilities, opportunities and challenges that the social innovation movement has faced and will continue to face in support of transformative systems change in Canada. The book includes insights from 2017 […]
Learn moreMcConnell started its journey of impact investing in 2007 when we made a $10 million bridge loan to finance part of the construction of Quest University. The loan was repaid in full with interest in 2009. This was an important milestone for us. The experience of making a direct investment in a grantee and making […]
Learn moreCould a network of regulatory experimentation labs in cities build legitimacy and shape inclusive innovation toward a great transition? The societal crises of ecological collapse and inequality require bold collective action. Yet the foundations of collective action are shaking; trust in government and institutions has eroded. It is at the scale of cities and communities […]
Learn moreThe Importance of Teacher & School Staff Wellbeing A detailed infographic on the importance of teacher & school staff wellbeing, by WellAhead, a McConnell Foundation initiative.
Learn moreIn its first year in BC, WellAhead worked with six pilot school districts to see if a set of core values, a participatory change process and a focus on everyday practices could deepen schoolscategory commitment to wellbeing. After reflecting on their learnings, WellAhead has made some significant shifts in its strategy towards the integration of wellbeing in Canadian schools. One key lesson? WellAhead may be able to achieve more impact by working at a network level, instead of directly with school districts.
Learn moreSuccessful systems innovation requires adequate resourcing and calls for new forms of capital allocation across the multiple stages of design and implementation. In many cases, systems innovation models mature from needing philanthropic dollars to developing solid business models that would allow them to partner with large mainstream investors. However, as we know, market and social system inefficiencies continue to prevent taking innovative models to scale to fulfill their full potential. This is why the Foundation is shifting its focus to Solutions Finance, an integrated approach to deploying financial capital and adapting financial models to catalyze, sustain and scale systems transformation.
Learn moreLed by the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) in partnership with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, a group of about 300 Indigenous and non-Indigenous social innovators gathered in Winnipeg, Manitoba for the Inaugural Indigenous Innovation Summit.
Learn moreThe year 2017, the 150th anniversary of the founding of Canada, offers Canadians an opportunity to reflect on where we have come from, where we are today, and where we could go.
Learn moreGood Sport was written by award-winning author Silver Donald Cameron, and includes a foreword by Governor-General David Johnston. It is a compilation of stories that reflect the diversity of projects that took place in the Sport for Development initiative, from the participantscategory perspectives.
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