Happy New Year: Our Path Forward, Together
Greetings and Happy New Year!
The board and staff of Abundance Canada are beginning the year with deep gratitude for all our community stakeholders. Your caring, trust, and commitment have supported the work we do for over 50 years. Thank you for being part of a community that believes in generosity as a shared value. It is a privilege to steward an organization shaped by generations of people who choose to support charities that strengthen communities locally and around the world.
It has been our privilege to meet so many of you and to hear your insights over the past year. Each conversation reaffirmed our commitment to the beliefs and values that shaped Abundance Canada and to the communities we serve together. As we step into this new year, that commitment remains at the heart of everything we do.
Your Feedback Shaped Our Strategic Plan
Twelve months ago, we launched our strategic planning efforts to define Abundance Canada’s future. We started this process by reaching out to all of you: our donors, our community leaders, and our allied professional advisors. Here is what we heard:
- You appreciate the simplicity of Abundance Canada relating to our gift acceptance, investment, and granting options.
- You respect and value our staff, and they are a key factor in why you choose to work with us.
- You desire greater fund transparency and ease of access in all our processes, and for your generosity to have greater impact.
- You are looking for more resources and opportunities to build stronger relationships with us and amongst your communities.
Our Three Strategic Priorities
Your feedback inspired three priorities which will guide the foundation over the next few years, ensuring we can achieve the transformational impact you have asked for.
Community Engagement
You see Abundance Canada as a partner in impact. To strengthen that partnership, we have established a Community Engagement Committee to help bring our communities’ priorities to the board and to foster increased innovation and collaboration with community leaders.
To amplify those ideas further, we will be launching Regional Advisory Committees this Spring, bringing together donors, professional advisors, and charity partners in each of our three national regions to share our strategies and receive community feedback on how to improve them.
People and Culture
Relationships are at the heart of everything we do. You can expect improved responsiveness and greater outcomes as we invest in our staff and their ability to support your community impact goals.
In the past four months alone, we have engaged a half dozen experienced professionals in permanent, term, and contract positions to help elevate Abundance Canada to the level of service and sophistication one would expect of a national public foundation. As the year progresses, we will share news of other staff changes to support improved outcomes.
Systems and Operations
Your trust is sacred. We are modernizing systems to ensure transparency, efficiency, and the highest standards of compliance in all the funds under our stewardship.
This year, Abundance Canada will complete the implementation of a new IT system to allow us to more effectively administer our donors’ funds under management, while providing timely and reliable reporting.
Looking Ahead
These are just some of the exciting initiatives coming out of our strategic plan. To uphold our commitment to transparency and communication, I will be sending frequent updates as we continue the momentum of the past year.
“This is a pivotal time for Abundance Canada. We are taking a hard look at what matters most to our donors and our charity partners who serve communities across Canada, while strengthening our capacity to serve you better. By building on the strongest parts of our foundation, we are preparing for the future with purpose and clarity. Our goal is simple but significant: to be a trusted partner in generosity, helping to turn your giving into real impact that changes lives.” – Jennifer Thompson, Board Chair
Thank you for being part of this journey and joining us in the belief that generosity changes everything®.
With gratitude,
Alan Goddard
Chief Executive Officer
