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À chaque mois, nous abordons un thème différent avec un mot de la direction ainsi que de courtes vignettes portant sur les fonds, les philanthropes et les organismes qui forment la communauté de la FGM en se mettant à l’écoute et au service de la communauté du Grand Montréal.
The Foundation of Greater Montreal recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. It was born from the vision of individuals and organizations who wanted to give Montreal a powerful collective tool: a community foundation capable of connecting people with financial resources to organizations that, every day, address the social and environmental needs of our communities, support culture, and promote access to education and healthcare.
Today, 25 years later, FGM has mobilized over $500 million in capital for the benefit of our community. This is remarkable. Our financial foundations are strong, and our ambition is clear: to double this asset in the coming years in order to multiply our impact. But we must be honest: the context in which we operate is concerning—very concerning. The challenges are well known, but they are intensifying: housing access is tightening for everyone; the climate crisis, whose consequences we are already experiencing—floods, wildfires, air quality degradation; and the growing fragility of the cultural sector, even as arts and culture are essential to maintaining social cohesion in an increasingly polarized society.
In the face of these challenges, the Foundation’s role takes on its full meaning. The individuals and organizations that entrust us with their funds are helping to build a powerful collective tool that puts capital at the service of the common good. Together, we pool resources, share risks, expand investment opportunities, and ensure the sustainability and growth of this capital for the benefit of the Greater Montreal community.
And this is fundamental: at FGM, we work for fund creators—whether individuals or organizations. And together, we work for the community. The more we unite our strengths, the greater our impact, both on the ground and with decision-makers. That said, let’s be clear: philanthropy cannot replace strong public policies. Nor should it. The Foundation of Greater Montréal will continue to advocate for ambitious policies to address social, environmental, and cultural crises.
At the same time, we must also look at ourselves with clarity. We must ask: How can we do better? How can we do more? How can we further increase our impact? It is with this in mind that we will launch, in the coming weeks, a strategic planning process. This is an important moment to reflect on our future, building on 25 years of history and achievements we can be proud of.
Some things will not change. We will continue to exercise leadership in responsible and impact investing; to promote trust-based philanthropy; to support historically marginalized communities; to advance the ecological transition and the issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion; and to be allies of the cultural sector.
But given the scale of the challenges, we cannot simply continue as before. We must go further. That is why, over the next few months, we will also come to meet you. We want to hear from you. We want to understand what we are doing well, what we must preserve, and what we can improve and transform to maximize the impact of our community foundation—your community foundation.
I am very enthusiastic about this process because our foundations are strong. We have credibility built over 25 years, remarkable expertise driven by committed volunteers, and, above all, an exceptional team. I want to warmly thank the entire team for their commitment, resilience, and professionalism during a period of significant change. Your work is essential, and it makes a real difference. Since my arrival, I have been particularly struck by one thing: the level of engagement of the teams and volunteers. And what fuels this engagement is purpose. Why do we do all this? For whom do we do it?
These questions must always remain at the heart of our actions. This is true for the team. It is true for the volunteers. And it is also true for the fund creators, partners, and organizations connected to the Foundation. On this point, I believe we can go even further. We must strengthen our relationship with you by highlighting the concrete impact of your efforts and engagement—everything you make possible that would not be possible otherwise. Because, at its core, this is what drives us.
And today, faced with the magnitude of the challenges, we need this mobilization. We need everyone. There is no longer room to be a bystander. At the FGM, we will do better and do more—that is my commitment. And if you can, the community needs you. Now.
President and CEO
Foundation of Greater Montréal
