Donor Stories

Anishnabeg Outreach received a 2024 Community Grant to support their Guelph Spirit Bundle Program. This is an initiative that offers culturally informed food support, seasonal resources, and community connection for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) families in Guelph. Thanks to this funding, Anishnabeg Outreach was able to expand their program, which provides bi-weekly food…

We’re excited to announce #GCFGrantStories – a weekly summer+ series where we’ll share and celebrate some of the work done by our incredible grantees! Starting next Friday, we’ll be spotlighting some inspirational stories from local charitable projects we’ve recently helped fund. Much of the charitable sector work of the last year had to overcome challenges…

With support from the Musagetes Fund, the Art Gallery of Guelph (AGG) launched the art exhibition, Entrelazados, by Guatemala-Mexican-American artist Justin Favela in 2024. This was Favela’s first solo show in Canada and it included additional artist and curator led-programing. The exhibition featured Favela’s iconic bright, piñata-style artworks in AGG’s main exhibition space in their first…

Art Not Shame (ANS) received a 2024 Musagetes Fund grant during an important time of growth. The grant helped them open a new and fully accessible Community Arts Hub in downtown Guelph and expand their inclusive, creative programs across the region! The Musagetes grant also helped bring vibrant, community-led programs to life. Projects like their…

Partnering with the University of Guelph, international organization Art Not Shame ran a series of mental health related virtual workshops with the students. Particularly successful were the virtual workshops featuring award-winning short films and panel discussion with students and local mental health professionals. The students were engaged in critical conversations about mental health, watching short…

Though one of our Community Grants Autism Ontario was able to, among other things, offer yoga classes and yoga mats to the families they work with. These classes were geared to a child on the spectrum alongside a caregiver, sibling, or friend. A goal of the yoga program was to encourage families to continue yoga…

Today in our #GCFGrantStories series, we feature Community Grant recipient Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph (BBBSG), which received funding for its In-School Mentoring Program. The In-School Mentoring Program pairs at-risk youth with an adult volunteer mentor as a role model and friend to help them realize their full potential. For approximately an hour each…

Supported by a Community Grant, Lake Hope House’s Bringing Better Meals to the Community meal delivery program was an incredible success in 2021. This program was an extension of their meal and food skill-based programming where a Community Chef was hired who delivered food skills classes and created meals to support food insecure within the…

Build Your Community, Build Your Resume is an interactive High School Student assembly that demonstrates how youth can make a difference in their community while gaining valuable workplace experiences. This project, a recipient of a $5,000 Community Grant in 2012, addresses volunteer needs and emerging employment opportunities in our community. Over the past year, the Career…

Chalmers Community Services Centre received a 2024 Community Grant to support their Café Gatherings, a warm and welcoming program that helps people feel included and connected. This program is more than just a place for locals to grab a snack. Chalmers Community Services Centre offers a friendly space where individuals and families facing food insecurity,…

The Child Witness Centre provides support, education and advocacy for children and youth who are or may become victims or witnesses of abuse or crime. In 2020 Child Witness Centre got a golden retriever dog named Monet to work with their clients. While ideally Monet could be present with every client, this is just not…

Congratulations to the 30 Community Grants 2025 Recipients! The Guelph Community Foundation’s board and staff are pleased to announce the Community Grants Program grant recipients for 2025. This year will cheerfully conclude with 30 local charities receiving a total of $145,887.70 in funding! The Community Grants application process takes place each fall, when local charities…