Dragonfly Ventures is a purpose-driven single family office based in Canada that stewards private capital in service of social and environmental transformation. Combining investment, philanthropy, and non-financial support, it backs leaders, communities, charities, non-profits, and mission-aligned companies working for the health and wellbeing of people and the planet.
Role of Dragonfly Ventures and The Dragonfly Fund in the funding ecosystem
Dragonfly Ventures uses an integrated capital approach that blends direct private investments, community and impact bonds and funds, charitable grants, sponsorships, shareholder engagement, proxy voting, convening, and collaborative capacity building. To deepen its charitable work, the family office created its own foundation in 2022, The Dragonfly Fund, building on a history of grantmaking since 2009 via a donor‑advised fund at MakeWay. The Dragonfly Fund now manages ongoing granting activity, including an annual granting process and supplemental grants to strengthen grantees’ emotional health and wellbeing.
Priority themes and focus areas
The organization concentrates its efforts in two primary focus areas: Toxic Elimination and Restorative Finance. Within toxic elimination, Dragonfly Ventures funds advocacy for precautionary policy and regulation, community‑led campaigns addressing local toxic threats, research and innovation on safe alternatives, public education, and investments in companies providing non‑toxic products and solutions. Through restorative finance, it prioritizes women, gender‑diverse, Indigenous and racialized‑led and serving entities, recognizing historic under‑resourcing and systemic inequities.
In addition, Dragonfly Ventures maintains a more passive but intentional engagement with related themes such as climate resilience, land and soil health, sustainable food systems, and freshwater conservation. Its portfolio and projects page highlights a diverse range of supported charities, grassroots groups, funds, and enterprises that reflect these priorities.
General approach to assessment and partnerships
Rather than operating as a transactional funder, Dragonfly Ventures emphasizes long‑term, reciprocal relationships. It looks for strong alignment with its mission, vision, values, and focus areas, and seeks community‑led and informed approaches that close crucial gaps and move organizations from “good to great”. Considerations include deep commitments to equity and justice, innovative leadership, collaboration across communities, experimentation and learning, and prioritization of the emotional health and wellbeing of staff and volunteers.
Support can take many forms: charitable grants through The Dragonfly Fund, catalytic and mission‑aligned impact investments, sponsorships, or strategic convening and capacity‑building efforts. The organization is explicit about centring the wisdom of communities, especially those most affected by systemic harms, and about challenging conventional practices in investing and philanthropy.
Publics served and geographic scope
While its investments and relationships can be international, Dragonfly Ventures’ grantmaking and toxics work place a particular emphasis on people living in Canada. It supports Indigenous communities, racialized and marginalized groups, and a wide variety of charities and social purpose organizations. Through its integrated portfolio, it aims to help regenerate ecosystems, reduce exposure to harmful chemicals, and build more just and resilient communities.
