Guelph Community Foundation

10/15/2026

This week's features 2025 Community Grant reciepents Child Witness Centre !✍️

In 2025 and 2026, Child Witness Centre continued to provide trauma-informed support for children, youth, and families in and Wellington County impacted by crime and abuse. They support these clients as they navigate complex legal systems and processes. Through advocacy, emotional support, and guidance, young people are empowered to feel safe, heard, and supported through these difficult challenges.

Pictured here is Monet, one of CWC's accredited facility service dogs working in the criminal justice system in the Region of Waterloo. Monet works alongside CWC's frontline workers, supporting children and youth who are victims or witnesses of crime. 🐕‍🦺

We are grateful to have been able to help fund such a vital initiative that helps children, youth, and families heal, build resilience, and move forward with hope.💜

Read the full story here: 🔗 guelphcf.ca/cwc-gcfgrantstories

10/14/2026

☀️ Great weather, great conversations, and a great time!🍂

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the The Guelph Chamber of Commerce 's Business After 5 at Cox Creek Cellars Inc. ! We loved meeting new people, reconnecting with familiar faces, and sharing more about the work of the Guelph Community Foundation while enjoying pizza, local w**e, and live music from Jessica Hart. 🍷🍕🎸The evening was a wonderful reminder of the value of building local relationships and of the incredible people who make up our community. Thank you to all who attended and helped make this event so sucessful! 🙏

🔗Read the event recap and see all the photos on our website: guelphcf.ca/ba5-2026/

10/13/2026

The Deadline to apply to the Sleeman Better Water Fund is this Monday! 💧

🍁This Canada-wide grant supports charitable organizations focused on responsible water use (conservation and preservation) or accessibility of clean water in communities. Funding requests are up to $40,000 per application! ⏰Applications will be accepted until October 19, 2026.

✉️Have questions about your application? Email us at [email protected]

🔗Learn more atbout this grant on our website: guelphcf.ca/sbwf

Life at Sleeman

10/13/2026

La date limite pour déposer une demande auprès de la Fonds Sleeman pour une eau meilleure est ce lundi ! 💧

🍁 Cette subvention d'envergure nationale soutient les organismes de bienfaisance qui se consacrent à une utilisation responsable de l'eau (conservation et préservation) ou à l'accès à de l'eau potable au sein des communautés. Le financement peut atteindre 40 000 $ par demande ! ⏰ Les demandes seront acceptées jusqu'au 19 octobre 2026.

✉️ Vous avez des questions concernant votre demande ? Écrivez-nous à [email protected]

🔗 Pour en savoir plus : guelphcf.ca/sbwf


Life at Sleeman

10/12/2026

Happy ! We feeling so grateful today as we are continually inspired by the many local throughout the county we work with. It is so incredible seeing all of the amazing work being done to help the , and we know there is plenty to be for this year. We will be returning to the office on Tuesday and look forward to connecting with you then!

10/10/2026

Today, October 10, is 🏠, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the challenges facing people experiencing homelessness and inspiring communities to take action toward ending homelessness.

💙One meaningful way you can help is by supporting The Home for Good Campaign, a collaborative initiative of the Guelph Community Foundation and United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin that is working to reduce homelessness in our community. Home for Good raises funds for local projects with the goal of cutting homelessness in by half.

🩵Through Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Home for Good helps people experiencing chronic homelessness access stable housing along with consistent social, emotional, and practical supports. These supports include mental health services, wellness programming, and food security initiatives. While PSH is not the only solution, it is a proven approach that transforms lives and strengthens our community.

Homelessness is unacceptable, but it is solvable when we work together! 🤝

➡️Here's how you can donate to Home for Good:
1. Visit https://guelphcf.ca/donate/
2. Select The Home for Good Campaign fund in the dropdown menu
3. Complete your donation through CanadaHelps (a tax receipt will automatically be provided)

🔗Learn more: https://homeforgoodgw.ca/

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

Saturday Oct 10 is ! It is a reminder that mental health matters, and that every young person deserves access to the support they need to thrive.🧠

Here in and , Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario Wellington-Guelph is doing exactly that. The Youth Wellness Hubs provide barrier-free, integrated mental health and wellness support for youth aged 12 to 25, from education and career guidance, to counselling and peer-to-peer programs. Designed by youth, for youth, these safe and inclusive spaces empower young people to take the lead in their own wellness journey.🤝

GCF is proud to support their work through The Grove Hubs Flow Through Fund. If you would like to help provide young people in our community a place to turn, consider making a gift to the fund today! 💚

➡️Here's how you can donate to the Grove Hubs Flow Through Fund:
1. Visit https://guelphcf.ca/donate/
2. Select the Grove Hubs Flow Through Fund in the dropdown menu
3. Complete your donation through CanadaHelps (a tax receipt will automatically be provided)

10/08/2026

This week's features Quebec based charity, One Drop 💧

This organization was the awardee of the Sleeman Better Water Fund $40,000 grant to support their Six Nations Mobile Water Lab. The Lab focuses on water education, access, and security in Six Nations of the Grand River. With fewer than 30% of households connected to treated, piped water, the project is helping address critical water testing gaps while building trust through community-led monitoring and outreach. 🔬

Funding supported the purchase of scientific testing equipment and educational materials used for bacteriological, chemical, and radiological water testing. The equipment was also used at the Six Nations Summer Institute, where Indigenous youth received hands-on training that combined Traditional Ecological Knowledge with western science. This project is actively helping strengthen Indigenous-led water stewardship and local capacity for the future. 👏

🔗 Read the full story: guelphcf.ca/one-drop/

10/07/2026

📅 THIS THURSDAY is DAF Day! 🌟
But... what is DAF Day? 🤔

A DAF is a Donor Advised Fund and is one of the most effective charitable giving tools. It allows individuals, families, and businesses to create a fund dedicated to supporting the causes they care about most, while enjoying the flexibility of recommending grants over time. A DAF at GCF offers many of the benefits of a private foundation, without the administrative burden.

At the Guelph Community Foundation, donor-advised funds help philanthropists:

✅ Support charities and causes that reflect their values
✅ Create a lasting family or business legacy
✅ Involve future generations in giving decisions
✅ Benefit from local knowledge and grantmaking expertise
✅ Build long-term community impact through endowed giving

DAF Day, celebrated across Canada on October 8, shines a spotlight on the power of donor-advised philanthropy and the difference it makes in communities nationwide. Canadians have already committed billions of dollars to charitable purposes through DAFs, creating opportunities for meaningful impact now and into the future. As DAF Day approaches, we invite you to learn more about how a Donor Advised Fund can help turn your charitable goals into a lasting legacy.

🔗 Learn more about creating a fund at GCF: https://guelphcf.ca/creating-a-fund/

✉️Curious whether a Donor Advised Fund is right for you or your family? We'd be happy to start the conversation, just email [email protected] ! 👋