Nanaimo Foundation

The Nanaimo Foundation is a community foundation and a registered Canadian charity operating in Nanaimo, B.C. on Vancouver Island. By connecting visionary donors with causes that truly matter, we’re able to invest in people, projects by assisting local charitable organizations to make our communities stronger—now and for the long-term. As a registered Canadian charity, we manage charitable gifts from donors whose generosity allows us to create permanent, income-earning funds, which are distributed in the areas the donors wish to support. A gift to the Nanaimo Foundation makes a difference to the communities we serve now and in perpetuity. The geographic area served by the Nanaimo Foundation is defined by the boundaries of School District 68 which includes the communities of Nanaimo, Lantzville, Gabriola Island, Cedar and Ladysmith. At the Nanaimo Foundation, we are passionate about community. Everything we do is intended to help build vibrancy, health, and resiliency in our community. We accomplish our work by stewarding the gifts of energy, ideas, time, and money of caring community members to make meaningful and lasting impacts. We are Nanaimo’s community foundation and we’ve been investing in our community since 1982. We take a broad approach to our work, recognizing that communities are complex and that many things are needed to make them the best they can be. That’s why every year, with our donors, we help fund capital and pilot projects – large and small – in support of areas such as arts and culture, education, children and youth, environment, animal welfare, community health, and social development. We work with community partners to accomplish our goals. We collaborate with other charities and non-profits to provide funding for innovative projects to solve larger community issues. Our donors come from all walks of life. They have many interests, and share a love for their community. Our donors are the optimists in our midst—the people who believe things can get better, and who demonstrate that belief by helping us invest in great ideas.