Vancouver Foundation

Vancouver Foundation

Vancouver Foundation was established in 1943 to connect individual donors with charitable causes across British Columbia. Kevin McCort has led the organization as President and CEO. The foundation operates without a single wealth-origin family and instead aggregates contributions from multiple donors into endowed funds. The investment program centers on the Consolidated Trust Fund, valued at approximately $1.01 billion, which holds public equities, fixed income, real estate, and private markets. A separate SRI Fund of $44 million applies ESG screens and excludes fossil fuels, weapons, and tobacco. Geographic exposure remains concentrated in Canada, with additional grant activity reaching Indigenous communities globally through the Thriving Indigenous Systems Fund launched in 2023. The foundation employs 100 staff and maintains one headquarters in Vancouver. It participates in the Responsible Investment Association Canada and Imagine Canada. In January 2024 the foundation attended the Responsible Investment Association Conference to discuss ESG integration and sustainable finance. Two related vehicles support its work: Friends of Vancouver Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) formed in 1983, and the Thriving Indigenous Systems Fund, which distributed grants to 31 organizations. Governance separates investment oversight from grantmaking through dedicated committees. Dawn Jia chairs the Investment Committee while also serving as CEO of UBC Investment Management. Brenda Eaton chairs the Investment & Stewardship Committee. This structure keeps endowment management distinct from program decisions.