# London Community Foundation

London Community Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in London, Ontario, Canada.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** London, Ontario, Canada
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** London, ON, Canada
- **Founded:** 1954
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.lcf.on.ca
- **LinkedIn:** https://ca.linkedin.com/company/london-community-foundation

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

London Community Foundation was established in 1954 to aggregate philanthropic capital for London and Middlesex County, Ontario. Diane Silva runs the organization today as President and CEO, supported by an investment committee that draws expertise from Ivey Business School and regional financial institutions. The foundation's wealth originates entirely from donor contributions, structured as an endowed pool intended to exist indefinitely. LCF's investment strategy mixes traditional endowment management with direct local deployment. The portfolio spans community development real estate, a dedicated Social Impact Fund, and program-related giving focused on health and homelessness. Real estate holdings include the mixed-use Village SoHo, the Zerin Place Seniors Apartments — all in London and Ontario. The Social Finance Committee, chaired by former credit union executive Shane Butcher, directs a portion of capital toward impact-first investments within the region. The foundation operates with a lean governance structure, drawing committee leadership from local institutions. Vice Chair of Investment Saurin Patel is a finance professor at Ivey, while Board Chair Jim Alexander holds a senior role at Trudell Medical. LCF reported staff growth and program expansion over the past decade, though total AUM and headcount remain undisclosed. The foundation participates in the national network of over 191 Community Foundations of Canada, sharing best practices and co-investment structures. LCF's structural differentiator is its hybrid mandate: it functions simultaneously as a perpetual endowment and a direct real estate developer. The organization does not merely grant to external charities; it acquires and manages physical assets — apartments, commercial buildings, and land — whose operating income flows back into the foundation. This model turns capital into a self-renewing funding engine for local social services, distinct from standard grantmaking foundations.

## Sectors

- Healthcare Services
- Real Estate
- Social Finance
- Community Development

## People

- Diane Silva — President and CEO
- Jim Alexander — Chair of the Board of Directors
- Vijay Venkatesan — VP Finance & Operations
- Shane Butcher — Chair of Social Finance Committee
- Saurin Patel — Vice Chair of Investment Committee

## Questions

### How does the London Community Foundation invest its endowment?

LCF blends traditional endowment portfolio management with direct real estate and social-impact investing. The foundation owns several mixed-use and residential properties in London, Ontario — including Village SoHo and Zerin Place Seniors Apartments — and maintains a Social Impact Fund aimed at local challenges. Investment oversight comes from a committee chaired by financial professionals drawn from Ivey Business School and the regional credit union sector.

### What is the Social Finance Committee and what does it do?

Chaired by Shane Butcher, a former regional manager at Libro Credit Union, the Social Finance Committee directs capital into community-first investments. The committee oversees the Social Impact Fund portfolio, targeting projects that address housing, homelessness, and economic development in London and Middlesex County. It operates alongside the foundation's broader investment committee.

### Where does the foundation's capital come from?

All capital comes from donor contributions pooled since 1954. Donors in London and Middlesex County contribute to an endowed fund that the foundation invests in perpetuity. Investment returns and real estate income then fund grants and social-finance initiatives across the region.

### Who runs investment decisions at the London Community Foundation?

The Investment Committee, with Saurin Patel as Vice Chair, makes the core investment decisions. Patel is an Associate Professor of Finance at Ivey Business School. The committee operates under the Board of Directors, chaired by Jim Alexander, who is VP Investments at Trudell Medical Limited.

### Is the London Community Foundation part of a larger network?

Yes. LCF is a member of Community Foundations of Canada, a network of over 191 community foundations. The foundation also participates in the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, engaging in webinars and training on charitable giving structures across the country.

## Related profiles

- [Commercial Education Trust](https://altss.com/profile/london-chamber-of-commerce-and-industry-commercial-education-trust)
- [London Management Group (LMG)](https://altss.com/profile/london-management-group-lmg)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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