Fondations philanthropiques Canada

What Fondations philanthropiques Canada does

Fondations philanthropiques Canada (Philanthropic Foundations Canada, DBA "PFC") is a registered Canadian charity and the country's only national philanthropic network dedicated to foundations and grantmaking organizations, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Montreal with a secondary office in Toronto. The organization serves a member network of 100+ foundations and grantmakers including Mastercard Foundation, Weston Family Foundation, J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Toronto Foundation, providing capacity building (JEDI Accelerator, CEO Retreats, Investment Roundtable), structured collaboration (Funder Affinity Groups in Arts, Communications, Early Child Development, Healthy Aging, and Program/Grantmaking), research (annual Landscape Report, Salary & Benefits Report, Investment & Disbursement Survey), and policy advocacy on federal regulation affecting the charitable sector, including direct engagement with the Canada Revenue Agency and Finance Canada.

PFC's service architecture is a unified member-network offering rather than a modular software platform; products are delivered through in-person and virtual convening, members-only resources (job board, policy advisories, membership contribution calculator, resources portal), and recurring publications. No proprietary technology stack is described—the organization operates on a WordPress website with no public API—and competitive differentiation rests on convening power, regulatory access, and the proprietary sector research enabled by the PhiLab Post-Doctoral Fellowship partnership established in 2021.

The business model is a non-profit membership model with FY2023 total revenues of $1,566,000 CAD, derived primarily from membership fees ($897,000, 57%) calculated on a sliding scale tied to each member's three-year average of organizational assets and grants with a $1,000 CAD minimum, supplemented by contributions and grants ($573,000, 37%) from member foundations and sector partners for special projects, plus minor revenue from conferences ($18,000), services ($33,000), and interest ($45,000). PFC operates leanly with an eight-person leadership team (President & CEO Jean-Marc Mangin, Associate CEO Sara Krynitzki, and six directors/coordinators) and FY2023 expenditures of $1,492,000 CAD, with no disclosed venture funding, parent company, or subsidiaries.

Name

Fondations philanthropiques Canada

Legal name

Philanthropic Foundations Canada

Website

https://pfc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fondations philanthropiques Canada is Canada's only national philanthropic network, serving 100+ foundations and grantmakers through capacity building, biennial conferences, affinity groups, sector research, and federal policy advocacy on CRA and charitable-sector regulation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy Network Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Philanthropy network services
• Foundation membership association
• Grantmaker capacity building
• Philanthropy policy advocacy
• Nonprofit sector research

Headquarters

HQ city

Cap-de-la-madeleine

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership contributions from foundations and grantmaking organizations, calculated based on a sliding scale using three-year average of organizational assets and grants. Minimum contribution is $1,000 CAD. In 2023, membership fees generated $897,000 of total $1,566,000 in revenues.
2. Contributions and Grants: PFC receives grants and support from members and sector partners for special projects and growth strategy. In 2023, contributions totaled $573,000.
3. Conference Revenue: Revenue from national conferences and professional development events, including registration fees. In 2023, conference revenue was $18,000.
4. Services: Revenue from specialized services including research and professional development offerings. In 2023, services revenue was $33,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PFC is Canada's national philanthropic network delivering capacity-building programs (JEDI Accelerator, good governance accelerator), peer-learning convenings (Funder Affinity Groups, CEO Peer Support Group, CEO Retreat, Investment Roundtable), research publications (Landscape Report, Salary & Benefits Report, Investment & Disbursement Survey), policy advocacy and government relations, and national/regional events for foundations and grantmaking organizations. Membership is offered on a sliding-scale annual basis and grants PFC-affiliated foundations access to networking, learning, advocacy, and sector intelligence resources.

Product overview

Philanthropic Foundations Canada (PFC) / Fondations Philanthropiques Canada operates as a single unified network offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization provides a portfolio of member services including Capacity Building Programs, Funder Affinity Groups, CEO Peer Support initiatives, and CEO Retreats for foundation leaders. Research and publications include the annual Landscape Report, Salary & Benefits Report, and Investment & Disbursement Survey. Additional services encompass Policy Advisory communications, a Member Resources Portal, Job Board, Membership Contribution Calculator, and the monthly PFC Newsletter. PFC also organizes the annual National Conference (Together 25 Ensemble in 2024), and convenes regional member gatherings across major Canadian cities. These offerings work together as an integrated ecosystem supporting Canadian foundations in governance, programming, collaboration, and policy engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Capacity Building Programs Programs that help foundations strengthen their governance, programming, and relationships to amplify impact and enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Funder Affinity Groups Formal or informal collaborations of grantmakers sharing knowledge and engaging in collaboration on particular issues, including Arts Funders, Communications, Early Child Development, Healthy Aging, and Program and Grantmaking Staff groups.
• CEO Peer Support Group A peer-driven initiative hosting calls with PFC member organization leaders for regular sharing of sector intel, peer relationship cultivation, and mutual support, born from the 2023 CEO Retreat.
• CEO Retreat An annual in-person gathering and community of peers for PFC member CEOs to discuss key issues and important developments in the philanthropic sector, held at venues such as Banff Centre.
• Investment Roundtable A learning and sharing space for foundation staff and board members to discuss pertinent investment-related issues, attracting interest from across the network.
• JEDI Accelerator A year-long intensive educational peer-learning program developed for foundations to bring justice, equity, diversity and inclusion throughout their organizations from governance to grantmaking.
• National Conference (Together 25 Ensemble) PFC's biennial national conference designed to bring together the philanthropic sector for learning, dialogue, and collaboration; the 2024 edition was the 25th anniversary Together 25 Ensemble held in Ottawa.
• Landscape Report Annual research report providing comprehensive analysis of Canada's philanthropic foundation landscape, developed in partnership with PhiLab and featuring qualitative exploratory research.
• Canadian Philanthropic Foundations Salary & Benefits Report Annual compensation survey report for Canadian philanthropic foundations providing salary and benefits benchmarking data.
• Investment & Disbursement Survey Survey report on foundation investment practices and disbursement quota perspectives, covering fiscal years 2018-2020 with data from 93 foundations.
• Policy Advisory Services Special policy advisory communications sent directly to members when regulatory issues arise, covering topics such as disbursement quota changes and granting to non-qualified donees.
• Membership Contribution Calculator Online tool for calculating annual membership fees based on organizational assets and grant amounts for charity/non-profit and corporate giving program members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77% of JEDI Accelerator participants reported better understanding of JEDI concepts; 91% gained clarity on building action plans; 86% feel better equipped for JEDI action
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• PhiLab (Canadian Philanthropy Partnership Research Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership to create Phi-Lab Post Doctoral Fellowship in Philanthropy and Public Policy. The Fellow works on evolving PFC's bi-annual snapshot of the philanthropic sector research report, developing a new model and signature research framework (An Evolving Landscape: Reflecting Canada's Philanthropic Foundations).
• Community Foundations of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change initiative since 2021, supporting funders across Canada to signal commitment and act on climate change regardless of their respective missions.
• The Circle on PhilanthropycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change initiative, working with funders across Canada on climate action.
• Environment Funders CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change initiative, supporting 56 signatories to act on climate change.
• Carleton UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding closer ties to Carleton University's Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership program, the only graduate curriculum in Canada offering specialized skills for philanthropic sector leadership.
• Ontario Trillium FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on convenings with funders across networks to explore role in nonprofit data ecosystem, working with Ontario Nonprofit Network and Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience.
• Ontario Nonprofit NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted convenings with funders to explore role in nonprofit data ecosystem.
• Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital ResilienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted convenings exploring philanthropic sector's role in nonprofit data ecosystem.
• Inspirit FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for development and publication of Funding Journalism: A Guide for Canadian Philanthropy in collaboration with Local News Research Project at Toronto Metropolitan University.
• Local News Research Project (Toronto Metropolitan University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Funding Journalism: A Guide for Canadian Philanthropy publication.
• Addenda CapitalflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPrincipal Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference. Addenda Capital has $37 billion in assets under management and is recognized as leader in sustainable investing. Co-owned by The Co-operators Group with offices in Toronto, Guelph, and Regina.
• CartersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• Diversity InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• Goodman FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• Imagine CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• Jarislowsky Fraser LimitedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• MalatestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• Miller ThomsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• Myriad CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• National Gallery of CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference evening social event.
• OPTrust SelectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• PhilanthProminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• Realize Capital PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• Responsible CommunicationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• Tapestry Community CapitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• Rally AssetsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• WCPD FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• YellowTree Grant Services Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.
• The Philanthropist JournalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Partner for 2024 Together 25 Ensemble conference.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/PhilanthropyCDA
• Facebookfacebook.com/philanthropicfoundationscanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/philanthropic-foundations-canada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fondations philanthropiques Canada