The Harry E. Foster Charitable Foundation was established in 1954 to support charitable programs that enhance the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities. It accepts grant requests from registered charities, with semi-annual review deadlines, and generally supports Ontario organizations whose programs or projects benefit individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Grants commonly range from approximately $2,000 to $30,000. In the funding ecosystem, the foundation is a specialized funder for disability inclusion and community participation. Its role is important because disability-serving organizations often need flexible project funding for programs, equipment, accessibility supports, and community-based services that improve quality of life but may not fit cleanly into public funding streams. By concentrating on a defined beneficiary group and maintaining a direct application process, the foundation gives charities a clearer route to targeted philanthropic capital and helps sustain inclusion-focused services across Ontario.
