Funds will support housing, standard of living, children and youth, and mental health and wellness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 1, 2025
BURLINGTON, Ontario – Thanks to the generosity of donors, Burlington Community Foundation (BCF) has granted $315,000 to 35 charities, adding to the more than $13 million in total granting in BCF’s 26-year history.
BCF’s Community Grants are addressing local areas of need in housing, child and youth development, mental health and wellness, and more. Funding is made possible through BCF’s Burlington Community Fund, where donors make charitable gifts to be invested in perpetuity, enabling BCF to align resources annually to the greatest community needs.
“Donors who contribute to the Burlington Community Fund are among some of the most generous in our city,” said Megan Tregunno, CEO of the Burlington Community Foundation. “Donations range from one-time gifts of $20 to a multi-million-dollar private foundation supporting children and youth, which BCF is now honoured to grow and distribute.
“Through the generosity of donors, we are able to provide charitable partners with vital funding that contributes to enhancing local programming, both through pilot and expansion projects and supporting on-going initiatives that will strengthen Burlington in areas where support is most needed.”
In BCF’s 2025 Vital Signs report, Burlington residents identified top issues in the city, including affordable housing and cost of living. The Burlington Community Foundation uses these insights to align its annual granting focus and resources to these needs, benefiting organizations working to make an impact in the local community.
Below are this year’s key Community Priority Areas and an example of a grant that was provided in support of each area:
- Child and youth development (e.g., Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton – to support the Harmony in the Classroom program’s expansion into Burlington schools)
- Housing (e.g., Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin – in support of the Youth Skilled Trades Program [formerly Tiny Homes Program], where secondary school students build homes that are delivered to local families and First Nations communities)
- Health, mental health and well-being (e.g., Distress Centre Halton – to support on-going free, confidential services to individuals facing emotional stress, crisis and loneliness)
- Standard of living (e.g., Halton Women’s Place – to help ensure nutritious and culturally-appropriate food for clients and provide those leaving the shelter with a $100 gift card for groceries)
Each year, Burlington-serving organizations are invited to apply for funding through BCF’s Community Granting Program to support projects and initiatives that help strengthen the Burlington community. Charitable organizations were able to apply for up to $15,000 in funding this year and 75 applications for funding were received.
BCF’s annual Community Granting Program is funded through its Burlington Community Fund. Donations can be made to the fund to support BCF’s annual grant program, as the Foundation works to address the greatest and evolving needs in the local community.
In addition to its annual Community Granting Program, BCF has responded to the evolving and urgent needs around housing in the city through its Housing Support Fund, which met its first goal of raising $50,000 for local non-profits Wesley and Shifra Homes through the generosity of fundholders and community members.
The Foundation is now focused on raising funds to build a permanent Housing Support Fund that will provide annual grants to community organizations addressing housing needs in Burlington and Halton Region. Donations can be made online, through gift of securities (stock), and by contacting BCF.
About the Burlington Community Foundation
Established in 1999, the Burlington Community Foundation is this city’s trusted philanthropic partner, and one of more than 200 community foundations across Canada. We manage charitable gifts from donors whose generosity allows us to create permanent, income-earning funds. Funds are then distributed as grants for charitable or educational purposes. To date, the Burlington Community Foundation has invested more than $13 million in people, projects, and non-profit organizations that strengthen Burlington and communities throughout Canada. Visit: www.BurlingtonFoundaton.org.
For more information contact:
Dana Brown, Communications and Grants Associate
dbrown@BurlingtonFoundation.org
905-639-0744 ext. 1
Backgrounder Attached (see full listing of all 35 grant recipients and brief project descriptions)
BACKGROUNDER: GRANTS IN ACTION
The 35 organizations receiving grants from the Burlington Community Foundation are listed below. While these grants are focused on BCF’s four Community Priority Areas of children and youth, housing, standard of living, and health, mental health and well-being, the intersectional nature of these organizations means their initiatives and programming may represent multiple areas of need and impact.
- Acclaim Health – to support a program that enhances connection and well-being for those living with dementia through art instruction. – $4,500
- Alzheimer Society of Brant, Haldimand Norfolk, Hamilton, Halton – to support the Out and About sub-group of the Social Café, where participants will visit local community locations during warmer months. – $8,000
- Burlington Community Robotics – in support of bursaries to ensure all students can participate in hands-on STEM learning. – $10,000
- Burlington Performing Arts Centre – in support of the Onstage Arts Education Series, including at least 15 matinee performances to engage at least 10,000 students. Free tickets are also offered to students who cannot afford the cost. – $8,000
- Burlington Public Library – to support the pilot BPL Social Connection Project, which seeks to engage community members in opportunities to create social connection through interactive shared experiences at select Burlington library branches. – $15,000
- Burlington Symphony Orchestra – to record sound and video of two concerts and share with all senior residences in Burlington that wish to participate. – $5,000
- Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton – to support the Harmony in the Classroom program’s expansion into Burlington schools. – $15,000
- Camelot Centre – in support of continued art therapy programming. – $1,800
- Camp Quality Canada – in support of bursaries for Burlington children experiencing cancer to attend camp. – $4,500
- Centre for Diverse Learners – in support of the Mastering Mathematics Program. – $15,000
- Community Living Burlington – to support individuals with developmental differences participate in CLB programming, including helping to cover fees and create programming that will be free for low-income individuals supported by CLB. – $10,000
- Conservation Halton Foundation – in support of the From the Ground Up Program, which blends experiential learning for youth with community and environmental impact through hands-on programming. – $10,000
- Distress Centre Halton – to support on-going free, confidential services to individuals facing emotional stress, crisis and loneliness. – $10,000
- FeedHalton – to support a driver to ensure a more consistent food and supply delivery schedule to numerous charitable partners (e.g., Burlington Food Bank, Wellington Square United Church) – $10,000
- Food4Kids Halton – in support of the Weekends Without Hunger Program, providing food to children in need for the weekend, when there are no school programs. – $10,000
- Food for Life Inc (Formerly Food for Life Charitable Corp) – in support of continued programming that supports more than 1,300 households per week. – $10,000
- Front Line Outreach – to expand the Safe Haven for Youth program to Burlington. – $10,000
- Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin – in support of the Youth Skilled Trades Program (formerly Tiny Homes Program), where secondary school students build homes that are delivered to local families and First Nations communities. – $10,000
- Halton Black History Awareness Society – to support the Halton Emancipation Gala and Festival during the 10th anniversary of the HBHAS. – $10,000
- Halton Food for Thought – in support of nutritional programming in Halton schools. – $10,000
- Halton Learning Foundation – to support school engagement grants through HLF and enable schools to fund educational experiences and purchase resources, including programming at four Burlington schools to address human rights, equity and inclusion. – $5,000
- Halton Women’s Place – to help ensure nutritious and culturally-appropriate food for clients and provide those leaving the shelter with a $100 gift card for groceries. – $10,000
- Home Suite Hope – to provide Community Socials and help reduce isolation and build social connection for single-parent families helped with housing and support in HSH programming. $10,000
- Myriad Ensemble – in support of free admission for youth and newcomers for Myriad’s spring concert, Spellbound, as well as bursaries for choir participation. – $7,500
- Next Door Social Space – in support of on-going community programming that includes a community garden, youth ball hockey and free lunches/breakfasts. – $15,000
- Repeat Champions Foundation Inc. – to expand the Super Saturday program, where youth and seniors come together to refurbish, prepare and polish donated trophies and medals to redistribute them to youth organizations. – $4,700
- Restorations Second Stage Homes – in support of a program manager at Nancy’s House, which provides housing and support to survivors of human trafficking. – $7,500
- Royal Botanical Gardens – in support of the Green Angels program, specifically providing 25 underserved children and youth with the opportunity to attend a one- week camp. – $10,000
- Scouts Canada – to fund urgent meeting space for the 1st Port Nelson Scouting group. – $3,500
- Shifra Homes Inc. – in support of existing programming as the only maternity residence in the Halton area, providing wraparound support for young, pregnant women without homes. – $10,000
- Christopher’s Church (Open Doors) – in support of a seasonal staff person to handle increased holiday demands. – $10,000
- STEM Camp Foundation – in support of STEM camp bursaries for underserved Burlington children and youth. – $5,000
- Thrive Counselling Services Halton – in support of a project to provide free psychotherapy and counseling sessions for seniors. – $10,000
- Wesley – to support the purchase of bunk beds at Halton’s only shelter for unhoused families. – $10,000
- YMCA Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford – in support of the Social Prescription program, targeting isolated seniors who can be prescribed participation in YMCA programming to promote belonging and connection. – $10,000
TOTAL GRANTS: $315,000