Peter Gilgan Foundation
The Peter Gilgan Foundation is a private Toronto-based charitable foundation funded by homebuilder Peter Gilgan that distributes grants across climate, Indigenous youth, international development, and children/youth/families programs, plus strategic multi-million-dollar Canadian healthcare donations and the annual Tour de Bleu cycling fundraiser.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Peter Gilgan Foundation does
The Peter Gilgan Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 2006 by Peter Gilgan, founder of Mattamy Homes (Canada's largest homebuilder). It is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with a six-person staff and operates as a family-funded grant-maker rather than a commercial enterprise. The foundation stewards philanthropic capital from Peter Gilgan and the Gilgan family across four core grant programs — Children, Youth & Families; Indigenous Youth; Climate Change; and International Development — alongside strategic large-scale donations to Canadian healthcare institutions and the annual Tour de Bleu cycling fundraiser co-hosted with Mattamy Homes.
Its core product surface is grant capital delivered through an online application portal (smapply.io) and direct strategic partnerships. Grant sizes range from $10,000 to above $100 million per commitment, with Children, Youth & Families grants typically $10,000–$100,000/year, Climate Change grants $30,000–$150,000/year, and Indigenous Youth grants capped at $50,000 for registered charities and $25,000 for nonprofits. Strategic healthcare donations are materially larger — $105M to Trillium Health Partners (2022), $100M to SickKids (2019), $50M to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (2025), and $60M to St. Joseph's Health Centre (2025) — collectively representing over $420M in lifetime commitments to Canadian healthcare since 2006.
The foundation generates no commercial revenue. Its capital base is Peter Gilgan's personal philanthropy, and its go-to-market is a hybrid of inbound online applications and proactive relationship-driven outreach. Customers (grantees) span Canadian hospitals and research institutes, Indigenous-led organizations, climate-focused NGOs, and international development partners in the Global South (with primary focus on Sub-Saharan Africa). The foundation is led by Executive Chair Stephanie Trussler, Founder Peter Gilgan, and Board Director Luke Gilgan, with operations designed around trust-based, outcome-driven, multi-year funding partnerships rather than transactional grant-making.
Peter Gilgan Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Peter Gilgan Foundation
- Legal name
- Peter Gilgan Foundation
- Website
- https://petergilganfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Peter Gilgan Foundation is a private Toronto-based charitable foundation funded by homebuilder Peter Gilgan that distributes grants across climate, Indigenous youth, international development, and children/youth/families programs, plus strategic multi-million-dollar Canadian healthcare donations and the annual Tour de Bleu cycling fundraiser.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Peter Gilgan Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Foundation / Philanthropic Grant-making
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)
Keywords
Where Peter Gilgan Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Peter Gilgan Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Giving and Donations: The foundation generates no commercial revenue. It funds its grant programs through the charitable capital and ongoing contributions of founder Peter Gilgan and potentially other donors. All activities involve distributing funds to qualified charitable organizations rather than generating income.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Children, Youth & Families grants |
| Other | Annual | Climate Change grants |
| Other | Annual | Indigenous Youth grants |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Health Care donations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Peter Gilgan Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Peter Gilgan Foundation is a private charitable foundation that provides grant funding to qualified Canadian charitable organizations and strategic large-scale donations to healthcare institutions. Its core offerings consist of four thematic grant programs (Children, Youth & Families; Indigenous Youth; Climate Change; International Development) plus special-opportunity healthcare donations and the Tour de Bleu annual cycling fundraiser. Grant sizes range from approximately $10,000 to multi-million-dollar strategic healthcare commitments exceeding $100 million.
Product overview
The Peter Gilgan Foundation is a charitable foundation that operates as a unified grant-making organization rather than a technology platform. Its core offerings consist of four grant programs (Children, Youth & Families; Indigenous Youth; Climate Change; International Development), strategic health care donations, and the annual Tour de Bleu cycling fundraiser. The Foundation connects philanthropic donors with charitable initiatives across Canada and globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Children, Youth & Families Grant Program A flagship grant program supporting community-centred efforts that help children, youth, and families thrive in Canada through focus areas including Education & Economic Opportunities, Children & Youth Mental Health, Food Security & Systems, and GTA Communities. Grants typically range from $10,000 to $100,000 per year, with capacity-building and general operating grants available for repeat grantees.
- Indigenous Youth Grant Program A grant program supporting Indigenous-led organizations (per I4DM Definitional Matrix, with annual revenue under $5 million) that create opportunities for Indigenous young people across Canada. Focus areas include housing and safe spaces, health and healing, education and knowledge, economic opportunity, and food security and sovereignty. Grants capped at 10% of annual revenue (max $50,000 for registered charities, $25,000 for non-profits); single-year commitments.
- Climate Change Grant Program A grant program funding large-scale emissions reductions and equity-focused climate solutions through low-emission and renewable technologies, nature-based solutions, green building and living, community and climate resilience, and climate-health initiatives. Grants typically range from $30,000 to $150,000 per year, with larger projects considered; supported 76 partners with over $11 million invested since 2023.
- International Development Grant Program A grant program supporting long-term partnerships that improve health, education, and economic prosperity for women and girls in the Global South, with primary focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. Focus areas include maternal & child health, water/sanitation/hygiene, early childhood nutrition, girls' education, and women's economic opportunity.
- Health Care Strategic Donations Special opportunity large-scale strategic donations to Canadian healthcare institutions for infrastructure, research, and patient care — including hospital towers (Trillium Health Partners, SickKids, St. Joseph's, St. Michael's), cancer research centres (Princess Margaret), women's health centres (Women's College Hospital), and neuroscience programs (UHN Krembil). Individual donations have exceeded $100 million.
- Tour de Bleu Annual Cycling Fundraiser An annual cycling fundraiser launched in 2005 and co-hosted with Mattamy Homes, raising more than $53 million over 20 years for healthcare organizations including SickKids, CAMH, Women's College Hospital, Sunnybrook, Trillium Health Partners, William Osler Health System, and the University Health Network's Krembil Brain Institute.
Quantifiable outcome
- 148,424 people reached with essential health, nutrition, and clean water services
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Peter Gilgan Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Peter Gilgan Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Peter Gilgan Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Princess Margaret Cancer Foundationflagship$50 million donation to establish Peter Gilgan Centre for Early Cancer Detection Research, set to become the world's largest early cancer detection program. Focus on discovering new ways to detect cancer before it starts or spreads through breakthrough technologies, therapies, and AI-driven tools.
- University Health Network (UHN) FoundationcoreTour de Bleu 2025 beneficiary raising $7.7 million for brain health research at Krembil Brain Institute. 20th anniversary of annual cycling fundraiser featured 52 cyclists crossing finish line at Toronto General Hospital. Partnership advances neuroregeneration research.
- St. Joseph's Health Centreflagship$60 million donation to support construction of Peter Gilgan Patient Care Tower, transforming healthcare delivery in Toronto's west end. Peter Gilgan and his six siblings were born at St. Joseph's, making this a deeply personal gift.
- Climate Champions Initiative (Clean Economy Fund)flagship$100 million commitment as part of $405 million pledged by nine Canadian families and foundations - the largest climate philanthropy contribution in Canadian history. Coordinated by Clean Economy Fund with goal of tripling climate philanthropy in Canada.
- MaRS Discovery DistrictcorePartnership to launch Mission from MaRS: Better Buildings, addressing 37% of global carbon emissions from buildings and construction. MaRS is North America's largest urban innovation hub. The foundation supports climate technology adoption through this initiative.
- Gairdner Foundationcore$5 million to support Peter Gilgan Canada Gairdner Momentum Awards recognizing outstanding health researchers and strengthening Canada's position as global leader in science and innovation.
- Trillium Health PartnersflagshipHistoric $105 million donation - the largest to a hospital in Canadian history - to support construction of Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital (Canada's largest) and expansion of Gilgan Family Queensway Health Centre. Partnership represents core strategic investment in healthcare infrastructure transformation.
- SickKids Foundationflagship$100 million for Peter Gilgan Family Patient Care Tower and $40 million for Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning - Canada's largest hospital-based child health research institute. Partnership represents transformational investment in pediatric healthcare.
- Women's College Hospitalcore$24 million total including $12 million for Peter Gilgan Centre for Women's Cancers, $10 million for modernization, and $2 million for Peter Gilgan Atrium.
- St. Michael's Hospitalcore$30 million to fund Peter Gilgan Patient Care Tower for critically ill patients, supporting transformation of hospital care.
- Mattamy HomesflagshipCo-host of Tour de Bleu annual cycling fundraiser since 2005, raising $53M+ for healthcare. Mattamy Homes, founded by Peter Gilgan, is Canada's largest homebuilder. Mattamy Alberta contributed fencing and gates for USAY Indigenous Youth Centre.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Peter Gilgan Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SickKids Foundation: Major Canadian healthcare philanthropy focused on pediatric hospital infrastructure and research; the Peter Gilgan Foundation made $140M in combined gifts to SickKids and continues to be a flagship donor, making it a directly comparable high-net-worth healthcare-focused foundation partner.
- MaRS Discovery District: North America's largest urban innovation hub; receives $2.55M over seven years from Peter Gilgan Foundation to support Climate Missions and the Better Buildings initiative, making it a directly comparable climate/innovation-focused philanthropic partner.
- Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation: Cancer research and treatment philanthropy arm of University Health Network; received a $50M gift from Peter Gilgan Foundation in 2025 to establish the Peter Gilgan Centre for Early Cancer Detection Research, making it both a peer foundation and direct flagship grant recipient.
- Clean Economy Fund: Canadian climate philanthropy intermediary coordinating the $405M Climate Champions Initiative; the Peter Gilgan Foundation's $100M commitment flows through this vehicle, making it the most direct peer on the climate philanthropy side.
- Gairdner Foundation: Canadian foundation recognizing health researchers globally; the Peter Gilgan Foundation's $5M gift established the Peter Gilgan Canada Gairdner Momentum Awards, making it a directly comparable Canadian health-research philanthropy peer.
- Slaight Family Foundation: Canadian family foundation supporting healthcare, social services, and arts; comparable as another privately-funded Canadian family foundation making strategic large-scale donations to healthcare institutions and community organizations across Canada.
- Trillium Health Partners Foundation: Hospital foundation supporting one of Canada's largest hospital systems; the recipient of the largest single donation in Canadian hospital history ($105M) from Peter Gilgan Foundation, making it both peer and direct flagship beneficiary of comparable healthcare philanthropy.
Broad incumbents
- Mastercard Foundation: One of the largest Canadian foundations, with broad grantmaking in education, climate, and international development across the Global South. Comparable to Peter Gilgan Foundation's four-pillar model but at vastly greater scale (billions in assets), representing an incumbent large-cap peer in the same philanthropic categories.
- Azrieli Foundation: Major Canadian philanthropic foundation supporting education, healthcare, architecture, and arts with multi-hundred-million dollar annual disbursements. Comparable in being a privately-funded Canadian family foundation with diversified pillars, but operating at materially larger scale than the Peter Gilgan Foundation.
- Weston Family Foundation: Canadian family foundation associated with the Weston/George Weston/Loblaw fortune, with major initiatives in climate and conservation (including the Weston Family Prize and Homegrown Innovation Challenge). Comparable as a large Canadian family foundation addressing climate change as a core philanthropic pillar.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Peter Gilgan Foundation social profiles
Digital presencePeter Gilgan Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Peter Gilgan Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Peter Gilgan Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Peter Gilgan Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Peter Gilgan Foundation
What does Peter Gilgan Foundation do?
The Peter Gilgan Foundation is a private charitable foundation that provides grant funding to qualified Canadian charitable organizations and strategic large-scale donations to healthcare institutions. Its core offerings consist of four thematic grant programs (Children, Youth & Families; Indigenous Youth; Climate Change; International Development) plus special-opportunity healthcare donations and the Tour de Bleu annual cycling fundraiser. Grant sizes range from approximately $10,000 to multi-million-dollar strategic healthcare commitments exceeding $100 million.
Is Peter Gilgan Foundation a public or private company?
Peter Gilgan Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Peter Gilgan Foundation founded?
Peter Gilgan Foundation was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Peter Gilgan Foundation based?
Peter Gilgan Foundation is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Peter Gilgan Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: charitable Giving and Donations.
Who are Peter Gilgan Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SickKids Foundation, MaRS Discovery District, Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, Clean Economy Fund, Gairdner Foundation, Slaight Family Foundation and Trillium Health Partners Foundation. Broad incumbents are Mastercard Foundation, Azrieli Foundation and Weston Family Foundation.
Does Peter Gilgan Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Peter Gilgan Foundation.
What industry is Peter Gilgan Foundation in?
Peter Gilgan Foundation's product category is Charitable Foundation / Philanthropic Grant-making. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAL, Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.