Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Knights of Columbus Ontario Charities Foundation

The Knights of Columbus Ontario Charities Foundation operates within the provincial Knights of Columbus structure as a major charitable funder across Ontario. Through its long‑running Charities Lottery and the newer fully digital 50/50 raffle, the Foundation raises money from the public under provincial gaming licences and redistributes the proceeds to a wide range of charitable causes. Since the lottery program began, it reports having donated over ten million dollars to local non‑profit organizations throughout the province.

The Foundation’s authorized donation recipients demonstrate broad sectoral coverage. Non‑profit and charitable recipients include health organizations such as the Arthritis Society, Special Olympics Ontario, hospices, hospital foundations, homes for the aged, Meals on Wheels and relief shelters. Community and church projects such as church renovations, family centres, inner‑city housing initiatives, seniors’ groups and support for needy families are also eligible.

The Foundation explicitly reserves funds for bursaries and scholarships at the high school and university levels, as well as for youth programs including camps, sports, science fairs and leadership groups like the Columbian Squires. It supports Catholic missions, pro‑life and family‑life organizations, natural family planning and educational institutes. Vocations and church leadership are another priority, with funding channels for seminarian support, religious orders, help centres and the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Charitable gaming activities such as the Charities Lottery and the Ontario Charities 50/50 Raffle are administered by the Ontario State Office under the authority of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and licensed by the provincial gaming regulator. Lottery rules specify that a portion of ticket revenues is retained by subordinate local councils to support charities in their own communities, while the balance is granted out by the Foundation to its approved recipient categories.

Public transparency is maintained through published rules of play, draw schedules and winners lists on the Ontario Knights of Columbus website. The Foundation also publicizes broad categories of authorized donation recipients for each lottery year, signalling in advance the areas where raised funds will be allocated, from social services and education to youth and religious outreach.

By combining grassroots fundraising with centralized grantmaking, the Knights of Columbus Ontario Charities Foundation reaches a diverse set of beneficiaries: vulnerable families, people with disabilities, seniors, students, parish communities and Catholic vocations. Its model allows local councils to champion projects in their own neighbourhoods while pooling resources to sustain province‑wide initiatives. This dual focus on local impact and sector‑wide support positions the Foundation as a significant faith‑based funder in Ontario’s charitable landscape.