Community Connect - April 2026 WRCF e-newsletter

WRCF's monthly e-newsletter

April 2026                                                                View this email in your browser WRCF’s monthly e-newsletter to keep you connected to granting information, investing, what’s new, and ways we are mobilizing and collaborating to make an impact in our community. Announcing the Outcomes of WRCF’s First Impact Fund Forum In March 2026, WRCF convened its first Impact Fund Forum, bringing together impact fund managers, local investors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem partners to explore how capital, community, and learning can come together. Designed as both a learning exercise and a convening opportunity, the Forum tested a disciplined and transparent process for engaging with Canadian social impact funds—while also creating space for dialogue between national funds and the strong pipeline of enterprises emerging from our region. The four investments selected reflect diversification across equity and debt, sectors, and geographies, while remaining aligned with WRCF’s regional and impact objectives. In addition, WRCF is providing grant support to charities affiliated with two additional impact funds to support capacity‑building and readiness, with the intention of considering investment engagement in future cycles. We’re pleased to share a reflection from WRCF’s President & CEO, Eric Avner, on the full Impact Fund Forum process—what we built, what we learned, and why convening and clarity matter—as part of our ongoing commitment to learning by doing in impact investing. Read more Shared Places: From Infrastructure to Interactions Places shape how people meet, interact, and feel a sense of belonging. Well‑designed places invite participation, spark chance encounters, and give communities room to grow together.   Join WRCF on Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM for a Do More Good Dialogue conversation about ways to embed social infrastructure into places. We have invited Daily tous les jours, an award-winning art and design studio, to talk about some of the creative ways places can inspire connection. We will also be sharing some updates on WRCF and celebrating community with the presentation of several WRCF Community Awards. Register for the in-person event We're hiring! Financial Services Coordinator Are you a highly organized and detail-oriented professional with accounting or finance knowledge and experience? Do you enjoy working on day-to-day financial operations and supporting the team? Are you interested in numbers and getting excited about data and reporting? Does the idea of working for a not-for-profit organization appeal to you? WRCF is currently hiring for the position of Financial Services Coordinator. Apply by April 19, 2026. Learn more and apply National Volunteer Week (April 19-25) National Volunteer Week is next week, and we want to take some time to recognize our dedicated volunteers.   At WRCF, our volunteers continue to share their time, skills, and insights to help us support the people and organizations across Waterloo Region. We asked two of our volunteers, Ibrahim Aburaneh and Pam Hillis, to share their thoughts on their experience volunteering with WRCF. Read more Community by Design Episode 3 - I Can Tell That We Are Going to Be Friends: Schools as Havens WRCF and Midtown Radio have launched a podcast series focused on social infrastructure in Waterloo Region. In episode 3, host Jay Harrison chats with Laura Mae Lindo, Quinn Palmer and Taarini Chopra. Read our blog on episode 3 Listen to the podcast Have You Heard? Community by Design: Exploring Social Infrastructure in Waterloo Region was featured in a recent post on Citified written by Melissa Bowman and Leah Reesor-Keller. KINSHIP AND TOGETHERNESS: Community Resource Program fosters strong social connection Independent Living Waterloo Region has served the community for more than 40 years. Its vision is an inclusive community where those with disabilities are supported to live independently and thrive. Their Community Resource program received support through WRCF’s Community Grants and two WRCF Fundholders. “With WRCF’s funding, we were able to run 36 programs and activities, which supported 160 participants.” -- Dan Lajoie, Manager of Independent Living Resources at Independent Living Waterloo Region Read more Questions? Contact us at info@wrcf.ca or 519-725-1806 DONATE NOW Connect with us Copyright © 2026 Waterloo Region Community Foundation, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to our e-communications. Our mailing address is: Waterloo Region Community Foundation 200-2 King Street West Kitchener, ON N2G 1A3 Canada Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.