Philanthropy is All Around Us
An interview with Janet Madume in honour of Black Philanthropy Month.
Ambassadors Circle
Niagara Community Foundation is privileged to be supported by a Circle of Ambassadors.
After retiring from the NCF Board of Directors, our volunteers are welcomed to become an official "NCF Ambassador." This role provides an opportunity for past Directors to continue to share the story of NCF and open doors for future growth of the organization.
This is a resource page for our Ambassadors.
To you, THANK YOU! Thank you for being a dedicated member of our Ambassadors Circle and continuing to give of your time, talent and treasure to promote philanthropy across Niagara.
Best Practices
As a past Director, you know the ins-and-outs of the organization and will have no problem talking about the work of the Foundation when asked. However, it can feel a bit awkward to bring it up in conversation.
We encourage you to start to notice "life triggers." These are milestones or events that happen throughout life that would spark conversations about legacy, philanthropy or financial planning.
For example:
- Selling a business, or retirement
- A new family member or the loss of a loved one
- Moving back to Niagara
- Birthdays or Anniversaries
Remember, you're not making a forced "sales-pitch" but instead starting a casual conversation about how NCF has made an impact on YOU!
- Why did you join NCF?
- Why are you a fundholder?
- What inspires you about the work of NCF?
- Tell your favourite grant story.
- What does philanthropy and legacy mean to you?
- List your involvement anytime you are interviewed or honored, on your CV/resume, in your holiday letter to friends, family and colleagues.
- Let NCF do the heavy lifting! When a life trigger occurs, invite your friend to have coffee with yourself and our Executive Director to talk about legacy planning.
- Introduce NCF to our professional advisors- accountant, attorney, financial planner, or wealth advisor. Allied Professionals are some of the most valuable introductions you can make!
- Invite NCF staff to speak at meetings you attend — nonprofit boards, church/synagogue, professional associations, service groups, staff meetings at work.
- Tell your friends and colleagues what's happening at the Niagara Community Foundation when they ask you "What's new?"
Talking Points
Here are a few key messages that you can lean on. The stats here are kept up-to-date so you can come back to this page for the latest facts and figures.
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History
25+ Years Old
- Founded in 2000 under the leadership of Debbie Zimmermann, Frank Branscombe and Liz Palmieri.
- Liz Palmieri was the founding Executive Director and John Potts was the first Board Chair.
- In the beginning, NCF received two $100,000 donations from the Branscombe Family & Niagara Credit Union (now Meridian Credit Union).
- The first grants were made in 2001, distributing $9,000 to 6 organizations.
For the full history/timeline of the organization, click here.
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Endowment
$100 million in assets!
- NCF is one of the top three largest foundations in Niagara.
- As a community foundation, NCF uses an endowment model for its philanthropy, meaning that all donations given to NCF are held in perpetuity, invested within the markets and the returns of these investments are given back to the community in the form of grants.
- What started off with two donations has now grown to over $100 million in assets!
- NCF has over 400 fundholders under the umbrella of Niagara Community Foundation.
To find out more about ways to give and how to become a fundholder, click here.
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Empowerment
Just under $5 million granted in 2025
- NCF supports over 250 registered charities each year.
- Based on its charitable purposes, NCF can only grant to registered charities or qualified donees in Canada.
- NCF's granting capacity has grown each year. In 2025 NCF granted $5 million through both donor directed, and discretionary granting programs.
- In total, NCF has granted over $41 million throughout it's history.
- NCF is a leader within Niagara's charitable sector and empowers social-profit organizations through professional development opportunities. These educational seminars and workshops build the capacity of the sector to further philanthropy across the region.
To find out more about NCF's Grant Program, click here.
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Excellence
Third Largest Foundation in Niagara
- NCF is one of over 200 community foundations across Canada and is a member of Community Foundations Canada. With over $100 million in assets, NCF sits near the top 10 largest community foundations in Canada.
- NCF is governed by a diverse and representative Board of Directors.
- NCF is certified with Imagine Canada Standards Program, the only national best-practice framework for nonprofit governance and operational excellence.
To view our 2025 Annual Report, click here.
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Key Messages
- NCF connects donors to causes and communities to resources
- NCF turns intent into impact
- NCF is Niagara’s philanthropic partner.
Stories on our Blog
The best way to talk about NCF is to tell a story! Throughout the year, NCF posts stories about our charity partners, news, highlights and events hosted by NCF. Please take a moment to read the latest post to build your story bank so you can answer the question, "What's new?"
Summer Days Just Got Cooler
The Genesis Court Health & Safety Air Conditioning Project will provide 58 permanently installed air conditioning units to families and individuals living in the building, many of whom are seniors, young children, or people living with physical and mental health challenges.
Investing Today for a Stronger Tomorrow
Niagara Community Foundation (NCF) has hit a new milestone, granting $1 million through the David S. Howes Fund alone.
Legacy Giving: The overlooked superpower
A webinar for lawyers, financial advisors and wealth managers on the power of gifts in wills and legacy giving.
What about MY Community?
NCF has been Niagara’s philanthropic partner for the last 25 years and NCF will remain Niagara's local partner forever.
NCF Environmental Impact Nearly Triples in Four Years
In the last four years, Niagara Community Foundation (NCF) has tripled its investment in the Environmental sector across Niagara, granting over $390,000 in 2026. The annual granting stream has been a cornerstone of the Foundation’s granting priorities since 2004 and has steadily grown since its inception.