Burlington, Ontario residents will see a direct boost to local services after the Burlington Community Foundation announced a record $2.22 million in grants for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. That is a 67 percent jump from the $1.33 million handed out the previous year. The money supports 127 charities across the city, from food banks to mental health programs, reflecting a surge in donor support and strong investment results.
The Foundation’s total revenue hit $5.24 million during the same period, while its assets grew to $28 million. A key driver was an 11.6 percent return on endowed assets, well above the target of 8 percent set by the board. The Foundation confirmed the numbers in its Audited Financial Statements and Annual Report for 2025-26.
The largest single grant, $853,311, went to the Halton Police Foundation. That amount represents the transfer of the Halton Heroes Fund, which the Burlington Community Foundation had managed since 2012. The fund is now managed independently by the police foundation, which focuses on programs for at-risk youth and underserved residents.
Other major grants included $136,964 to The Carpenter Hospice, an 11-bed residential hospice on Parkway Drive that provides palliative and grief support, and $71,000 to Shifra Homes Inc., Halton’s only maternity residence for young pregnant women.
Grants distributed across different community priorities show Health, Mental Health and Well-being getting the biggest share at $1.06 million, or 47.6 percent of the total. Children and Youth programs received $313,678, while Arts and Culture got $196,627. The Foundation also launched a Housing Support Fund after its 2025 Vital Signs report showed 42 percent of residents saw housing affordability as a top concern, and Halton’s shelter system was running at 40 percent over capacity. The Fund raised nearly $80,000 in its first year.
The year also marked the passing of Doug Leggat, the Foundation’s inaugural Board Chair, who died on December 30, 2025, at age 91. Leggat helped establish the Burlington Community Foundation in 1999 and was known for his philanthropy through the Leggat Auto Group. His legacy continues through the Leggat Family Fund, which made a $25,000 opening donation to the Housing Support Fund.
