Grant and Funding Programs Offered by London Community Foundation (LCF)

London Community Foundation (LCF) is a philanthropic organization serving London, Ontario and the surrounding area. As a community foundation, it pools gifts from individuals, families, businesses and estates into permanent and long‑term funds, and uses the investment income to provide grants to local charities, community groups and initiatives. Through this model, the foundation supports a wide range of projects in areas such as social services, health, education, arts, culture, environment and community development.

LCF acts as both a steward of community capital and a grantmaking body. It manages endowment, field‑of‑interest, donor‑advised and other named funds, including trust funds like the Muriel Richmond Trust Fund, and channels their resources into charitable activities. The foundation evaluates local needs and opportunities, then allocates financial support to organizations whose projects can create lasting impact in London and the region.

The foundation generally offers several types of funding opportunities for the community. These may include community grants for local charities and not‑for‑profit organizations, strategic or special initiative funding addressing priority issues, and grants flowing from donor‑advised or designated funds. Some named and trust funds focus on particular themes or populations, while others are broadly oriented toward community vitality and quality of life.

Funding from London Community Foundation is directed to registered charities and qualified donees serving the London area. Grants can support program delivery, innovative pilot projects, capital needs or capacity‑building initiatives, depending on each fund's purpose and the foundation's granting criteria. By aggregating many donors’ resources and redistributing them through structured grant programs and trust funds, LCF helps sustain local organizations and drives long‑term social, cultural and economic benefits for the community.