Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Malle Baye Foundation

The Malle Baye Foundation is a registered charitable organization dedicated to supporting the social, cultural and community fabric of the greater Charlevoix region in Québec. Its stated objective is to help organizations that help the people of Charlevoix, by providing financial contributions to a broad range of local charities. The foundation is primarily funded by the Omnium Jackie-Desmarais, a high-profile annual golf tournament held at Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu that gathers business leaders and partners.

Each year, the foundation receives donation requests from registered charities whose missions align with its own and whose activities take place in Charlevoix. It then allocates significant sums to selected organizations. Recent public summaries show hundreds of thousands of dollars distributed annually to sectors such as volunteer action centres, women’s centres, community health and social services, poverty relief, support for people with disabilities, support for people affected by cancer, and cultural and heritage institutions like the Musée de Charlevoix and Papeterie Saint-Gilles.

The foundation operates a discretionary grantmaking model based on an annual call for donation requests. Only organizations recognized as registered charities by the Canada Revenue Agency are eligible. Applicants must demonstrate that their mission fits the foundation’s focus on collective transformation and strengthening community life and social cohesion in Charlevoix. Activities must be carried out within the region, ensuring that funds directly benefit local populations.

Requests are submitted exclusively through an online form by a fixed deadline, typically the third Friday of November, and decisions are confirmed at the beginning of January. Applications are reviewed during meetings of the board of directors, which evaluates the fit with the foundation’s mission and the anticipated impact on the community. The foundation does not disclose decision dates and communicates results directly to applicant organizations.

Through its grants, the Malle Baye Foundation regularly supports organizations working with vulnerable people, families in difficulty, individuals living with physical limitations or chronic illness, and groups addressing issues such as suicide prevention and social isolation. It also funds educational and environmental initiatives, including access to nature and environmental education camps for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.

By combining a major private fundraising event with a structured annual request process, the foundation has become a key financial partner for many community, cultural and social organizations in Charlevoix. Its recurring support helps them maintain and expand services, develop new projects and leverage additional funding from other public and private sources.

The foundation is overseen by an experienced board of directors drawn from the business, legal, health, cultural and sports sectors. This governance structure underpins its commitment to responsible, transparent management of donated funds. The Omnium Jackie-Desmarais also relies on a wide network of corporate sponsors and media partners, reinforcing the foundation’s capacity to mobilize resources for the benefit of the region’s charitable ecosystem.