Role in the Funding Ecosystem
The Wubs Family Foundation is a private Canadian foundation that provides discretionary grants to registered Canadian charities. Established in 2023, it represents the philanthropic arm of the Wubs family, who founded Westland Insurance in 1980 (now the largest independent Canadian-owned brokerage with over 300 locations). The foundation focuses on making meaningful, lasting impact through partnerships with charitable organizations across British Columbia.
Funding Approach
The foundation typically provides unrestricted funding to its charitable partners, trusting that organizations know best where urgent needs exist. However, when organizations carry out complex or diverse activities, the foundation may provide restricted funds targeting specific programs with high potential for community impact. This flexible approach allows the foundation to support both general operations and specific initiatives.
Five Focus Areas
- Food Insecurity: Initiatives ensuring access to nutritious meals for individuals and families in need
- Homelessness: Programs providing shelter, resources, and pathways to stability
- Health & Wellness: Projects promoting physical and mental health for all
- Climate Change & Environmental Initiatives: Sustainable practices and environmental stewardship
- Mental Health: Efforts to destigmatize mental health and expand access to essential care
2024 Achievements
In its second year of operation, the foundation partnered with over twelve organizations, including: a $75,000 matching campaign with Surrey Food Bank (reached goal in three days, generated over $108,000 additional funds), a $50,000 matching gift campaign with Covenant House Vancouver (generated 4,757 gifts and raised $768,169), partnership with Surrey School District for Bright Futures Foundation, support for SportsCardiologyBC's High-Performance Cardiac Rehabilitation Research program, and hosting events for BC Cancer Society.
Application Process
Organizations must be registered Canadian charities to qualify. The foundation uses the Aqueduct Foundation's Online Portal for applications, with access code 'wubs2025'. Evaluation criteria include: registered charity status, transparency, impact potential (execution ability, community need, likelihood of success), and cost efficiency (high cents-to-the-cause ratio).