Role of Sarnia Community Foundation in the funding ecosystem
Sarnia Community Foundation (SCF) is a public community foundation serving Sarnia‑Lambton and the wider Lambton County region in Ontario. Incorporated in 1982, it pools donations, bequests and other gifts into endowment and flow‑through funds, and uses the investment income to provide grants and scholarships. Since 1983, SCF reports having distributed more than $14 million to the local community, and recent years have seen over $1.1 million annually directed to grants, scholarships and community projects.
Funding portfolio and grant types
SCF’s funding is organized through several families of funds, each with distinct granting purposes:
- Community Fund and family funds – the primary source of annual community impact grants, supporting a broad range of charitable, educational, cultural and social initiatives in Sarnia‑Lambton.
- Donor advised funds – larger endowments where donors recommend which charities or projects receive grants, either from applications received by SCF or through ongoing designations.
- Designated funds – earnings directed to specific charities, causes, scholarships or bursaries named by the donor.
- Community endowment funds – municipal or local community funds (such as Petrolia and Brooke‑Alvinston) for which SCF manages the assets and fundraising, while local committees choose the grants.
- Agency endowment funds – endowments created by charitable organizations (for example arts, social services, health, housing and youth agencies) to support their long‑term work.
- Flow‑through funds – time‑limited funds used for particular projects, scholarships or capital campaigns, such as arena improvements, housing or youth initiatives.
Grants, scholarships and typical beneficiaries
Through these funds, SCF issues community impact grants to local charities and qualified donees across fields like social services, health, housing, arts and culture, environment, recreation and community development. Impact stories highlight hundreds of community grants and specific projects, including affordable housing initiatives, community spaces and municipal park improvements.
SCF is also a significant scholarship provider. Numerous named scholarship and award funds support post‑secondary students in areas such as trades, performing and visual arts, health professions and general studies. Scholarship announcements and recipient stories show recurring cycles of support for individual scholars from the region.
Governance, transparency and community impact
Audited financial statements published annually detail endowment balances, restricted funds and “grants and charitable activities expenses,” confirming SCF’s role as a fiduciary for donors and a sustained grantmaker. As a registered public foundation under the Income Tax Act (Canada), SCF is exempt from income tax and issues official donation receipts while meeting disbursement and reporting requirements.
With a mission of granting to community charitable causes by growing and managing funds that will “make a difference forever,” SCF positions itself as a long‑term philanthropic partner, helping donors, municipalities and organizations build a vibrant, inclusive and livable Lambton County.
