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A Social Justice Lens
Community foundations in Canada and around the world are working to meet urgent community needs, respond to longer-term local priorities, encourage philanthropy, introduce donors to approaches that make a difference to the community, and improve the community’s quality of life. We are working toward communities where all citizens have economic opportunity, equal access to high quality education and health care, vibrant cultural voices, safety, and the respect of their fellow citizens. We are working toward communities that are environmentally healthy and that treat their citizens fairly and equitably. We are working toward communities that are just.
But achieving a just community is an ongoing challenge. Too often, immediate needs in the community are so pressing we have no time or resources left to consider the root causes of those problems or – consequently – their long-term solutions.
In Canada today, for example:
- 41% of Aboriginal children living off-reserve live in poverty
- the child poverty rate among immigrant children under age 14 is 42.4% (compared to 17.4% for non-immigrant children)
- poverty in foreign-born racial minority communities is increasing dramatically, despite the fact that immigrants are arriving with higher credentials
- One in three women are in low-paid work, compared to one in five men
By examining their work in grantmaking, donor service, asset development, and community leadership through a social justice lens, community foundations can aim to help solve basic problems rather than treat their symptoms over and over again. While current needs must still be met, and community foundations will always have broad granting programs because of the diverse priorities of their donors, community foundations can create opportunities to combat social injustice, economic inequality and environmental degradation, and tackle their root causes. Community foundations can also examine their internal policies and practices through a social justice lens.
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Community foundations committed to addressing root causes
Because of their permanence, community foundations have a long-term perspective and a vested interest in finding solutions to persistent social and economic problems. Their broad grantmaking, community leadership activities, and wide network of local connections gives them a solid understanding of their communities’ needs and strengths. Community foundations have a powerful opportunity to use their assets to make Canada the just society Canadians expect it to be.
Community Foundations of Canada began exploring the role of foundations in promoting social justice in the fall of 2001. Details.
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