The Toronto Community Foundation works with thousands of charitable organizations in Toronto.

Our professional grantmaking staff draws upon decades of personal in-depth knowledge, experience and expertise in various community sectors to assess applications for our Vital Toronto Fund grant programs: Vital Ideas, Vital People, and Vital Youth. These programs respond to issues identified in our Toronto’s Vital Signs® Report.

Vital Toronto Fund Finalists are organizations that have gone through a rigorous review process by our staff that includes assessment of the organization’s mission and activities, the impact of its programming, its governance and financial health.

When providing this designation, we also consider the following six practices* of high-impact organizations:

• Does the organization work for social change through education and/or advocacy (not simply offer a band-aid solution)?
• Is it adaptable and innovative in the face of ever-changing needs and conditions?
• Does it inspire program participants to become effective advocates?
• Does the organization nurture networks and partnerships with other organizations?
• Does it have a diversified funding base and is involved in (or exploring the opportunities to be involved in) social enterprise and/or the generation of income through methods other than traditional fundraising?
• Does it share leadership and best practices with others and have a succession plan if the current leader is the founder?