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The Ontario 4-H Foundation

Growing and managing endowment funds for the long-term sustainability of 4-H in Ontario.

Donate to the Ontario 4-H Foundation

About the Foundation

For over 25 years, the Ontario 4-H Foundation has worked to ensure the long-term financial health of the 4-H program in Ontario.

We are a federally incorporated non-profit charity. Our mission is to attract, manage, and grow endowment funds. Trustees of the Ontario 4-H Foundation are committed to sound financial management in order to ensure that 4-H is Forever in Ontario. We do this by:

  • Managing and growing an endowment fund
  • Supporting local associations by managing investments on their behalf
  • Giving directly to the 4-H Council each year to support programs and events
  • Giving to members and associations directly through our donor-sponsored funds, which support specific goals, such as scholarships

Through sound fiscal management, the Foundation manages approximately $3 million. Our objective is an annual return of 5%. For the past ten years, we have met or exceeded that goal.

Our annual income comprises investment returns, donations, and revenue generated through our annual golf tournaments.

Foundation infographic

In 2019, the Foundation returned 85% of its income to support 4-H in Ontario through direct transfers to the Ontario 4-H Council for program support and through re-investment for the long-term growth of endowed funds.

2024 Ontario 4-H Foundation Annual General Meeting

Register today for the Ontario 4-H Foundation Annual General Meeting taking place on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Learn more and register today!

Free One-Hour Information Session

The Ontario 4-H Foundation board of trustees is offering a one-hour workshop accessible via Zoom! On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 7 p.m., join the foundation to learn more about how donations to the foundation benefit 4-H across the province, how the foundation can help local associations to raise and grow funds and about flexible giving options with potential tax and estate planning benefits for donors. Learn more and register by Monday, April 8, 2024!

Ontario 4-H Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Governance

The Foundation is made up of a volunteer Board of Trustees. Our trustees are dedicated, experienced, and responsible individuals who are committed to maintaining the longevity and sustainability of 4-H Ontario.

Meet the 2023-2024 Board of Trustees:

Ontario 4-H Foundation Policy Manual

Please find the Foundation Policy Manual here.

Learn More

To learn more about the Foundation or to obtain copies of our financial statements, please feel free to reach out to any of the trustees directly. In the alternative, you can contact the Executive Director of 4-H Ontario at ed@4-hontario.ca. Much of our financial information is publicly available through the charitydata website.

A gift to the Foundation is a gift for the future of 4-H in Ontario.

The delivery of the 4-H program in Ontario is funded in large part through membership fees, grants, and sponsorships.

But the receipt of grants and sponsorships is not guaranteed.

In 1995, the 4-H Foundation was set up to build an endowment fund to ensure the long-term viability of the 4-H program. The Foundation’s aim is to make sure that there will always be funding for 4-H.

Because we invest on a long-term basis, we are able to continually grow our endowment fund. The larger our endowment grows, the more we are able to give directly to programming each year while maintaining our capital.

When you give to the Foundation, you can direct your funds in one of four ways:

  • Endowment fund
  • An existing donor-sponsored fund
  • A new fund set up at your direction
  • To a local association

The annual returns on our endowment fund comprise over half of our annual revenue, and are used to support 4-H programming through direct support and re-investment.

Donors may designate a specific use for their funds. Alternately, a donor can set up a fund to honour a person, such as an in-memoriam fund. Your gift is then placed in our endowed fund which is carefully invested and will grow over time.

Our funds are pooled and invested in accordance with our investment policy, which ensures a diverse asset mix and an above-market rate of return.

You can make your gift in many ways! In addition to a monetary donation, we accept gifts of securities, bequests by will, gifts of life insurance, and gifts of other assets. Contact us to learn more!

The Foundation looks for trustees with a wide range of skills. One or more of these key attributes are important:

  • Strong, broad connections in their local community or in business
  • Training and experience in professions such as money management, accounting, legal, banking or fund raising
  • An understanding of the 4-H program, often through previous participation as member, volunteer or 4-H parent
  • Wide geographic representation across the Province
  • Diversity of representation
  • An eager desire to see 4-H succeed for the long term, and the confidence to reach out to others in support of fund raising endeavours.

We are always looking for good candidates to join the Foundation. If you feel that you have what it takes to assist the Foundation in its role, please let us know by contacting John den Haan, Past-Chair of the Ontario 4-H Foundation.

Contact Us

Ontario 4-H Foundation

Box 73

Glencoe, Ontario

N0L 1M0

Cell: 519-494-9618  Office 519-872-4466

ont4hfoundation@gmail.com