Foundation House opened its doors in January 2016, as the creation of The Counseling Foundation of Canada, Laidlaw Foundation and The Lawson Foundation. Over the months, the conversation evolved from a simple idea of having a collective roof over their heads to becoming a hub for philanthropic collaboration, learning and sharing.
Joining the three founding partners, both full-time and part-time, is a stellar group of 8 organizations, including several umbrella organizations in the Canadian philanthropic sector and other nonprofit thought leaders. Great people who work collaboratively and share great ideas!
From the outset, the partners have worked hard at making Foundation House a welcoming space for all, from staff to family members, grantees and partners. It is particularly important for the three foundations to be seen as approachable and collaborative, and this informed the design of the space.
As the groups have settled in, they are working on co-creating an organizational culture to align with the ethos of the resident organizations and the individuals who work here. They know that if this is going to work for the long term, they need to invest time in getting to know each other and setting a tone and philosophy that will work for everyone in the space. If you happen to be in the neighborhood in Toronto, please drop by 2 St Clair Avenue East, Suite 300! Their website will be available soon.