Ivey Foundation
Private charitable foundation in Toronto, Canada, founded in 1947, currently winding down operations by distributing its $100 million endowment through 2027 to fund Canadian charitable organizations advancing Canada's net-zero transition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ivey Foundation does
The Ivey Foundation is a private charitable foundation incorporated in Toronto, Canada on December 31, 1947 by Richard G. Ivey and Richard M. Ivey. Originally a general-purpose foundation, it adopted its current strategic focus in 2014, narrowing its mandate to a single program — the Economy and Environment Program — which funds Canadian registered charitable organizations working on the country's transition to a net-zero economy. The Foundation operates without commercial revenue, proprietary technology, or a traditional product; its core function is restricted, multi-year grantmaking directed at a curated portfolio of climate-focused NGOs, academic institutions, and policy research centers.
In November 2022, the Foundation announced a managed wind-up of its operations, committing to distribute its entire $100 million endowment by the end of 2027. Grantmaking does not accept unsolicited proposals; staff proactively reach out to a vetted network of Canadian charitable organizations aligned with the Foundation's net-zero mission. Disclosed 2023-2024 deployment included 60+ organizations with multi-year commitments ranging from $50,000 to $13 million CAD, concentrated in climate policy, energy efficiency, electrification, sustainable finance, decarbonization, agriculture, and public engagement. The largest single commitment was a $13 million, three-year grant to The Transition Accelerator.
The Foundation is led by President Dr. Bruce Lourie, a recipient of the Order of Canada (2024) recognized as a central architect of Canada's climate NGO ecosystem and founder of more than a dozen of the country's leading net-zero organizations. Leadership also includes Vice President Lorne Johnson, Grants Director Kelsey Envik, and Executive Assistant Esther Tobin; governance rests with a Board of Directors chaired by Rosamond Ivey. Operations are confined to a single Toronto office, and the entity will cease to exist by end of 2027 once endowment distribution is complete.
Ivey Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ivey Foundation
- Legal name
- IVEY Foundation
- Website
- https://www.ivey.org/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Private charitable foundation in Toronto, Canada, founded in 1947, currently winding down operations by distributing its $100 million endowment through 2027 to fund Canadian charitable organizations advancing Canada's net-zero transition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ivey Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Foundation Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
Keywords
Where Ivey Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ivey Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Endowment Distribution: As a private charitable foundation, Ivey Foundation generates no revenue from commercial activities. The Foundation distributes its $100 million endowment over five years (by end of 2027) through grants to organizations advancing Canada's net-zero economy. The Foundation was incorporated December 31, 1947 and will wind up operations by end of 2027.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Ivey Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ivey Foundation is a private charitable foundation that operates exclusively through its Economy and Environment Program, providing multi-year grants to Canadian registered charitable organizations working to advance Canada's transition to a net-zero economy. The Foundation is spending down its $100 million endowment over five years (ending by end of 2027) to fund innovative initiatives in areas such as energy efficiency, electrification, climate policy, sustainable finance, and sustainable agriculture. The Foundation does not develop or sell any commercial products or services and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Product overview
Ivey Foundation is a private charitable foundation dedicated to supporting Canada's transition to a net-zero future while ensuring the country's long-term economic competitiveness. The Foundation operates as a grant-making organization with its Economy and Environment Program as the sole focus. Through this program, Ivey Foundation provides funding to Canadian charitable organizations working on net-zero pathways, supporting initiatives in areas such as energy efficiency, electrification, sustainable finance, climate policy, and sustainable agriculture. The Foundation does not offer a technology product or platform; rather, it functions as a philanthropic organization that funds and collaborates with NGOs, academic institutions, governments, and the private sector to drive climate action across Canada.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Economy and Environment Granting Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Supported the establishment of the Ontario Greenbelt
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ivey Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Ivey Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ivey Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Transition AcceleratorcoreThe Ivey Foundation is a core funder of The Transition Accelerator, which works to accelerate Canada's net-zero transition. The Foundation provided $13,000,000 in 2023 (3 years) to support the organization's mission. Dr. Bruce Lourie serves as Chair of The Transition Accelerator.
- Canadian Climate InstitutecoreThe Ivey Foundation funds the Canadian Climate Institute which conducts climate research and policy analysis. The Foundation provided $3,000,000 in 2023 (3 years) for scaling up federal and provincial impact. Dr. Bruce Lourie is a board member of the Canadian Climate Institute.
- Institute for Sustainable FinancecoreThe Ivey Foundation supports the Institute for Sustainable Finance at Queen's University. Multiple grants have been provided including $500,000 in 2023 (2 years) to expand capacity of sustainable finance. Dr. Bruce Lourie serves as Senior Fellow at the Institute for Sustainable Finance.
- Farmers for Climate SolutionscoreThe Ivey Foundation funds Farmers for Climate Solutions, an organization focused on climate policy in Canadian agriculture. The Foundation provided $1,100,000 in 2023 (3 years) to address gaps in Canadian agriculture policy.
- Efficiency CanadacoreThe Ivey Foundation supports Efficiency Canada based at Carleton University. Multiple grants provided including $1,800,000 in 2023 (3 years) for advancing demand side solutions and $2,500,000 for the Rosamond Ivey Research Chair in Sustainability Transitions.
- Clean Energy CanadacoreThe Ivey Foundation funds Clean Energy Canada based at Simon Fraser University. Multiple grants provided including $2,250,000 in 2023 (3 years) to keep Canada on the path to net-zero.
- Canadian Association of Physicians for the EnvironmentcoreThe Ivey Foundation funds the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Multiple grants provided including $1,000,000 in 2023 (3 years) for expanding physicians' voices for climate action. Dr. Bruce Lourie serves as Honourary Director.
- SeedChange FoundationcoreThe Ivey Foundation supports SeedChange Foundation. Dr. Bruce Lourie serves as a board member of the SeedChange Foundation.
- Royal Geographical Society of CanadaminorDr. Bruce Lourie is a Fellow at the Royal Geographical Society of Canada.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Ivey Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- McConnell Foundation: Canadian private foundation that funds climate, Indigenous communities, and social innovation. Most direct peer given shared Canadian jurisdiction, private foundation structure, and overlap on environment/climate programming.
- Trottier Family Foundation: Canadian private foundation focused on environment, health, and science. Comparable as a Canadian family foundation with environmental grantmaking priorities serving registered charities.
- ClimateWorks Foundation: Global climate-focused grantmaking foundation that funds analysis, policy advocacy, and solutions. Comparable in mission (net-zero/climate philanthropy) and role as a strategic grantmaker to research and advocacy organizations.
- Bullitt Foundation: US private foundation focused exclusively on climate and the Pacific Northwest. Comparable as a private foundation with a strict climate/environment thematic focus, though it operates in a different geography.
- Tides Foundation: Major philanthropic intermediary supporting climate, social justice, and movement-building grants. Comparable as a grantmaking organization funding advocacy NGOs, though broader in thematic scope and functions partly as a fiscal sponsor.
- V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation: US private foundation dedicated to climate change and clean energy. Comparable as a private foundation with a thematic climate focus funding research, policy, and advocacy organizations.
Broad incumbents
- William and Flora Hewlett Foundation: Large US foundation with a significant environment and climate program. Comparable as a major foundation funding climate policy and innovation, but with a much broader thematic portfolio and substantially larger endowment.
- Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation: Large US foundation with climate, conservation, and scientific research funding. Comparable as a high-profile private foundation funding climate solutions and research institutions, but with broader remit and larger scale.
- Oak Foundation: Large international foundation with environment among its core programs. Comparable as a substantial grantmaking foundation funding climate/environment work, though spread across multiple geographies and causes.
Emerging players
- Schmidt Foundation (Schmidt Futures): Foundation associated with Schmidt Futures funding climate, energy, and science. Comparable as a philanthropic organization targeting climate solutions at scale, but more focused on science/technology and earlier-stage in its climate portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ivey Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceIvey Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ivey Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Ivey Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Ivey Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
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Frequently asked questions about Ivey Foundation
What does Ivey Foundation do?
Ivey Foundation is a private charitable foundation that operates exclusively through its Economy and Environment Program, providing multi-year grants to Canadian registered charitable organizations working to advance Canada's transition to a net-zero economy. The Foundation is spending down its $100 million endowment over five years (ending by end of 2027) to fund innovative initiatives in areas such as energy efficiency, electrification, climate policy, sustainable finance, and sustainable agriculture. The Foundation does not develop or sell any commercial products or services and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Is Ivey Foundation a public or private company?
Ivey Foundation is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Ivey Foundation founded?
Ivey Foundation was founded in 1947. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ivey Foundation based?
Ivey Foundation is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Ivey Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundation Endowment Distribution.
Who are Ivey Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are McConnell Foundation, Trottier Family Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, Bullitt Foundation, Tides Foundation and V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation. Broad incumbents are William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and Oak Foundation. Schmidt Foundation (Schmidt Futures) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ivey Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ivey Foundation.
What industry is Ivey Foundation in?
Ivey Foundation's product category is Charitable Foundation Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.