Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region Foundation

Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region Foundation acts as the charitable arm of the local child and family services agency. It mobilizes donations from individuals, businesses and community partners and redistributes these resources to fund programs and initiatives that directly benefit children, youth and families involved with child welfare in the Waterloo Region.

Rather than delivering front-line protection services itself, the Foundation focuses on financing supports that fall outside core government-funded mandates. This can include program funding for enrichment activities, basic needs support, and other life-enhancing opportunities designed to improve safety, stability and long‑term outcomes for vulnerable children and families.

The Foundation typically provides financial assistance in several forms, such as targeted program funding for agency-led initiatives, discretionary support to respond to urgent needs, and scholarships or bursaries that help young people pursue education or training. These investments complement public funding and give the agency flexibility to respond to individual circumstances.

By channeling donor dollars into structured programs and one‑time supports, the Foundation effectively operates as a grantmaker within the child welfare context, ensuring that funds reach specific projects, services and youth who would otherwise lack needed resources.

The Foundation’s activities are focused on the Waterloo Region in Ontario and on children, youth and families who are receiving services from Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region. Through its funding, it aims to reduce barriers, create opportunities, and strengthen community connections, ultimately helping young people in care or at risk to achieve better educational, social and emotional outcomes.

Working closely with agency staff and community partners, the Foundation plays a complementary role in the local funding ecosystem, aligning its financial support with identified needs and donor priorities while maintaining accountability and transparency as a registered charity.