Upcoming Webinar: The Case for Public Investments in Indigenous Hunters and Guardians
Discover the social, economic, and cultural values of Indigenous Hunter and Guardian programs through four Northern case studies. Date: Wednesday, April 1st, 2025. Time: 3:00 p.m. ET, 1:00 p.m. MT, noon PT. Northern communities have long understood the importance of Indigenous Hunter and Guardian programs. However, the full range of benefits these programs provide is […]
The Economic and Social Benefits of Indigenous Hunter and Guardian Programs
Northern Indigenous communities have always sustained themselves through hunting, harvesting, and gathering food from the land. Today, full-time Hunter and Guardian programs are creating meaningful economic opportunities that support and renew these land-based lifeways. Communities deeply understand the value of these programs, yet their benefits are often overlooked in funding and policy decisions. Investments in […]
New Research: “Through the Looking-Glass: Investment Transparency of Canadian Foundations”
Over the last few years, MakeWay has been working to increase transparency around our investment practices, including disclosing who manages our funds and our investment portfolio. Alongside this internal work, we’ve partnered with researchers at Carleton University to better understand the opportunities and challenges related to investment transparency across Canadian foundations more broadly. We’re pleased […]
The Power of Showing Up: The Tegan and Sara Foundation Fund’s Commitment to Community-Led Change
What began as a fan-fueled connection at the merch tables of Tegan and Sara concerts has grown into one of the most intentional and community-rooted philanthropic efforts in queer justice today. The Tegan and Sara Foundation, founded by the acclaimed Canadian musicians, is not just a charitable vehicle – it’s a living, learning ecosystem. At […]
A New Community-Advised Funding Collaborative for Culture and Wellness in the Yukon
A new collaborative fund offering flexible, low-barrier grants will be available to initiatives advancing healing, education, and cultural continuity in the Yukon starting January 2026. The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) has announced the launch of the Culture Wellness Collaborative Fund, which will be led by Yukon First Nations and supported by the CYFN […]
The Harder Question of Giving: What Are Communities Really Asking of Us?
Reflections from a talk at Hamilton Community Foundation’s Women4Change Gathering by Lee Burton Earlier this fall, I had the honour of joining the Hamilton Community Foundation’s Women4Change community for a conversation about what is emerging in Canadian philanthropy. The room was a beautiful reflection of Hamilton itself, diverse across culture, gender, and generation. I felt […]
Community-based Data Management for Northern Indigenous Land-Based Programs
Across Northern Canada, Indigenous land-based programs are gathering a wealth of information—photos, maps, audio recordings, field observations, and other types of data—to guide stewardship decisions. This information often carries cultural knowledge and responsibilities, and it must be collected, stored, and used in ways that respect Indigenous data rights and align with community values and needs. […]
Stewarding a Transformative Gift from MacKenzie Scott
At MakeWay, we often talk about what’s possible when resources and relationships move together in support of community-led change. Recently, that possibility grew in a profound way. We are humbled and deeply grateful to share that MakeWay has received a transformative donation of CAD $86 million from Yield Giving, the philanthropic initiative created by MacKenzie Scott. […]
A New Tool for Evaluating Indigenous Conservation Legal Pathways
Indigenous communities in the Northwest Territories are leading some of the most ambitious conservation efforts on the planet. Just look at NWT: Our Land for the Future—an innovative $375 million funding partnership for Indigenous-led conservation—or at projects like Thaidene Nëné, a 6.5 million-acre protected area rooted in Dene Law. More than 20 Indigenous governments across the territory […]
“Love in Action”: Susan Wright’s Journey of Deepening Her Philanthropy
The change she hopes her philanthropy will bring: A greater awareness of me, us, and all of us. Susan Wright is many things to many people – an author, teacher, Integral Coach, and a matriarch to many. She is also a Fund Advisor who conducts her philanthropic giving through a Donor Advised Fund at MakeWay. […]