Philanthropic Foundations Canada (PFC) published the 2026 Working in Canadian Foundations: Putting People First: Foundation Staff, Roles, and Practices Report. This inaugural publication examines the roles and practices of foundation staff, who play a vital yet often overlooked part in Canadian philanthropic foundations. Based on data from CRA T3010, PFC’s Foundation Staff Survey, PFC Salary and Benefits records, and the Charity Insights Canada Project (CICP), the report offers the most comprehensive overview available of foundation staff and experiences influencing their work across Canada. Serving as the baseline for ongoing evaluations of philanthropic workplace cultures, which are continually evolving.
What this research reveals:
- A small but growing workforce
- Diverse entry and preparation
- Career progression: A structural constraint
- Organizations: Increasingly formalized, but at different stages
- Equity, diversity, and inclusion: Progress with gaps
- A field under pressure
- The role of sector infrastructure
- A sector shaped by its people
For further information, download the report.
