About Us

Community means so many things to so many people, and the world to us.

In all we do and all we say, we are all for community.

We are The Temiskaming Foundation and community vitality has been our purpose, promise and passion since 1994 when we started connecting donors to community needs and opportunities. Together, we help build strong and resilient places to live, work and play.

Inclusive. Innovative. Forward-looking. Vital. This is our vision for our community.

In our vision, our community is inclusive and provides opportunities to all. We want to ensure that all our citizens are able to benefit from the best our community can offer: the arts, recreation, health care, education, safe and inclusive neighbourhoods and a healthy environment.

As a community foundation, we provide three main services to build community vitality:

Endowment Building

Vitality takes long-term resources for long-term solutions—so we work with donors to build endowment funds that ensure vital futures for communities.

We receive funds in trust from private and public sources, investing funds according to a board-determined investment policy and with professional fund managers. Endowment funds may be established by individuals, corporations or agencies and may be designated to a specific purpose or left to the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Grant Making

Vitality comes from all corners of a community, so we grant funds to the widest possible range of organizations and initiatives.

The interest generated from the endowment funds is used to make grants. Recipients must first complete a comprehensive grant application citing the purpose for which the funds will be used. The grant making committee first reviews the applications then makes a recommendation to the board.

Leadership

Vitality needs leadership, so we bring people together from all parts of our communities to stimulate new ideas, build participation and strengthen community philanthropy.

In a leadership capacity, we make a concerted effort to learn about and understand the needs of the community by sharing information at board meetings, communicating with community groups and acting as a catalyst to build and strengthen community capacity.

Our Story

The Tri Town Foundation was established in 1994 when a group of community leaders learned how small communities in the United States were prospering through the work of their community foundations. The group reasoned that if other communities could benefit through the work of community foundations, why not start one in the Tri Towns. A local foundation would allow Tri Town residents to donate to the community with the assurance that funds would be directed to where they were most needed, and all donations would remain local.

The founding group consisted of the following individuals: Peter Ramsay, Murray Cooper, Dave Armstrong, George Morissette, Serge Hamel, Roy Carlyle. Florent Heroux, Charles (Chuck) Clark, Mike Imbeau, Judge J. Douglas Bernstein and Gerald Blair. Today the Board has 13 members and is made up of a cross section of the community.

The original strategic plan set a goal of $250,000 in endowments by the year 2000. By 2002, there were 22 funds with a total value exceeding $1,000,000. These same funds provided for over $42,000 to be granted out to the community. Established funds range from those that benefit specific causes, scholarships for graduating high school students, local arts & cultural activities, local food banks, and local hospitals. Non-designated funds benefit many groups/projects across many sectors of the community.

In July of 2009, the Tri Town Foundation changed its name to The Temiskaming Foundation to more accurately reflect the geographic area it serves. A new name, a great future and a continuing commitment to serve Temiskaming from Kirkland Lake to Latchford.

The Temiskaming Foundation is a registered charity 888535465RR0001.

Our Objectives

	To support social services to advance the welfare of citizens and the alleviation of human suffering and poverty;
	To assist and promote the arts and cultural activities;
	To advance education through the establishment of scholarship funds and the funding of specific educational endeavors;
	To support and advance the provision of medical services through the funding of medical facilities and medical research;
	To encourage and support physical fitness and amateur sport; and
	To support and advance other community activities or facilities of a charitable nature.

Our Approach

Many organizations are working for better communities, but a few important factors make our approach stand out:

We bring donors to the table as community builders.

We help them formulate and realize their philanthropic goals, matching their interests and concerns with community needs and organizations. We help them find innovative and responsible ways to give their investments lasting impact.

We take the broadest view of what a community is and what it needs to succeed.

That’s why our grants support everything from shelter, sustenance and care for those most in need, to recreation, the arts, and the environment.

We take the long-term view for our communities.

We identify long-term needs and opportunities and invest in sustainable solutions, helping our communities become resilient, resourceful, and ready for the future.