When granting organizations work together the results can be remarkable.

There are many examples. OTF’s partnership in the Canadian Women’s Foundation Collaborative Fund for Economic Development is one. Our funding partners in this exciting initiative include the Metcalf Charitable Foundation, CIBC and other foundations and private donors.

OTF is contributing $500,000 over five years to improve the lives of low-income women. The results will be two-fold. First, through a proven community economic development model, practitioners will help low-income women increase their economic self-sufficiency and decrease their reliance on social assistance. Second, the networks and collaboration between practitioners will increase the effectiveness of each organization’s economic development work.

Over the shorter term the current grant is expected to help more than 300 women. Over the life of the grant, 1,000 Ontario-based women’s organizations will introduce the successful model to their own clients. This investment is in keeping with the new OTF granting priority of supporting enhanced employment and economic potential for workers and their families.

The United Way of Greater Toronto, the Maytree Foundation and OTF are currently participating in another funding partnership. The Stronger Agencies through Organizational Capacity Building project is supporting the long-term viability of 125 Toronto-based agencies. Through strategic investments, these agencies will offer more effective, high impact services to under-served communities.

The mission of the United Way is “to meet urgent needs and improve social conditions by mobilizing the community’s volunteer and financial resources in a common cause of caring.” The Maytree Foundation’s goal is “reducing poverty and inequality in Canada and building strong civic communities.” By working together, the three partners are building bridges and producing remarkable results.

In another example of working in partnership, on February 28, the Hon. Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Culture and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, congratulated RDÉE Ontario (Regroupement franco-ontarien de développement économique et d’employabilité) and its growing network of organizations serving Francophone communities across the province. The Minister joined OTF Area Manager Lorraine Gandolfo in announcing a $300,000 OTF province-wide grant to RDÉE Ontario to create a network of socio-economic incubators that will act as micro-enterprise collectives. On hand for the celebration were representatives from three community groups whose initiatives have already come to life: CALDECH, based in Simcoe County, Club 2000 Niagara and Regroupement des gens d’affaires africains canadiens de Toronto.