$1.7 million provided to 84 local organizations through WRCF’s grant streams focused on social infrastructure

Written By Rochelle Benoit

For Immediate Release | July 10, 2025

WATERLOO REGION, ON – Today, Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) announced $1.7 million in funding to 84 local organizations through three of its grant streams: Arts Grants, Community Grants, and Racial Equity Grants. This included support from WRCF Fundholders, donors, and through a partnership with Trinity United Church (Kitchener).

The combined focus of WRCF’s grant streams is on the ways that meaningful social interactions strengthen the social infrastructure within and across Waterloo Region. WRCF has researched social infrastructure over the past few years and has aligned its work with a framework created by Gehl Studio, which includes three types of activated spaces: Hubs, Havens, and Hangouts.

“The activation of spaces through programming has the ability to bring people together to create engagement, opportunities for learning and growth, and improved social cohesion within our communities,” said Eric Avner, President & CEO, Waterloo Region Community Foundation. “As we grow to one million residents in Waterloo Region, the demand for support continues to outpace the dollars available, so we are profoundly grateful to the thousands of donors and partners who align their giving with us, providing critical funding to important initiatives across our region.”

Additional information for each grant stream can be found in the links below:

  • $313,000 was provided to 18 organizations through WRCF’s Arts Fund. To see a list of organizations supported in 2025, visit wrcf.ca/news/arts-results-2025.

  • $1 million was provided to 47 organizations through WRCF’s Community Funds. To see a list of organizations supported in 2025, visit wrcf.ca/news/cf-results-2025.

  • $383,000 was provided to 19 organizations through WRCF’s Racial Equity Fund. To see a list of organizations supported in 2025, visit wrcf.ca/news/re-results-2025.

For more information about WRCF, visit wrcf.ca.

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About Waterloo Region Community Foundation
Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) collaborates with partners to ensure our communities are equitable, connected, and sustainable; and people are thriving. We strengthen local organizations, spaces, and experiences to increase connection with communities across the three cities and four townships of Waterloo Region. We make it easy for people to do more good. We work with individuals and companies to support the organizations and issues they care about. WRCF is focused on Granting, Investing, and Mobilizing to make measurable and sustainable impacts. Gifts are directed to WRCF's endowed funds, with the income generated being distributed in partnership with Fundholders through grants and investments that support a wide range of charitable causes that drive positive change within our community. We are growing our assets in a socially-responsible way without compromising financial returns, and transitioning to a 100% mission-aligned portfolio. These investments include directing at least 10% of our portfolio to impact investments. As a leading community-building organization, we also work to amplify voices and issues of importance by mobilizing conversations and sharing information, which leads people to action, while approaching our work with an equity mindset. In 2025, WRCF continues to focus on improving social infrastructure in Waterloo Region. www.wrcf.ca

For additional information about this release or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Lynne Short
Vice President, Waterloo Region Community Foundation
519-725-1806 x 204
lynne@wrcf.ca

Rochelle Benoit
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19 local organizations receive $383,000 through WRCF’s Racial Equity Fund