Role of the Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The Foundation of the École des Ursulines de Québec is a non-profit school foundation established in November 2001 to reinforce the educational mission of École des Ursulines de Québec. It mobilizes parents, alumni, partners and friends of the institution to raise funds and channel them back into the school in the form of project support, infrastructure improvements and student scholarships.
Each year, the foundation finances various initiatives in key areas of student life: pedagogy, educational technologies, music and sports. Campaigns such as the “Grand Projet Créatif” aim to modernize learning spaces, create collaborative classrooms, transform the cafeteria into a multifunctional environment, develop a creative lab, and enhance outdoor spaces like the schoolyard and auditorium so they better support contemporary teaching practices.
Types of support and target beneficiaries
The main beneficiaries are pupils of École des Ursulines de Québec and the school community. The foundation supports school projects proposed by the administration and teaching teams, especially those that improve learning conditions, promote innovation and respond to diverse student needs. In addition, it explicitly seeks to promote academic success by awarding different kinds of study scholarships to students.
Funding is made possible through several fundraising mechanisms: major campaigns, annual alumni drives and themed initiatives such as lotteries or special events. Donors can contribute online, and the foundation then allocates the collected resources to priority projects and bursary envelopes in alignment with the school’s pedagogical vision.
Governance and accountability
The Foundation is overseen by a board of directors composed of volunteers who take on roles such as president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary, alongside other administrators and invited members from the school’s leadership. This structure helps ensure responsible management of donations and transparent selection of the projects and scholarships it finances.
Through its long-term presence alongside a centuries-old educational institution, the Foundation of the École des Ursulines de Québec plays a focused but important role in the local funding landscape, acting as a dedicated financial partner to one school and amplifying the impact of community generosity on students’ daily educational experience.