2014-2015 grants

Sandra Ramelli is an accomplished strategist, human resources, and organizational development practitioner with experience in multiple sectors including health care, steel and education. For the past decade Sandra has held several senior roles in health care and has served as a trusted advisor and coach to many administrative and physician leaders. She has extensive experience in strategic planning, leadership and team development, quality improvement, human resources and in leading complex transformational change. As an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster University, Sandra supports the growth and development of physicians through the delivery of leadership development programs and coaching. In addition to her professional experience, Sandra is a Certified Health Executive, an ICF certified coach, a certified LEADS® coach and facilitator, and is certified in Kaplan-Norton Balanced Scorecard methodology, She holds a Master of Business Administration from York University Schulich School of Business, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto and an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University.

As a newly appointed member of the Board of Directors for the Hamilton Community Foundation, Nazia is passionate about promoting equity and inclusion within our Hamilton community. With over a decade of experience in social services, community development and mental health counseling, she has dedicated her career to advocating for marginalized groups, specializing in providing trauma-informed, person-centered care to diverse populations, including children, youth, and older adults. Thought out her career, Nazia has actively contributed to creating inclusive policies and programs. With a Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University and fluency in multiple languages, she is dedicated to advancing the foundation’s mission to drive positive change and improve the quality of life in Hamilton.

Melissa Alzaeim brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to community engagement, equity, and strategic leadership to the Board of Directors of Hamilton Community Foundation. With a distinguished career spanning academia, non-profit organizations, the private sector, and international development, Melissa is dedicated to driving positive change and fostering inclusive communities.

Her international experience in research operations and grants management, including roles at McMaster University and Sheridan College, highlights her strategic oversight, financial stewardship, and governance expertise.

An immigrant to Canada with a multicultural background and fluency in multiple languages, Melissa’s engagement with diverse communities aligns with the Foundation’s values of equity and Reconciliation. Her skills in project management, strategic planning, financial management, and community engagement are essential for effective governance.

Committed to upholding integrity, ethical leadership, and accountability, Melissa is dedicated to advancing the Foundation’s goals and contributing to a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive Hamilton.

As founder of Mary J Williams Coaching & Consulting Inc, Mary works with leaders across the country as an executive leadership coach and thinking partner. Mary has more than three decades of experience and leadership in educational and not-for-profit advancement. As McMaster University’s past Vice-President, Advancement, Mary led an award winning team with a mandate that included communications and marketing, government and alumni relations and fundraising. At the University of Toronto, Mary supported more than 30 academic divisions in their activities to work towards the university’s $4 billion campaign fundraising goal. As an active volunteer in her communities, Mary has extensive governance experience and has served on a wide range of non-profit boards locally, provincially and nationally. She is a graduate of three universities and has completed the McMaster Chartered Directors program.

Kevin Tom is the Chief Investment Officer of Hamilton based FirstOntario Credit Union. He has over 25 years of experience within the financial services industry in British Columbia and Ontario. One of his current areas of responsibility includes the alternative investments portfolio, which is active in the affordable housing space, through policy advocacy, development and acquisitions.

Kevin is an advocate for social justice and equality. He is involved in organizations that seek to increase the affordable housing inventory in our communities and currently sits on the board of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion.

Jason is a born and raised Hamiltonian. An urban planner by profession, Jason led the City of Hamilton’s Planning and Economic Development Department from 2014 to 2024. Currently in private practice as an urban planner, Jason works across the country helping communities of all sizes tackle complex urban challenges. Prior to his career as an urban planner, Jason worked for several years in environmental advocacy, including with local groups such as the Bay Area Restoration Council and Bruce Trail Association. Jason lives in the heart of downtown Hamilton with his partner, where he frequently enjoys experiencing Hamilton’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

FINAL REPORTS for 2023-24 grants from the Edith H. Turner Foundation Fund are due DECEMBER 1, 2024. A link to the report form has been emailed to all grantees. If you did not receive this link, please contact Tami Henderson at 905.523.5600 x 241, or t.henderson@hamiltoncommunityfoundation.ca

We are no longer able to accept final reports via email.  Your final report MUST be submitted through the online portal.  To access this form, you will first need to log into your HCF online account through the portal. The final report form can be found under the ‘Requirements’ tab.

A troubleshooting guide can be found here.

Sarah has been involved with the Hamilton Community Foundation since 2007. She has a long track record of community service and is passionate about giving back and has provided volunteer leadership to a number of local charities, service clubs and philanthropic organizations.

Sarah brings to her role extensive experience as lead Portfolio Manager, Senior Wealth Advisor and head of The Murphy Investment Group at CIBC Wood Gundy. With over 20 years of experience, Sarah values educating and empowering her clients, which include individuals, multi-generational families, charities and large institutions. Sarah was chosen as one of Canada’s Top Wealth Advisors: Best in Province by The Globe and Mail and Shook Research.

Amy Montour is a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River community and brings Two-Eyed Seeing to her role, incorporating her knowledge as an Indigenous person and Western-trained physician to Hamilton Community Foundation’s work.

Amy is currently co-lead for the Division of Indigenous Medicine in the Brant Community Healthcare System and a palliative care physician servicing Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and Haldimand County. Her work focuses on improving the experience of Indigenous people accessing health systems and includes advocacy, education, clinical practice and system innovation.

Cheryl Jensen is the retired president of Algonquin College and also had a long career at Mohawk College, where she held the title of Vice President, Academic. Cheryl first joined Mohawk as a Chemical Engineering Technology professor in 1983 and served as Dean, Executive Dean, and Vice President of Engineering Technology, Apprenticeship and Corporate Training.

Cheryl has served on numerous boards related to education, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy. She is known for her organizational and community leadership which has been recognized with numerous awards in Hamilton, Ottawa and nationally through the Association of Canadian Community Colleges.

Charles’ governance experience spans five decades. He has chaired many organizations including Sons of Italy (Hamilton & National), Burlington Community Foundation, Villa Italia Retirement Complex, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton Health Sciences, The Sicilian Cultural Society of Hamilton. Charles was a lawyer from 1985 to 2018 and is now a mediator and arbitrator in commercial law disputes and is also a construction law adjudicator.

Charles has received several awards including Italian Canadian Citizen of the Year (2010), Festitalia Heritage Award (2015), CIBPA Professional Excellence Award (2018) and Sicilian Ambassador (2022).

Cam Beatty is an accounting and finance professional who is accustomed to advising businesses and not-for-profit organizations, and provides his input and support to HCF through this lens, and with a keen interest in the short- and long-term well-being of the Hamilton community.

Cam has been a Partner of Durward Jones Barkwell & Company LLP (DJB) since 2007 and is the current chair of its executive committee.  In this role, Cam helps to set and shape the firm’s strategic direction as well as serving clients in a variety of industries.

Shylo Elmayan has over 15 years of experience working in Indigenous community relations. She is currently the Owner and Lead of Niibin Advisory Services, an Indigenous consulting firm specializing in policy development and community engagement.  She was recently the Director of Indigenous Student Services at McMaster University and was responsible for leading a department that supports all aspects of the student experience and success of McMaster’s Indigenous. She had worked previously at McMaster to develop and administer the university’s employment equity census.

Prior joining McMaster, Shylo was a Senior Project Manager with the City of Hamilton and led the development of Hamilton’s first urban Indigenous strategy.  Shylo previously worked at Hydro One Networks progressing to Senior Manager, First Nations and Métis Relations. Other previous employment include policy advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and tenant rights advocate with Aboriginal Legal Services.

Shylo is Anishinaabe and lives in Caledonia. She is a member of the Long Lake #58 First Nation and her family’s traditional territory is located near Hornepayne, Ontario.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in First Nations Studies and Political Science from the University of British Columbia and Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Sandra Edrupt is retired from her role as General Manager Strategy & Business Planning at ArcelorMittal Dofasco and has worked in a variety of management roles in strategy, marketing, quality systems, communications and public affairs, corporate planning and sales.

Sandra is an involved member of the community with extensive governance and other volunteer senior leadership experience with numerous organizations in health care, education, the arts and philanthropy.  Recognition for Sandra’s leadership includes distinguished service awards from both the McMaster Alumni Association and McMaster Association of Part-Time Students.

Pranav Pandya is a financial executive with over 20 years of private market and impact investment experience. He is a Principal at Black Hills Advisory Group, providing investment advisory services to institutional investors. Prior to this role, Pranav was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at a Toronto-based private equity firm specializing in renewable energy, infrastructure, growth equity, and real estate. Pranav is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

Haider Saeed is a family physician with the Hamilton Family Health Team and the Shelter Health Network. His broad scope of practice brings him in contact with a wide variety of patients, giving him a window into the challenges and stressors they face.

As a medical editor, Haider has a strong understanding of evidence-based medicine and using data to make decisions. He has a long-term interest in urban geography and advocates for people to live healthier lives within cities.

Elizabeth Gray (Mi’kmaw) was born in New Brunswick and has been an active member of the Hamilton Urban Indigenous Community for over 30 years. She brings over a decade of non-profit board experience to HCF, including serving as a director with Dundas Valley Non-Profit Housing, Sacajawea Non-Profit Housing and De dwa da dehs nye>s Hamilton Aboriginal Health Centre.

Elizabeth holds a BA (McMaster), Master of Social Work (Laurier), an Indigenous Educators Certificate in Indigegogy (Laurier) and a Certificate in Reconciliation, Conflict Prevention and the Promotion of more Inclusive Societies (McGill).

Elizabeth is currently the Indigenous Counsellor for Mohawk College and also volunteers as an advisor for Centre for Community Engaged Narrative Arts, Body Brave, a National Indigenous Advisory Committee for GBV in the Media and the Hamilton Indigenous Consultation Circle. Elizabeth has been named one of Laurier’s Inspiring Indigenous Alumni.

Assad is an award-winning senior leadership professional with over two decades of experience in the architectural, engineering and construction industry.  After more than a decade of working in private sector, Assad has held senior positions with the Niagara Parks Commission, Town of Lincoln, Hamilton Public Library and Conservation Halton.  As a leader in sustainable projects, Assad loves to create innovative, inclusive, and inspiring places and spaces.  As an HCF director, Assad draws from his individual area of expertise in strategic and capital planning to provide sound lived advice.

Financial highlights

Donations to the Foundation are invested for the long term in public markets and in alternative investments. Investment income is then allocated annually to support granting, community leadership and operations. The summary and charts presented here provide both a financial snapshot and a history of recent activity that underlies the grants and community leadership activities represented in this annual report, made possible by remarkable donors.

Donations

Donations to the Foundation are from individuals, corporations and other charities. Donors may contribute to named endowment or flowthrough funds, to the Board-directed Community Fund, or to HCF’s community leadership projects.

The $35.1 million in donations this year is the second highest total in HCF’s history. Annual donations are influenced by the timing of the realization of donations in wills and significant one-time donations like the $27.7 million in donations of property and private equity. As illustrated in Chart 1, annual donations have ranged between $3.2 and $35.1 million over the past eight years. The five-year rolling average of donations ranges from $5.0 million to $13.3 million over the past eight years.

The five-year rolling average number of donations is 1,787 with 2019-20 at 1,853. The number of donations fluctuates based on “in memoriam” donations and the number and nature of events sponsored by donors to raise money for their funds.

Chart 1

Grants and community leadership

Grants are made annually from both endowed and flowthrough funds. Because flowthrough fund balances are distributed in a shorter time period, granting from these funds can materially influence HCF’s total annual amount granted.

As illustrated in Chart 2, grants and community leadership project spending over the past eight years has ranged from $4.7 million to this year’s historic high of $11.5 million. Granting from endowment funds was reduced in 2013 as a result of the decline in investment returns in 2012 which a) lowered the asset base used for the granting calculation (currently four percent of the fund balances), and b) resulted in less income available to grant. Flowthrough granting and expenditures on community leadership projects has ranged from 22 to 56 percent of total granting in any given year and is dependent on the timing and nature of flowthrough and project activity. At 893, the number of grants for this year is 37 percent higher than the eight-year average.

Chart 2

Investments

Investments traded in active markets are reported at fair market value. Investments not actively traded are recorded at their cost less any impairment of their value.

To support our strategy of aligning our assets with our mission and to provide a more diverse and robust portfolio, HCF has committed to investing in alternative asset classes including loans to charities and not-for-profits, private debt, real estate, infrastructure and private equity. These alternatives are consistent with the Foundation’s long-term investment horizon and liquidity requirements. Since these investments are not actively traded, they are valued at cost in the investments. These alternatives total $25.8 million.

HCF invests according to policy guidelines established by the Board of Directors. Two committees of the Board oversee investments to ensure compliance with the policy:

• Public market portfolios are managed by two professional investment firms and are overseen by the Finance and Investment Committee. This committee reviews the investment managers’ reports quarterly to assess each manager’s performance and formally evaluates their performance semi-annually.
• Impact investments are overseen by the Impact Investment Committee, with due diligence and other support from professional consultants.

As an endowment builder, HCF’s policy focuses on long-term investing and is supported by reserve accounts that are currently at their policy maximum.

The investment policy sets out a total portfolio target asset mix, as well as a range around these targets. The public market investment managers have mandates within this targeted asset mix and use their discretion to invest the portfolios within this range. Chart 3 reflects the current and target asset mix. Note: $25 million of private equity relates to a fund established by a donor and is not part of the asset mix or the consolidated portfolio results.

Chart 3

Public markets

Two long-term portfolios are invested in the public markets with Jarislowsky Fraser, and Connor, Clark & Lunn. Chart 4 compares those portfolios against benchmarks as follows:

• Returns for each year against the annual investment policy benchmark for that year
• Seven-year annualized return against the seven-year annualized investment policy benchmark
• Both return rates against the targeted investment policy long-term return range

Benchmarks reflect the performance of each market index based on HCF’s specific target asset mix. Comparing actual results to the benchmark measures the value added by investment managers compared to the average market performance. HCF’s investment policy target is a long-term investment return in the 6.5 to 7.5 percent range.

Chart 4

The effect of the global pandemic has materially affected investment returns, resulting in a -8.4 percent public market return for the year.  The seven-year annualized return at 6.8 percent is within the targeted investment policy range and is 1.2 percent higher than the 5.6 percent benchmark. As noted in the financial highlights, the current 10-year annualized return of 7.0 percent is in the target range and is higher than the benchmark by 1.2 percent.

Impact investments

Impact investments enable donations to endowed funds to drive positive change beyond granting, because they represent investments of capital that deliver financial returns coupled with positive social and/or environmental outcomes. In addition, these investments provide a pool uncorrelated to the public markets which, in turn, buffers the portfolio from the volatility currently experienced.

More than 15 percent of our long-term assets are in impact investments. Chart 5 illustrates HCF’s impact investing progress over the past five years, with $25 million currently placed or outstanding and another $15 million committed. This brings the total commitment to $40 million, up from $34 million last year. Impact investments cover areas including affordable housing, arts, environment and sustainable development.

Chart 5

Locally

Local loans since inception total $9.7 million with $7.1 million outstanding at year end.  Chart 6 shows the impact areas our loans have supported. Since the loan program’s 2012 inception, $2.6 million in loan principal has been repaid and recycled as new loans.  In addition, the interest from these loans supports HCF granting.

Chart 6

Investment Readiness Program (IRP)

IRP is a Government of Canada program being delivered nationally by partners including Community Foundations of Canada. As the first phase in the government’s long-term investment in social finance, the IRP’s goal is to make social-purpose organizations “investment ready” so they can make a difference in new and innovative ways through their participation in the social finance market. HCF has partnered with community foundations in London and Niagara, and the McMaster Innovation Park to manage the program regionally on behalf of Community Foundations of Canada.  The first request for proposals for funding in January created enormous interest nationally and garnered 65 submissions to our regional partnership.  Approved funding is expected to be released in June 2020.  As an additional benefit, the IRP brought a growing number of potential opportunities for local loans to HCF’s attention.

Nationally/Globally

These investments include private equity, private debt and real estate investments. Many of these investments are long term in nature, are maintained at cost and do not have a regular income stream.  As these investments are maintained at cost, their results include interest income and realized gains, but not unrealized gains. Results for these investments are closely monitored and are reported when realized. Chart 7 identifies the investment areas, with $18.0 million placed and a total commitment of $33 million across 21 investments.

Chart 7

Total investment returns

Operations

Operating expenses for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 total $2.5 million and were 2.5 percent higher than last year. Staffing costs related to the Foundation’s 22 employees represent 70 percent of HCF operating costs.

In addition to breaking out cost by type, operating costs are allocated to each of the Foundation’s operating areas: grants administration, community and philanthropic leadership, community relations and knowledge dissemination, development activities, and administration and governance. Examples of community and philanthropic leadership include convening around the city’s critical issues and fostering the growth of philanthropy by sharing staff time and knowledge to support other charities. Charts 8 and 9 illustrate these costs by operating area and by expense type.

Charts 8 and 9

The Foundation’s annual development expenses are not necessarily attributable to the donations received in that year. The nature of donations to the Foundation can result in costs preceding the receipt of the donation by several years (for example, donations through wills). As a result, consistent with the community foundation sector, operating costs are evaluated by a ratio of total operating expenses to average total assets. Ratios fall within a range depending on the size and stage of the community foundation’s development.

Management considers the ratio of 1.26 percent (1.25 percent in 2019), as illustrated in Chart 10, to be within an acceptable range for a foundation of HCF’s size, stage and level of community leadership, compared against benchmarks established in the community foundation sector. We continue to monitor both the actual results and the benchmarks on an ongoing basis.

Chart 10

Total assets

Hamilton Community Foundation’s total assets of $201 million at March 31, 2020 include balances of HCF funds and funds held on behalf of others at $1.7 million.

HCF fund balances

Hamilton Community Foundation’s fund balances, illustrated in Chart 11, represent accumulated donations plus the net investment earnings on these donations, minus granting and operating costs. Funds include both endowed and flowthrough funds. Endowed funds are held permanently and grant from investment earnings. Flowthrough funds are fully distributed as grants over a pre-determined term.

Chart 11

The fund balances have grown 55 percent to $198 million at the year ended March 31, 2020 from $128 million in 2013. Donations of $35.1 million included $4.4 million in flowthrough donations that were largely distributed as grants in the year and, as a result, do not remain in the fund balances at year end. This results in a modest total funds balance growth of 4.8 per cent for the year. The number of funds has grown 19 percent to 377 from 318 in 2013.

Advisors

Auditors
BDO Canada LLP

Bankers & Custodian
Bank of Montreal and BMO Private Banking

Solicitors
Gowling WLG

Investment Managers
Connor, Clark and Lunn Private Capital Ltd.
Jarislowsky Fraser Ltd.

Link to PDF

Community Fund: Unrestricted fund

This fund is used to address the highest charitable priorities in the community.