Peer Learning Initiatives

PFC’s National Conference is a bi-annual gathering for the philanthropic sector which is the key meeting point of philanthropic foundation leaders from Canada and across the world, providing a unique, bilingual opportunity for hundreds of members, friends, partners, and leaders in the sector to share, learn, and explore new ideas for how philanthropy can tackle the urgent challenges of our times.

Building on the successes of our 2022 conference, the largest and most diverse in PFC history, and on our popular regional events hosted across Canada in 2023, we will be marking 25 Years together at PFC’s Conference in 2024 on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People, now home to Canada’s national capital.

In anticipation of philanthropy coming TOGETHER later this year at our Bi-Annual Conference in Ottawa we want to start 2024, the year that marks PFC’s 25th Anniversary, by showcasing important conversations across our conference program streams: Fundamentals, Trends & Tensions and Collaboration.  We plan to build up to our September Conference by tackling a new topic each month. 

The Investment Roundtable is a regular facilitated and peer-driven discussions for investment practitioners and leaders with oversight and influence on their foundations’ investment practices. This forum provides a unique and dedicated space for grantmaking and foundation investment staff and board members to discuss emerging investment trends in the sector as well as challenges and opportunities peers are facing, and helps PFC members build networks and learnings with colleagues from across Canada.

An annual in-person gathering and community of peers for PFC member CEOs, to discuss key issues and important developments in the sector in a facilitated format.

This group is designed especially for PFC member CEOs/EDs (or equivalent title) as a way of sharing information, building relationships, and supporting one another. Each online meeting has a cross-cutting theme relevant to different types of foundations, and ample opportunity to talk and learn from one another.

A year long peer-learning opportunity open to PFC members, helping move foundations’ JEDI strategies forward.

This new partnership of PFC and the Wellbeing Project will convene foundations to explore how inner wellbeing intersects with their work as philanthropy professionals. The goal is to create a learning path for our members focusing on wellbeing, mental health and self-reflection to be better grantmakers.