Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The Hunter Family Foundation (HFF)

Hunter Family Foundation’s mission is to make impactful donations to innovative organizations and causes that reflect entrepreneurial thinking and the Hunter family’s values, in order to foster a healthy society where market-based, community-driven solutions address complex social issues.

The Hunter Family Foundation (HFF) is a Foundation.

The Hunter Family Foundation (HFF) was founded in 1984-01-01.

The Hunter Family Foundation (HFF)'s official website is https://www.hunterfamilyfoundation.ca/.

Hunter Family Foundation is a private family foundation created in 1984 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. The foundation’s mandate is to help build a healthy society by supporting organizations that apply innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset to address complex social issues. Its giving is directed exclusively to Canada Revenue Agency–registered charities, with a primary geographic focus on the Calgary region and selective support elsewhere in Canada and the United States when approved by the Board of Trustees.

Role of Hunter Family Foundation in the funding ecosystem

The foundation positions itself as a catalytic grantmaker rather than a passive donor. It favours programs that meet significant community needs through entrepreneurial and innovative approaches that offer a “hand-up” rather than a “hand-out”. The foundation explicitly values collaboration among organizations and looks positively on projects that involve partnerships and shared initiatives.

Key funding themes and sectors

• Entrepreneurial thinking and free markets: Major initiatives include support for the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary, as well as think tanks and policy institutes focused on market-based solutions.
• Health, wellness and mental health: The foundation funds counselling centres, children’s health initiatives and research such as the Emerging Adult Mental Health Research Project in Calgary, and broader system-change work like the CONVERGE Mental Health initiative.
• Community resilience and youth development: Grants have gone to organizations such as Junior Achievement, Momentum, Windmill Microlending, Venture for Canada and youth-focused programs that build skills, independence and economic participation.

Across these themes, the foundation prioritizes projects that demonstrate clear problem definition, practical implementation plans and measurable impact.

General grantmaking approach

Hunter Family Foundation runs an annual application cycle. Registered charities may submit an online funding application outlining their organization, project concept, innovation rationale, requested support and methods for measuring success. The foundation seeks concise, jargon-free descriptions of both the organization’s core work and the specific project for which funding is requested. Applications are due by October 30 each year, with decisions typically made in late November and successful applicants notified by mail by mid-December.

Grants are concentrated within the Calgary region, though the foundation may support projects elsewhere when they align strongly with its priorities. It does not fund anti–fossil fuel initiatives, religious activities, deficit reduction, major equipment purchases, building projects or activities delivered outside Canada and the United States.

Publics served and impact

Through its portfolio of grants, Hunter Family Foundation supports a wide network of charities working in entrepreneurship education, economic opportunity, mental health, counselling, research and evidence-informed policy. By emphasizing entrepreneurial thinking and rigorous evaluation, the foundation aims to help its partners test new solutions, scale effective programs and strengthen the social and economic fabric of the communities they serve.