Role of SaskTel TelCare in the funding ecosystem
SaskTel TelCare is an internal employee charity trust created to channel the generosity of SaskTel staff toward community needs across Saskatchewan. Established in 1950, the fund aggregates voluntary payroll deductions from more than 500 employees, which SaskTel then enhances by contributing an additional $0.50 for every employee dollar donated. The combined pool is distributed as charitable donations to registered non‑profit organizations operating in the province.
TelCare functions as a discretionary community funding program rather than a formal open-call grant competition. Each year, TelCare members collectively vote on which registered charities in their local communities will receive support. This employee‑driven decision process ensures that money raised in each community stays close to home, and that recipients reflect issues and organizations that matter to SaskTel staff and the people they serve.
Types of organizations supported
Through SaskTel TelCare, funding is directed to a wide range of health, social, and community service charities. Examples highlighted on the site include the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, local United Way organizations, Lung Saskatchewan, the Kidney Foundation, and Teddy Bears Anonymous. Over the past five years, TelCare has donated more than $1.5 million to non‑profit organizations in Saskatchewan, illustrating a sustained and significant funding contribution to the province’s charitable sector.
TelCare is part of the broader SaskTel Cares portfolio, which also encompasses youth grants, sponsorships, Indigenous initiatives, and scholarship programs. Within this ecosystem, TelCare is the primary mechanism for employee‑led giving: in 2024/25 alone, it provided more than $125,902 to 47 Saskatchewan organizations, with SaskTel’s 50% matching allocation increasing the total impact to $188,853.
Publics served and impact
While individual program guidelines and application procedures are not detailed, the overarching focus is clear: TelCare aims to improve quality of life for individuals and families in Saskatchewan by providing flexible financial support to established charities. Its structure nurtures a strong culture of philanthropy among SaskTel employees, complements corporate community investment, and delivers predictable, locally informed funding that benefits dozens of organizations each year.
