Role of the Jaclyn Fisher Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The Jaclyn Fisher Foundation is a family foundation established in memory of Jaclyn “Jackie” Fisher to carry forward her spirit of generosity and commitment to Tikkun Olam—repairing the world through acts of kindness. Operating primarily from Montréal, the foundation directs philanthropic funding to organizations that advance health, education and overall wellbeing, with a focus on vulnerable and underserved populations.
The foundation does not function as a competitive grant program with formal calls for proposals; instead, it strategically selects partners and projects that reflect Jackie’s values and life story. By combining its own resources with those of individual donors, it supports both local and international initiatives and often structures its support as matching campaigns or multi‑year commitments, thereby amplifying the impact of each contribution.
Supported audiences and overall impact
In health care, the Jaclyn Fisher Foundation funds frontline services and infrastructure. At the Jewish General Hospital, it has contributed to the creation of a conference room in the Intensive Care Unit and helped purchase a vital diagnostic unit for cancer screening in the urology department. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, it also financed hundreds of meals for ICU, ER and support staff, combining community support for restaurants with tangible help for health workers.
The foundation extends its health and social‑service impact through partners such as La rue des Femmes, where it helped establish a full‑time on‑site medical clinic for women experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and Leucan, for which it has acted as a “doubling your donation” partner on GivingTuesday to maximize support for children with cancer and their families.
Education and youth development are another core pillar. The foundation endowed the Jaclyn Fisher Endowment for Education at Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, supporting an annual educational symposium on inflammatory bowel disease. At McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, it funds the Jaclyn Fisher Management Career Fair, a graduation prize for leadership and volunteer service, an in‑class scholarship for a student with special needs, and a COVID‑relief bursary based on financial need and academic standing.
The foundation also invests in cultural and community initiatives. It has provided matching funds to Geordie Theatre, helping sustain theatre school bursaries for young people, and supports ORT Canada, part of the World ORT network that offers STEM‑focused education to underprivileged students in dozens of countries. Through Canadian Hadassah‑WIZO, the foundation has committed multi‑year support to a therapeutic program for youth and their families at the Hadassim Children & Youth Village in Israel, in honour of Jackie’s grandparents.
Transparency, partnerships and giving mechanisms
The Jaclyn Fisher Foundation emphasizes collaboration with donors and partner organizations. Many initiatives on the site invite the public to “donate to this cause through our Foundation” via the CanadaHelps platform, indicating that the foundation both channels third‑party gifts and allocates its own philanthropic capital. Matching campaigns and publicized endowments illustrate a transparent approach to showcasing how funds are used and what outcomes are sought.
Overall, the foundation occupies a niche in the funding ecosystem as a nimble, values‑driven family foundation. By focusing on health, education, relational and mental health, social inclusion and youth opportunities—and by partnering with trusted hospitals, universities, community organizations and cultural institutions—it translates Jackie Fisher’s personal story into lasting, multi‑sector impact.