Niagara Community Foundation

06/03/2026

We celebrate along with our incredible community partners like OUTniagara Pride Month 🌈. June is not just about uplifting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, but it is a celebration of acceptance, inclusion, diversity and joy! Happy PRIDE!

Happy Pride Month ❤️🏳️‍🌈❤️

06/03/2026

It's feeling like summer and it's time to go to the beach! But there may be some hesitation!

As water temperatures rise and masses of algae bloom each summer in the two Great Lakes that cradle Niagara, a $20,000 grant from the Niagara Community Foundation’s Environmental Fund is encouraging community members to become scientists and waterkeepers — and to go to the beach!

Swim, Drink, Fish — a national organization that strives to create swimmable, drinkable, fishable water — regularly collected and tested samples from five Niagara beaches, helping to create an invaluable record that can be used by policy makers to protect shorelines and water.

Click here to read more and to become a Community Scientist today!
https://www.niagaracommunityfoundation.org/site/impact-stories/swim-drink-fish

06/02/2026

Yesterday we had the privilege of attending a cheque presentation and tour at the Marotta Family Hospital, as the team from Niagara Health explained the importance of the three new centrifuge machines. Supported by the Niagara Casino Fund, Niagara Health Foundation was a worthy recipient of a 2025 Community Grant to purchase the new equipment.

The centrifuge is an essential piece of equipment in a laboratory, enabling the separation of blood and other biological samples into their components for diagnostic testing. It is the first step in the diagnostic process that often takes the longest due to outdated equipment. It is imperative that Niagara Health's laboratory continues to uphold the highest standards of care, safety and reliability in the diagnostic testing process.

Thank you to our partners at Niagara Casinos for your ongoing investment in Niagara and to Niagara Health for your impact on our community.

05/29/2026

The idea of helping young people pursue post-secondary education has always been more than a passing thought for Mike and Christine Watt.

When their own daughter was in high school, they saw first-hand the barriers students with talent and drive — but not always the financial means — could face to attend college or university. So the Niagara on- the-Lake couple didn’t hesitate when an opportunity arose to help someone take that next step, covering the cost of first-term tuition so she could pursue post-secondary studies and, eventually, her dream career.

“It wasn’t a huge amount of money for us,” Christine says. “But to support her for a term— to me, it made a huge impact on her life.”

That experience left a lasting impression on the Watts, reinforcing the power of quiet acts of generosity.

Read the full story here: https://www.niagaracommunityfoundation.org/site/impact-stories/christine-michael-watt-family-fund

05/29/2026

shoutout! Great event coming up, hosted by Niagara Land Trust. Check it out!

Preserving Nature in Niagara, Forever - 3:30 PM on Sunday, June 21st, 2026. Join with the Niagara Land Trust members & supporters in welcoming explorer and national bestselling author Adam Shoalts (PhD.) as he muses about creating 'a bold, greener vision' for nature in the Niagara Peninsula. For more information, contact us via: https://olta.ca/find-a-land-trust/niagara-land-trust-foundation/

05/27/2026

At Niagara Community Foundation, we stand on three pillars, Endowment, Empowerment and Excellence. These three priorities help guide our work as Niagara's philanthropic leader.

Holding that title takes strong governance, financial accountability, and a deep investment in Niagara's charitable sector.

That's why we hold the Imagine Canada Accreditation Trustmark, the only national accreditation for nonprofits built by the sector, for the sector. This trust mark holds us accountable to our values and gives us a strong foundation to lead from.

Strong Foundation. Stronger Impact.

We invite other nonprofits and charities to join NCF in strengthening the sector, and growing our ability to lead and deliver impact: http://imaginecanada.ca/strongerimpact

05/25/2026

Have you registered for our upcoming seminar??
Join us next Wednesday for a professional development keynote on Fundraising Events. With guest speaker Don "the Auctioneer" Stewart, we will be learning about what makes an event successful and what makes it fall flat. You don't want to miss it!

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 | 9-11 a.m. | $30 | Heartland Forest

Register today!

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/niagara-community-foundation-fondation-communautaire-de-niagara/events/fundraising-events/

05/25/2026

Circus programs are magic! They lift youth and bring community together. Circus also checked all the rings for Holly Benedetti.⁠
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For the aerial artist and founder of the Welland-based non-profit Femmes du Feu Creations has pushed her body and creativity, and built community since she discovered it in 2001.⁠
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“I really like the physical challenge of circus. I like to work hard in my body and really challenge my body,” Benedetti says.⁠
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When Benedetti and her family moved from Toronto to Welland in 2019, they brought a vision of an arts hub where people could connect and youth programming rooted in circus.⁠
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Read more about this incredible program here: https://www.niagaracommunityfoundation.org/site/impact-stories/femmes-du-feu⁠
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05/22/2026

From front row seat to forever friend. The Veres Family has been a friend of NCF for many years. Serving on the Niagara Community Foundation’s grants committee was an eye-opening experience for Louise Veres.

She had returned to Niagara in 2016 after living and working in the Burlington and Oakville area for many years and found herself with a front-row seat to the wonderful ways people were making Niagara a better place.

But it also showed her the extent of the need.

Click on the link to read the full story: https://www.niagaracommunityfoundation.org/site/impact-stories/veres-family-fund