Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF)
Overview of Available Grants and Funding
The Fergusson Foundation is a New Brunswick–based charitable foundation dedicated to preventing and eliminating family violence. It funds research, education and community-based projects, offers a Community Grants Program for registered charities in Atlantic Canada, manages special funds like the Fredericton Resilience Fund, and provides an annual MMFF Award that includes a donation to a selected charity. View Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF)'s website for more information.
Content last updated: March 8, 2026
About Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF)
What is the mission of Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF)?
The Fergusson Foundation’s mission is to be a catalyst for the prevention and elimination of family violence by increasing awareness and understanding, funding research, promoting educational programs, and supporting organizations that provide services to those affected by violence and abuse.
What type of organization is Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF)?
Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF) is a Foundation.
When was Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF) founded?
Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF) was founded in 1985.
What is Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF)'s official website?
Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF)'s official website is https://www.fergussonfoundation.ca/.
What else should I know about Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF)?
Role of the Fergusson Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The Fergusson Foundation, also known as the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation (MMFF), is a charitable foundation based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Its mission is to act as a catalyst for the prevention and elimination of family violence by raising awareness of its complexity, funding research into its causes and forms, promoting educational programs, and supporting organizations that serve those affected by violence and abuse. The Foundation operates across Atlantic Canada, with some initiatives having Canada-wide reach.
A central tool for impact is the Fergusson Foundation Grants Program, officially established in 1992. Through its Community Grants Program, the Foundation provides financial contributions to Canadian registered charities based in and serving Atlantic Canada. Grants of up to $10,000 support community-based, innovative initiatives that focus on general awareness, intervention, and the prevention and elimination of family violence. Funding priorities emphasize practical applications and direct impact on victims, survivors, perpetrators, families and communities.
Main funding programs and themes
- Community Grants Program – Periodic calls for proposals offer a defined application window and a fixed funding envelope (for 2025, $40,000 total, with grants up to $10,000). Eligible projects include services for people impacted by family violence (counselling, education, training and related supports) and the development of educational programs for staff, volunteers and the general public.
- Special named grants – The Alèx Thomas Carleton Grant is an additional award made within the grants program, directed to a project that helps partners, family members or friends support survivors of family violence, under the same eligibility and assessment framework as regular grants.
- Fredericton Resilience Fund – Created in response to the COVID‑19 pandemic, this fund channels local donations (in partnership with the Fredericton Community Foundation) into small grants, typically $300–$500, for individuals and small businesses in the service sector in the Fredericton capital region who have been adversely affected.
- MMFF Award – Beyond public recognition, each year the Award recipient selects a registered charity whose objectives further the Foundation’s goals; the Foundation then makes a $1,000 donation in their name, directing additional resources to front-line or advocacy organizations.
General evaluation criteria and expectations
Applications to the Community Grants Program are reviewed by a Grants Selection Committee composed of representatives of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Projects are assessed against criteria such as innovation, sustainability, transferability, attention to diversity, leverage of the Foundation’s support, and demonstrated community need (supported by letters from partners). Successful applicants must report on outcomes and use of funds, share project materials, and agree to participate in potential Foundation events or communications activities.
While the Foundation does not fund core operating costs such as rent, salaries, or routine programming, these items can be counted as in‑kind contributions in the project budget, encouraging organizations to build complementary resources and partnerships.
Supported audiences and overall impact
Across its portfolio, the Fergusson Foundation targets initiatives that make a tangible difference for people affected by family violence, including survivors, those currently experiencing abuse, perpetrators seeking change, and the broader families and communities around them. By combining project-based grants, targeted relief funds, and an award that channels donations to aligned charities, the Foundation plays a multi-faceted role in strengthening the family-violence prevention ecosystem in Atlantic Canada and beyond.