News Releases

BMO Financial Group and The Calgary Foundation are pleased to announce they have joined forces to launch Supporting Your Community in Calgary, the first and most widely available philanthropic program of its kind in Canada.

Through Supporting Your Community, donors in the Calgary area can now make a minimum donation of $10,000, to a charitable fund of their choice to help those in need. Specifically, the program helps donors formalize their giving and provides them with the charitable and financial advice to help maximize the impact of their donation in the community. The program will also help donors choose which local issues or charitable organizations they want to support and co-ordinate all grant-making activities. This initiative is supported nationally by Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), the largest association of community foundations across the country.

“BMO remains committed to doing what’s right for our communities,” said Sandra Henderson, Vice President and Managing Director, Prairies, BMO Harris Private Banking, during a reception to launch the program. “Together with The Calgary Foundation and CFC, we believe BMO can raise the profile of philanthropy both locally and across the country and bring a much needed focus on community development.”

Dean Prodan, Chair of The Calgary Foundation adds, “For 50 years The Calgary Foundation has been working to make a lasting impact within our community. As a community foundation, we are uniquely positioned to help donors become more actively involved and strategic in their giving. The Supporting Your Community partnership will afford BMO clients the security of leaving their donation invested with their financial institution, while giving them the expertise of our staff to assist them in making donation decisions.”

How Does the Supporting Your Community Program Work?

• The donor meets with a BMO investment professional to discuss the program, the types of donations that can be made and how their donation will fit into their overall financial plan, including providing taxation and investment advice.
• The BMO investment professional introduces the donor to the appropriate Community Foundation and sets up an initial meeting.
• Working together with the Community Foundation, the donor identifies the causes or organizations to which the funds will be directed.
• The Community Foundation manages the granting and administration of the donations.

Each gift through Supporting Your Community will continue to give year after year, because it will be part of a permanent fund, expertly invested and managed by BMO Financial Group, to protect the principal and optimize the value of the grants.

Supporting Your Community is available across the country through 34 participating community foundations.

About BMO Financial Group’s Commitment to Communities

Since 1817, BMO Financial Group has believed in community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility to the communities it serves. BMO Financial Group contributed more than $29 million in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in 2004, supporting thousands of communities, charities and not-for-profit organizations in Canada. In 2005, BMO was named Best Corporate Citizen of the Year in Canada by Corporate Knights magazine.

The Calgary Foundation

The Calgary Foundation, established in 1955, helps public-spirited citizens find ways to achieve their charitable goals and make Calgary and area a better place to live, now and in the future.

Today the Foundation, with assets of $285 million, is one of the largest and fastest-growing community foundations in Canada with over 800 endowment Funds established by donors who are committed to supporting charitable organizations in all sectors of the community.

Transparent and accountable, the Foundation serves the broad community by evaluating and addressing community issues, promoting charitable giving, and connecting donors to the critical needs of the community.

Community Foundations of Canada

Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) is the national membership organization for one of the country’s fastest growing charitable movements. Over the past decade, the number of Canadian community foundations has more than tripled and so have their combined assets.

Today, there are more than 150 community foundations in cities, towns and rural areas across Canada. These locally-run foundations play a critical role supporting community groups. Last year, they provided more than $95 million in grants to local charitable causes.

The following Community Foundations are currently participating in Supporting Your Community:

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