No better time to get involved

A word from FGM – July 2023

Dear FGM partners and members,

It is with great enthusiasm that I take on the role of Chair of the Board of Directors of the Foundation of Greater Montréal. This is a crucial time for our community. As environmental and climate issues impact more and more individuals, as social and economic inequalities widen, and as matters of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) are finally getting the attention they deserve, there is no better time to get involved in a community foundation like FGM. Our community’s needs are huge, but the creativity, generosity and commitment we find within it are also immense. That will be our strength as we work towards our goals.

FGM is now a leader in the philanthropic sector in both Montreal and Quebec. Its impact in the Greater Montreal community cannot solely be measured in the number of philanthropic funds it is home to or the asset total it manages. As it develops innovative partnerships, FGM is finding new ways to support the actors working for Greater Montreal’s development and the well-being of its population. These relationships and alliances allow us to be even more effective, and to contribute to the development of the profound changes our society needs — including in the philanthropic sector itself.

Working together

In the months and years to come, the Foundation will therefore continue to utilize its influence to promote and propel the values that guide us, and encourage knowledge sharing, in particular by amplifying the voices and perspectives of the community actors we too seldom hear. I will take this role to heart, and I am eager to move ahead with the work that has already begun. We need to act together, not only to grow philanthropy in Greater Montreal, but also to spark new collaborations and augment the positive impact we generate in the community.

In closing, please allow me to thank the Foundation’s members and volunteers, its directors, as well as all of its staff for their support and their trust. I feel honoured, and I can’t wait to get back to work alongside you, in particular in order to bring to fruition the JEDI committee’s projects; I have been a part of them since the committee’s beginnings. I am eager to be able to tell you more about them! In the meantime, when you read the posts that follow, you’ll see that the FGM team has been far from idle lately, even with summer just around the corner!

Talk to you very soon,

Karen Macdonald
Chair of the Board of Directors
Foundation of Greater Montréal