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Canadian charitiesAlso receives grants — funding profile →

Toronto, ON · Private foundation

The Polar Foundation

Receives accumulates and distributes funds to various charitable organizations as directed by its board of directors.

C$306k
Granted FY2024still arriving
20
Grants FY2024still arriving
7
Regions reached
C$60k
Largest
01What you fundRead
02The needRead
03Your edgeRead
04Your fieldRead
01What you fund
01FY2024 · 20 grants

Where the money goes

Your grants by size, and where they go.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under C$10k9 grants · C$50k
  • C$10k–50k10 grants · C$195k
  • C$50k–250k1 grant · C$60k
C$10,300
Median grant
7
Regions reached
C$1.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNITED WAY GREATER TORONTOC$60,000
THE CANADIAN STAGE CORPORATIONC$40,300
SOULPEPPER THEATRE COMPANYC$37,000
CHILDRENS AID FOUNDATION OF CANADAC$31,250
LORAN SCHOLARS FOUNDATIONC$25,000
MCMICHAEL CANADIAN ART FOUNDATIONC$10,400
CENTAUR FOUNDATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTSC$10,300
THE MCCORD MUSEUM FOUNDATIONC$10,300
MCMICHAEL CANADIAN ART FOUNDATIONC$10,300
BILL REID FOUNDATIONC$10,300
THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PHOTOGRAPHY AND MEDIA ARTS SOCIETYC$10,300
ROYAL MANITOBA THEATRE CENTRE INC.C$7,300
THE WINNIPEG ART GALLERYC$7,200
ARTS COMMONSC$7,000
THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PHOTOGRAPHY AND MEDIA ARTS SOCIETYC$6,983
02The need
02

Do your dollars go where the need is?

Where your grant dollars land — at home and around the world.

Your giving at home — 80% of grant dollars (C$7.8M). The 20% that went abroad (C$1.9M) is mapped below.

Which regions your grants reach

Ontario
C$1.5M
British Columbia
C$474k
Alberta
C$52k
Quebec
C$49k
Manitoba
C$15k
Nova Scotia
C$8k
Saskatchewan
C$7k
New Brunswick
C$7k
Prince Edward Island
C$3k
Newfoundland and Labrador
C$3k

Beyond home — 20% of all-years giving (C$1.9M)

0 countries, by the recipient’s country on the filing.

grant dollars sentlessmore

International giving is mapped by the recipient’s country from the same T3010 filings; comparable need data isn’t available at that grain.

03Your edge
repeat funding

Who you back again

Which organizations you funded more than once, and which you funded a single time. Each grantee is matched to its own filings.

65%of every dollar goes to organizations you’ve funded before.
C$5.6M · 42 repeat orgsC$3.0M to everyone else

And the relationships you keep tend to grow: grantees you re-up on have seen median revenue of +29% since the first grant, against +22% for the ones you funded once.

42 repeat relationships — 11 still active in FY2024, 31 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

42
77

Total granted

C$5.6M
C$2.9M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+29%
+22%

Still filing today

95%
52%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 76% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; C$74k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

First-time = a grantee’s first year in your filing window; renewed = funded in an earlier year too. As a portfolio matures the renewed share naturally climbs — once funded, an org stays “renewable” — so the signal is the years that buck it (a new-grantee intake wave). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as “new.”

Backed again, and grew

  • VF
    VANCOUVER FOUNDATION
    6× · 2017–2023 · C$630k · revenue +99%
  • CA
    CHILDREN'S AID FOUNDATION OF CANADA
    3× · 2022–2024 · C$378k · revenue +10%
  • BR
    BILL REID FOUNDATION
    4× · 2020–2024 · C$316k · revenue +37%

Funded once

  • PM
    PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE USD $5 000
    one grant, 2022 · C$328k
  • AA
    ALVIN ALLEY DANCE USD $5 000
    one grant, 2022 · C$322k
  • FC
    FEDERATION CJA
    one grant, 2022 · C$319k

Repeat = funded in two or more distinct years; growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent CRA filings.

04Your field

The map has a center of gravity: the average direction from the rest of the sector toward the organizations the foundation funds — the shape of its giving. Scoring every nonprofit along that direction surfaces the ones that look most like the portfolio. These are the closest matches that aren’t grantees — a resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Toronto Arts Foundation

Provides finanical support to artists and arts organizations in toronto. offers awards ad commissions recognizing artistic excellence. administers donor-directed funds and special initiatives supporting public engagement artist recognition…

—
2
Uhn Foundation

We raise fund for research education and the enhancement of patient care at Toronto General and Western hospitals as well as Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and Michener Institute of Education at UHN. Together with our donors we are…

—
3
Calgary Arts Foundation

Calgary arts foundation was created to generate financial support for the calgary arts sector. the foundation is focused on the arts creative industries and cultural sector to strengthen existing programs that support organizations artists…

—
4
National Gallery of Canada Foundation

Assisting the national gallery of canada in the areas of education curatorial research acquisitions and public programs.

—
5
The Canadian Art Foundation
—
6
Siminovitch Theatre Foundation

The Siminovitch Prize Foundation celebrates inspires convenes and connects theatre artists on a national stage across disciplines geography and language groups. Its portfolio of programs helps groundbreaking artists thrive creatively and…

—
7
Canadian Opera Foundation

Canadian Opera Foundation acquires holds and applies funds to assist in the development of the Canadian Opera Company and any successor organization as determined by the Board of Directors.

—
8
Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation

Funding for grants is provided to the Stollery Children's Hospital the University of Alberta the Women and Children's Health Research Institute the Mental Health Foundation and Alberta Health Services for research and education equipment…

—
9
Tate Canada Foundation

Tate canada foundation advances the public's knowledge and appreciation of canadian artwork both inside and outside canada through public art exhibitions presentations educational artistic programs and art displays.

—
10
Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Foundation

The toronto rehabilitation institute foundation's mission is to raise grant and steward funds to support the mission of the toronto rehabilitation institute (which is part of the university health network) to develop solutions for people…

—
11
Ontario Arts Foundation/Fondation Des Arts De L'ontario

Established in 1991 the ontario arts foundation (oaf) encourages and facilitates private giving to the arts by working with donors to establish endowment funds. the oaf administers the arts endowment fund program for the ontario govenment…

—
12
Toronto Cultural Advisory Corporation

The toronto cultural advisory council operating as the toronto arts council (tac) is the city of toronto's funding body for artists and arts organizations. since 1974 tac has played a major role in the city's cultural industries by…

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For reference, the grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Guelph Community Foundation and the most unlike its peers is Altadore Elementary School Parents Association. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.

03the grantee network

89 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2024.

Each one resolved to its own CRA returns and tracked year by year — your grant beside their revenue from every source. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

Counted here: distinct organizations you funded across 2017–2024, not grant rows in a single year — so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 89 of the 126 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile; the rest are funded organizations whose filings we could not track year by year.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
14
Early backer (in before they grew)
86/89
Grantees still filing
66/89
Grew since you first funded

Each org by its size and your share of it — top-left is where you’re load-bearing

25%50%75%100%C$100kC$1.0MC$10MC$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ your share of their budgetUNITED WAY OF GREATER TORONTO — C$1,030,750 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetVANCOUVER FOUNDATION — C$630,000 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetCHILDREN'S AID FOUNDATION OF CANADA — C$378,250 over 3y, 1.4% of budgetBILL REID FOUNDATION — C$316,250 over 4y, 18% of budgetSOULPEPPER THEATRE — C$316,150 over 4y, 3.6% of budgetCANADIAN STAGE — C$314,450 over 4y, 4.1% of budgetBC PHOTOGRAPHY AND MEDIA ARTS SOCIETY — C$313,233 over 2y, 5.4% of budgetPEI ARTS GUILD — C$305,950 over 1y, 38% of budgetCITADEL THEATRE COMPANY — C$286,150 over 2y, 2.0% of budgetREMAI MODERN FOUNDATION — C$282,550 over 3y, 2.1% of budgetCENTAUR FOUNDATION FOR PERF ARTS — C$249,450 over 2y, 9.7% of budgetFREDERICTON PAYLHOUSE — C$235,650 over 4y, 9.2% of budgetMCCORD STEWART MUSEUM — C$229,150 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetNEPTUE THEATRE FOUNDATION — C$225,950 over 2y, 5.8% of budgetToronto Biennial of Art — C$150,000 over 4y, 5.9% of budgetRIDE TO CONQUER CANCER — C$122,235 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetLoran Scholarship Foundation — C$80,000 over 4y, 4.5% of budgetOAKVILLE HOSPITAL IN MEMORY OF J. SNOW'S SISTER — C$60,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetCDN SHAARE ZEDEK FOUNDATION — C$56,000 over 3y, 2.1% of budgetTHIS WOMEN'S WORK — C$55,750 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetAvalanche Canada - — C$55,225 over 5y, 4.6% of budgetOAKVILLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — C$54,715 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSILENT VOICE CANADA INC — C$45,000 over 6y, 0.9% of budgetFESTIVAL PLAYERS OF PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY — C$40,235 over 2y, 5.4% of budgetYMCA — C$40,235 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetNORHT TORONTO SPORTS FOUNDATION — C$39,235 over 4y, 38% of budgetBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF PEEL — C$34,360 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetHarbourfront Corporation (1990) — C$25,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMCMICHAEL CANADIAN ART FOUNDATION — C$20,700 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetBear Creek Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary Inc. — C$20,500 over 3y, 4.3% of budgetTHE MCCORD MUSEUM FOUNDATION — C$20,300 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetTHEATREFRONT — C$20,000 over 2y, 18% of budgetSICKKIDS FOUNDATION — C$15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTARRAGON THEATRE — C$15,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetESKER FOUNDATION — C$13,400 over 1y, 17% of budgetTORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL — C$12,810 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRIGHT TO PLAY — C$12,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ROB FREEMAN FOUNDATION — C$12,000 over 3y, 4.1% of budgetJDRF Wealth Sector Campaign — C$10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE REMIX PROJECT — C$10,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetTRAILS YOUTH INITIATIVE — C$10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetDUNHAM HOSUE — C$10,000 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetPACT URBAN MUSIC PROGRAM — C$10,000 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetProvidence Healthcare Donation 2020 Silver Ball — C$10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetALTADORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARENT'S ASSOCIATION — C$10,000 over 2y, 7.1% of budgetCOMBINED JEWISH APPEAL — C$8,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetROYAL MANITOBA THEATRE CENTRE INC. — C$7,300 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE WINNIPEG ART GALLERY — C$7,200 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Go grantee by grantee — a decade per org, and how each moved after you funded them

A decade per grantee — revenue shaded, your grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds UNITED WAY OF GREATER TORONTO ↗
  • Who funds VANCOUVER FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds CHILDREN'S AID FOUNDATION OF CANADA ↗
  • Who funds BILL REID FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds SOULPEPPER THEATRE ↗
  • Who funds CANADIAN STAGE ↗
  • Who funds BC PHOTOGRAPHY AND MEDIA ARTS SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds PEI ARTS GUILD ↗
  • Who funds CITADEL THEATRE COMPANY ↗
  • Who funds REMAI MODERN FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds CENTAUR FOUNDATION FOR PERF ARTS ↗
  • Who funds FREDERICTON PAYLHOUSE ↗
  • Who funds MCCORD STEWART MUSEUM ↗
  • Who funds NEPTUE THEATRE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds Toronto Biennial of Art ↗
  • Who funds RIDE TO CONQUER CANCER ↗
  • Who funds Loran Scholarship Foundation ↗
  • Who funds OAKVILLE HOSPITAL IN MEMORY OF J. SNOW'S SISTER ↗
  • Who funds CDN SHAARE ZEDEK FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds THIS WOMEN'S WORK ↗
  • Who funds Avalanche Canada - ↗
  • Who funds OAKVILLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds SILENT VOICE CANADA INC ↗
  • Who funds FESTIVAL PLAYERS OF PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY ↗
  • Who funds YMCA ↗
  • Who funds NORHT TORONTO SPORTS FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF PEEL ↗
  • Who funds Harbourfront Corporation (1990) ↗

The grantmakers whose grantees overlap with yours far more than size alone predicts. Each orbits closer the stronger the alignment; the arcs between them show where they also fund each other. Here it reads as a tightly interlocked camp — most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The McLean FoundationToronto FoundationJ.P. Bickell Foundati…Burgundy Legacy Found…McCarthy Tetrault Fou…The Catherine and Max…R. Howard Webster Fou…Hal Jackman FoundationF. K. Morrow Foundati…Private Giving Founda…The Sabourin Family F…Cidel Foundation
The McLean FoundationON12.8× affinity14 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The McLean Foundation · Toronto Foundation · J.P. Bickell Foundation · Burgundy Legacy Foundation · McCarthy Tetrault Foundation / Fondation McCarthy Tetrault · The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation · R. Howard Webster Foundation / Fondation R. Howard Webster · Hal Jackman Foundation · F. K. Morrow Foundation · Private Giving Foundation · The Sabourin Family Foundation · Cidel Foundation

Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. A research starting point: overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

On method. Every financial figure here is read directly from the Canada Revenue Agency’s published T3010 data — your own annual information return and the multi-year returns of the 126 grantees we resolved across every year we hold, several hundred filings in all (a different count from the grant rows on the cover, which are one fiscal year) — each linked to its source. Grantee achievements and outcomes are each organization’s own program description on its T3010; we read these as association with sustained funding — the foundation is one of several forces — suppress low-confidence name matches rather than guess, and say so where a figure rests on a single grant or filing. Not everything on this page is a filed figure, and the difference matters. Filed is what you reported on your return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without a BN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears. How we build these →

Generated from your T3010 annual information return for the fiscal period ending 2024-12-31, as published by the Canada Revenue Agency in 2024. Amounts are Canadian dollars, as filed and never converted. Registered as a private foundation under foundations advancing education.

Source object 889792016:2024-12-31 · View the T3010 on the CRA register

Play a game based on Polar’s filings →