What Definity Insurance Foundation does

Definity Insurance Foundation is an independent Canadian charitable foundation established in 2022, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. It was created using proceeds from the demutualization of Economical Mutual Insurance Company (now Definity Insurance Company) and operates as an autonomous public foundation with its own Board of Directors. The foundation's mission is to support communities across Canada in pursuing climate, health, social, and economic justice, with a particular focus on addressing systemic barriers faced by Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities. Its four strategic priority areas are Healthy People, Liveable Planet, Thriving Communities, and Sector Strengthening.

The foundation's core "product" is grant capital and partnership funding deployed to community-led charitable and nonprofit organizations across Canada. Since 2022, it has committed multiple multi-million-dollar grants and multi-year partnerships, including $7M+ in inaugural grants (2022), a $3.1M gift to Canadian Women's Foundation's Northern Strategy (2023), a $1.1M joint partnership with Definity Financial Corporation to Windmill Microlending (2023), a $2M partnership with Rideau Hall Foundation's Arctic Inspiration Prize, and a $3.5M, 5-year partnership with the Foundation for Black Communities (February 2025). The foundation manages an ecosystem of 60+ named partner organizations and supports social finance initiatives, including a $30M Relèven Transition Fund to repurpose faith-based properties for community use.

The foundation's funding model is philanthropic rather than commercial: it is sustained by the original demutualization endowment and an ongoing commitment from Definity Financial Corporation to contribute 1% of its pre-tax profits annually. Revenue streams therefore consist of corporate contributions and endowment investment returns. There are no products or services sold; traditional pricing does not apply. Distribution occurs through direct partnerships and grants to charitable organizations, intermediaries, and collectives across Canada.

Name

Definity Insurance Foundation

Legal name

Definity Insurance Foundation

Website

https://definityfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Definity Insurance Foundation is an independent Canadian charitable foundation established in 2022 that provides grants and partnership funding to community-led organizations across Canada, focusing on climate, health, social, and economic justice for Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Community foundation grants
• Charitable grantmaking programs
• Social impact philanthropy
• Equity-focused funding
• Nonprofit sector support

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Contributions: Definity Financial Corporation contributes 1% of their pre-tax profits to the Foundation to support the betterment of communities across Canada.
2. Endowment Investment Returns: The Foundation was funded by proceeds from the demutualization of Economical Mutual Insurance Company and invests these assets to generate returns for grant-making activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Definity Insurance Foundation is a Canadian private charitable foundation that provides grants and partnership funding to community-led charitable organizations across Canada. It funds initiatives addressing climate, health, social, and economic justice with a particular focus on equity and on Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities. The foundation was established in 2022 with proceeds from the demutualization of Economical Mutual Insurance Company and is sustained by ongoing contributions of 1% of pre-tax profits from Definity Financial Corporation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Partnership Grants Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $7M invested in first round of grants to Black, Indigenous, and equity-deserving organizations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

65 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Imagine CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026$100,000 to strengthen Canada's charitable and nonprofit ecosystem by building networks and resources, developing insights and mobilizing knowledge, and highlighting the value and credibility of the sector.
• Foundation for Black CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2025$3.5M partnership to address chronic underfunding of Black-led and Black-serving organizations across Canada. Supports initiatives focused on health and wellbeing, socio-economic inclusion, and climate justice for Black communities, while advancing efforts to combat anti-Black racism and promote equitable change. This 5-year partnership represents a shift in how philanthropy can work - not as a gatekeeper but as a facilitator of self-determination.
• Trinity Centres Foundation (Relèven)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2024Partnership to support the development and operations of the Relèven Transition Fund, an innovative social finance initiative to repurpose faith-based properties for community spaces and affordable housing. The $30 million Transition Fund will enable not-for-profits to acquire and repurpose faith properties across Canada.
• EntrepreNorthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2024$2,094,540 partnership rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems to support early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs with business education, financial practices, and increased access to capital to build sustainable businesses and livelihoods in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
• Shauna Sylvester (Senior Fellow)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2024Inaugural Senior Fellow in advancement of Climate Justice and equitable climate action in Canada. The Senior Fellows Program brings together subject matter experts, thought leaders and visionaries to advance community-led solutions.
• Data for Good Waterloo RegionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2024Collaboration on research report 'Analysis of Philanthropic Capital Flow and Relevant Social Outcomes' highlighting philanthropic activity across Canada.
• Windmill MicrolendingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2023$1.1 Million joint partnership with Definity Financial Corporation to support newcomers' career development by providing microlending services that help skilled immigrants get their credentials recognized and find meaningful employment in Canada.
• Canadian Women's FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2023$3.1 million gift to the Canadian Women's Foundation's Northern Strategy for gender equality, focused on Indigenous communities. Supports entrepreneurship and self-employment initiatives for diverse women, girls, and Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary people living in underserved Canadian Northern Provinces and Territories.
• Raven Indigenous Impact FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Indigenous-led philanthropy and the Indigenous Communities Outcomes Fund (now Raven Indigenous Outcomes Fund), providing catalytic capital to enable outcomes-based financing for Indigenous communities.
• MakeWay Charitable SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple partnerships through MakeWay including Arctic Indigenous Fund ($300,000), Gaagige Zaagibigaa, Northern Manitoba Food Culture & Community Collaborative, Sîhtoskâtowin Program, and Urban Climate Leadership. Focus on Indigenous-led initiatives and community-based climate solutions.
• Tamarack Institute for Community EngagementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$612,000 grant to advance Community Climate Transitions, a movement for community-based action ensuring equity-deserving communities lead local place-based climate solutions. Also supports the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR) with $450,000.
• Community Climate Resilience LabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$228,000 to develop Toronto's first Racial Justice Climate Resilience (RJCR) Framework through community-based research engaging Black, Indigenous, and racialized leaders for integrated community action, policy making, and research.
• Charitable and Nonprofit Sector Infrastructure Collaborative FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year general operating support to provincial and territorial nonprofit networks across Canada. Collaborative funding partners include Benefaction Foundation, Catherine Donnelly Foundation, The Counselling Foundation of Canada, Laidlaw Foundation, Lawson Foundation, McConnell Foundation, RBC Foundation, and Tiny Foundation. Fund is stewarded by the Lawson Foundation.
• Black Opportunity FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$600,000 grant to support Black entrepreneurs and changemakers across Canada with capacity building, advocacy, and non-repayable first-loss capital to advance Black community wealth-building and wellbeing.
• Yellowhead InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$1,334,090 to support research infrastructure that drives movements towards restoration of Indigenous sovereignty, allowing Indigenous control and influence over factors that impact their health and wellbeing across Canada.
• The Resilience InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$400,000 to advance community-led climate adaptation and mitigation solutions to support thriving, resilient rural Indigenous communities in Alberta and across Canada.
• Catalyst Community Finance Initiative (SVX)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner$150,000 to strengthen existing and develop new rural and northern social finance intermediaries and funds that address capital access issues for geographically isolated or equity-deserving communities.
• Social Innovation CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for convening of Indigenous leaders from across Canada to explore possibility of Indigenous-led leadership for Wasan Island. Supports social innovation ecosystem development.
• Prosper CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$750,000 to address inequality in financial empowerment service provisions by developing partnerships with Black-led organizations to explore unique FE needs/barriers and develop financial policies and programs.
• Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner$725,350 to work with physicians and community partners to develop solutions-oriented approaches addressing health and social justice impacts of fossil fuel extraction in Northern BC and tar sands tailings deposits in Alberta.
• Environment Funders CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$550,000 to support early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs with business education and financial practices using Indigenous knowledge systems in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
• Relèven (Trinity Centres Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner$500,000 to support the capacity development of a $30 million Transition Fund that will enable not-for-profits to acquire and repurpose faith properties across Canada for community spaces or affordable housing.
• Foundation for Environmental StewardshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$375,000 to support innovative youth-led climate initiatives that address systemic problems, social inequalities, and promote climate solutions.
• Farmers for Climate SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$360,000 to work with underrepresented farmers (Indigenous, Black, racialized, women and youth) to ensure their voices inform the next Agricultural Policy Framework process for 2028-2033.
• Reconnection VisioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$350,000 to embed Indigenous worldviews into climate action through workshops, strategy development, and storytelling to shift societal values needed to address root causes of climate change in the Yukon and beyond.
• SEED Winnipeg Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner$312,000 to lead the Manitoba Financial Empowerment Network to design a 3-Year Financial Empowerment Policy and Institutional Change Strategy for Indigenous, Black and racialized people.
• Arctic Indigenous FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$300,000 led by young Indigenous leaders to foster Indigenous-led philanthropy rooted in Indigenous cultures and traditions, and increase philanthropic funding for northern communities.
• Sustainability NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$270,000 to deliver Vision2030, a multi-year capacity building initiative for Canada's ENGOs to confront colonial foundations and foster intergenerational collaboration.
• RADIUS SFUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$250,000 to support RADIUS SFU's Health Equity Action & Insights Lab in creating social infrastructure, tools, and resources for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to develop community-driven innovations.
• Small Change FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$210,100 to conduct feasibility study for a fund providing government relations and advocacy assistance on climate and environmental issues for marginalized groups.
• The Depot Community Food CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$200,000 to reduce structural barriers creating food insecurity by advancing advocacy work in Quebec through a newly established food security coalition.
• Calgary Climate Hub AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$170,000 to equip newcomer and equity-deserving community leaders with evidence and knowledge to influence climate policies at the City of Calgary.
• Indigenous Tech CircleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo Indigenize social finance through the Indigenous Venture Challenge to generate a case study enabling replication of practices across Canada.
• Centraide du Grand MontrealcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$1,000,000 to support the Collective Impact Project (CIP) contributing to reducing poverty and social exclusion by supporting Montreal neighborhoods with tools for comprehensive community change processes.
• Rideau Hall FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$2,000,000 to shift operational capacity of the Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP) to the North to align with AIP values and ensure northern owned, led and operated sustainability.
• Urban Climate LeadershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for Urban Climate Leadership project to scale up cross-sector collaboration to accelerate equitable climate action by local governments through select systems-changing initiatives. Project of Makeway.
• IslamicFamilyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo catalyze the field of Islamic Finance in Canada enabling racialized communities and Muslim faith members to participate in an inclusive economy through Shariah-compliant investible opportunities.
• Clean Economy FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo mobilize $1 billion to scale up investment strategies focused on securing climate, social, and economy resilience for Canadians while generating competitive risk-adjusted financial returns.
• Youth Climate CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo enable Youth Climate Corps to work with the federal government to design and deliver the $40M Youth Climate Corps program advancing green jobs for hundreds of youth across Canada.
• Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for Ulnooweg Education Centre for Indigenous communities and individuals to use as space for education, learning and dialogue in pursuit of economic participation in Atlantic Canada.
• Northern Manitoba Food, Culture & Community Collaborative (NMFCCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo support NMFCCC in partnerships with community-led work through accessible granting, knowledge sharing, and creating opportunities for youth and community strengthening. Also partners with funders on (un)learning journeys for philanthropic systems change.
• Annaumakkaijiit Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$470,000 to support the Annaumakkaijiit Community Foundation in delivering grant and sector development programs tailored to supporting growth and resilience of the non-profit and charitable sector in Nunavut.
• Food First NLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo support a three-year effort to reduce food insecurity in Newfoundland and Labrador by coordinating action on income security and building a more connected transportation system.
• Ontario Nonprofit NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo support capacity and sustainability of Ontario's nonprofit sector through development of resources, tools, training and research to strengthen leadership and organizational capacity.
• Employee Ownership CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo develop proof points of businesses transitioning to employee ownership to convince federal government to extend the $10 million capital gains tax exemption for employee ownership trusts.
• SETSIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$68,000 for the Black Capital Infrastructure Initiative (BCII) to strengthen and expand Black-led financial infrastructure by increasing community ownership of capital and directing institutional investment into Black-led funds.
• Sîhtoskâtowin ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous-led philanthropic initiative providing flexible, trust-based funding to support Indigenous community-led projects in rural and Northern Saskatchewan focusing on food systems, health/healing, and cultural reclamation.
• Indigenous Peoples Resilience FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo support grassroots Indigenous communities across Canada address issues related to health access, food security and sovereignty. Also supports organizational development of the IPRF program.
• Refugee Career Jumpstart ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo support Jumpstart Refugee Talent to launch a Refugee Impact Fund addressing barriers to accessing capital for refugee entrepreneurs.
• East Scarborough StorefrontminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$223,514 to design a sustainable community-based response addressing systemic barriers to food security for Black, Indigenous and racialized people in Kingston-Galloway-Orton Park in Toronto.
• Indigenous Climate ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership grant to support Indigenous-led climate action initiatives across Canada.
• The Circle on PhilanthropycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to advance equity-centered approaches in philanthropy and support learning and collaboration among philanthropic organizations.
• Workforce Funders CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support workforce development initiatives through Community Foundations of Canada.
• EcoTrust CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo support partnership between Metlakatla First Nation and EcoTrust Canada to create a Regenerative Ocean Farming (ROF) hub in Northern BC to revitalize maritime traditions, increase local employment, and improve food access.
• Nourish LeadershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo transform Canadian healthcare food systems by improving access to sustainable, healthy, local and culturally appropriate food within healthcare organizations and supporting local and Indigenous suppliers.
• Indigenous Food Sovereignty AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo strengthen Indigenous-led food security and sovereignty across Canada by supporting a demonstration site at Tea Creek Farm in northern British Columbia for First Nations training and mutual support.
• Fair Finance FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting the African Canadian Farmers Fund to increase access to capital for Black farmers and food sovereignty initiatives.
• Afro-Caribbean Business NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo support the Afro-Caribbean Business Network Microloan Fund providing microloans and financial management skills to Black entrepreneurs to increase equitable access to capital and build family wealth.
• New Power LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo mobilize more capital for underserved communities by building infrastructure and influence needed to unlock $500 million in pledges for underfunded leaders by 2030.
• Philanthropic Foundations CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to strengthen the Canadian philanthropic sector through research, advocacy, and collective action.
• Impact United AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$235,000 to increase access to capital for community-led initiatives by mobilizing asset owners to invest in impact through peer-to-peer learning and direct connections to BIPOC communities.
• New Economy CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo shift narratives through a community-informed communications campaign to advance a clean economy in Canada ensuring Indigenous participation in clean energy projects and policy.
• Iron & EarthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTo support the Community Talks program working toward a just energy transition across Canadian communities by deepening local engagement and amplifying community-driven climate solutions.
• Scale Institute SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$25,000 to create online capacity-building and investment readiness learning tools for nonprofit leaders and boards to enable enterprising approaches that strengthen communities.
• Future of GoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to amplify social innovation news and storytelling for the social sector in Canada.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Calgary Foundation: Major Canadian community foundation with focus on equity, climate, and community vitality. Comparable in being a Canada-based private/community foundation pursuing justice-centered grantmaking and multi-year partnerships.
• Laidlaw Foundation: Canadian private foundation focused on youth, equity, and community engagement. Directly comparable in targeting equity-deserving communities in Canada with flexible, trust-based grantmaking approaches similar to Definity's stated model.
• Vancouver Foundation: Canada's largest community foundation, granting across health, education, environment, and equity. Comparable to Definity as a Canada-focused philanthropic institution working across climate, social, and equity priorities with multi-year partnerships.
• Mastercard Foundation: Large Canadian-headquartered private foundation funded by corporate demutualization-equivalent proceeds (Young's $1B+ endowment) with a global social justice and youth-focused mandate. Directly comparable to Definity in being a corporate-origin, independently governed foundation that deploys multi-year, equity-centered grants.
• McConnell Foundation: Major Canadian private foundation focused on social innovation, Indigenous reconciliation, and climate. Directly comparable as a Canadian private foundation working in overlapping thematic areas (climate, Indigenous communities, social finance) with multi-year flexible funding approaches.
• Catherine Donnelly Foundation: Canadian private foundation focused on social and environmental justice, including housing, climate, and Indigenous initiatives. Directly comparable in thematic overlap with Definity's climate, social justice, and community-led funding priorities.
• Lawson Foundation: Canadian private foundation focused on early childhood and child/youth wellbeing through community-led approaches. Comparable as a Canadian private foundation using flexible, multi-year, relationship-based grantmaking with an equity lens.

Emerging players

• Foundation for Black Communities: Emerging Canadian foundation specifically focused on Black-led and Black-serving organizations. Comparable because Definity just announced a $3.5M/5-year flagship partnership with FFBC, placing them in the same justice-centered Black-led funding space.

Others

• Community Foundations of Canada: National umbrella for Canada's community foundation network. Relevant ecosystem peer because Definity partners with it (Workforce Funders Collaborative) and it represents an aggregated alternative model of community-led philanthropic capital deployment in Canada.

Broad incumbents

• Ontario Trillium Foundation: Provincial agency foundation distributing significant public-fund-derived grants across Ontario. Comparable as a Canadian grantmaking institution focused on equity-deserving communities and community-led solutions, though broader in scope and province-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DefinityFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/DefinityFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/definity-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/definityfdn/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Definity Insurance Foundation