Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Gay Lea Foundation

The Gay Lea Foundation serves as the charitable arm of Gay Lea Foods, one of Canada's largest dairy co-operatives. Established in 2014, the Foundation channels charitable giving from the co-operative and its members into meaningful community development projects both in Canada and internationally.

The Foundation focuses its grant-making on four key areas: education, poverty relief, co-operative development, and community well-being. It supports registered Canadian charities engaged in development work in Canada as well as in Haiti, Central America, Asia, and Africa.

The Foundation is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors composed of Gay Lea Foods employees, members, delegates, and directors. This collaborative governance model reflects the co-operative principles that guide the entire Gay Lea Foods organization.

Funding for the Foundation comes primarily from Gay Lea Foods, supplemented by personal donations from the Gay Lea Foods family. Employees, delegates, and directors participate in various fundraising activities throughout the year, including Co-op Week activities, silent auctions, and payroll deductions. These collective efforts raise approximately $100,000 annually for the Foundation's charitable programs.

Since its creation in 2014, the Gay Lea Foundation has awarded more than $2.5 million in charitable grants to registered Canadian charities doing important development work in communities across Canada and in developing countries around the world.