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Knowledge is at the heart of the community foundation difference. Browse some of the research and articles we have acquired or commissioned in key areas of our work.

Better together guide
A resource for understanding charitable sponsorships.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Women in Hamilton, Ontario
This February 2021 report, commissioned by HCF’s Women 4 Change, provides a window into the disproportionate effects of the pandemic on local women. Combining qualitative and quantitative data, it illustrates inequality locally exploring themes themes like health distress, economic stress, caregiving and unpaid labour, and intimate partner violence, while also providing considerations for potential policy and program development.

Unfunded: Black Communities Overlooked by Canadian Philanthropy
Prepared by the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities and Carleton’s Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Program, the report provides the first in-depth examination of the relationship between Canadian philanthropy and Black communities.

Are we looking in the mirror?
A June 2020 open letter to community foundations on anti-racism, belonging, and the past, present and future of philanthropy  from Andrew Chunilall, CEO of Community Foundations of Canada following the death of George Floyd.

Impact investing
A collection of articles that support our approach to impact investing.

Women and Girls in Hamilton
This report reviews current issues and concerns facing the over 380,000 women and girls that live in Hamilton. Through reviewing primary research and secondary data, this report discusses opportunities to influence change.

The Four Pillars
Hamilton Community Foundation’s ABACUS initiative is based on four pillars that are common to early intervention programs that are successful in encouraging and supporting high school success and participation in post-secondary education, especially among those who face disadvantages.

Hamilton’s Millennials and Community Belonging
Hamilton’s Millennials and Community Belonging presents a snapshot of upcoming research from McMaster University on the city’s millennials and the impact of precarious work on some of the drivers of belonging and community engagement, including volunteering and participation in community events, as well as millennials’ overall sense of optimism about work, connections and prospects for the future.

Working Together
This report from the City of Hamilton’s Labour Market Action Partnership looks at employment, education and training, provides specific data for three Hamilton neighbourhoods and is a useful resource on post-secondary access.

Getting There from Here: Early intervention programs
This July 2014 report summarizes the research behind Hamilton Community Foundation’s ABACUS: Advancing Post-Secondary Access initiative. It provides an overview of early intervention programs, the research and theory behind them, and how they support students from at risk or underrepresented backgrounds to graduate from high school and gain access to postsecondary education. The report uses nine case studies, eight in the United States and one in Canada, to illustrate the diverse ways that early intervention programs can function. Finally, this report looks at what evaluation research is available for these programs and what we can learn from this research.

A New Anchor Mission for a New Century: Community foundations deploying all resources to build community wealth
This publication from the Democracy Collaborative looks at 30 community foundations of various sizes and stages and innovative steps they are taking toward “what could emerge as a new anchor mission to deploy all resources to build community wealth.”

Good Data Comes to Those Who Wait: What We Now Know About Early Interventions to Promote Access to PSE
This article discusses the limitations of financial assistance as the only tool to encourage students to pursue post-secondary education and the need to approach low income families well before their children reach high school.

Beyond Appearances: Brief on the main issues facing girls in Canada
This issue brief from Girls Action Foundation discusses the “ significant real-life challenges” that remain in Canada, especially for girls who are marginalized.

Income and School Performance in Hamilton
A research paper commissioned by HCF which compares school scores at the elementary, middle and secondary levels, and compares them with the levels of low income in the geographic areas from which students are drawn.”

Summary of Hope and Despair in the American City: Why there are no bad schools in Raleigh
Efforts to reduce poverty – and, in turn, improve social and economic outcomes for all Hamiltonians – are a priority for both the Hamilton Community Foundation and the community as a whole. This paper summarizes and explains income integration within schools as one potential focus of these efforts, as well as examine key research and policy considerations that will be helpful in the discussion of this approach.

Impact investing in Canada: State of the Nation Report
This report provides updated information and analysis that can inform both new and existing actors in the impact investment sector.

Mobilizing Private Capital for Social Good
This report from the Canadian Task Force on Social Finance calls on institutional investors, corporations, philanthropists, foundations and governments to work together to build a robust impact investing marketplace in Canada. You can also download the Year One update.

Small Project Funding Toolkit
Hamilton Community Foundation and the City of Hamilton provide small grants funding for resident projects in communities which are part of the Neighbourhood Action Strategy. Small projects can be a great way to reach out to residents in your neighbourhood.  This application, criteria and toolkit is provided by the Social Planning and Research which administers the small grants.

Looking Back…Moving Forward
A retrospective on HCF’s poverty reduction work through its Tackling Poverty Together program.