Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The National Ballet of Canada Endowment Foundation

The National Ballet of Canada Endowment Foundation is a dedicated charitable foundation created to ensure the long-term financial health of The National Ballet of Canada. For more than 25 years, individuals, families, foundations, corporations and government partners have contributed endowed gifts that are invested in perpetuity. Only a portion of the annual investment income is spent, while the capital is preserved, allowing the Endowment to provide dependable support year after year.

The Foundation’s investment income is paid out to the National Ballet as grant disbursements. This reliable revenue stream underpins a significant share of the company’s operating budget and allows artistic leadership to plan ambitious seasons, commission new work and maintain high standards of excellence without depending solely on ticket sales or annual fundraising.

The majority of named funds within the Endowment Foundation provide unrestricted support to the National Ballet’s highest priorities, giving the Board and executive leadership flexibility to direct resources where they are most needed. Other funds are restricted to key areas of activity, including support for dancers, the orchestra, new productions, education and community engagement initiatives, touring and accessibility programmes.

Since its creation, the Endowment Foundation has contributed tens of millions of dollars directly to the National Ballet. These disbursements help sustain a large resident company of dancers and orchestra members, develop new repertoire, revitalize landmark productions such as The Nutcracker, and share Canadian artistry on tour and through outreach activities.

Donors can support the Endowment through one-time gifts, multi-year pledges, gifts of securities or planned gifts structured through their estates. The Foundation offers the possibility of creating a named fund, allowing supporters to link their legacy, or that of a loved one, to the National Ballet in perpetuity. There are currently dozens of such funds honouring champions of the company.

Legacy giving is closely integrated with the Endowment’s work. Estate gifts may be directed either to The National Ballet of Canada for immediate use or to The National Ballet of Canada, Endowment Foundation for permanent investment, with annual investment gains disbursed to the company. A dedicated Celia Franca Society recognizes more than 300 legacy donors who have included the Ballet in their estate plans.

The Endowment Foundation is a registered charity with its own legal name and charitable registration number. It participates in federal programmes such as Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Investment Fund – Endowment Incentives, which matches eligible gifts to strengthen the invested assets of arts organizations. With assets now exceeding $120 million and roughly 78 named funds, the Foundation contributes a meaningful percentage of the National Ballet’s annual budget.

Although the Foundation’s grants are directed exclusively to The National Ballet of Canada rather than through open-call competitions, its structure, policies and reporting reflect standard philanthropic and endowment-governance practices. Donors are supported by a specialized Development team that advises on establishing funds, structuring legacy gifts and aligning contributions with artistic, educational and community impact.

Through its annual grant disbursements, the Endowment Foundation helps make possible a wide range of activities that benefit artists and communities. These include mainstage seasons in Toronto, national and international touring, artist development programmes, school and community outreach such as YOU dance, accessibility initiatives and special projects like Share the Magic, which offers complimentary tickets to children and families. In this way, the Endowment functions as a long-term funding engine for classical and contemporary ballet in Canada.