We’ve just launched the first of our new quarterly newsletters. Check out our July edition right here!

Who We Are

A community foundation is an independent, volunteer-driven charitable organization with a focus on community philanthropy. At KLWCF, we work with local community partners, agencies, organizations, volunteers, or individuals who donate money, time, or support for charitable work in the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Region. We give where we live through a trusted granting program. We provide leadership on issues of community concern and support the causes that strengthen our community.

Kenora and Lake of the Woods Community Foundation is a community leader fostering positive change. We do each of the following:

• Build endowment funds that benefit the community forever
• Provide personalized service for individualized giving
• Partner with professional advisors
• Multiply the impact of gift dollars by pooling resources
• Offer maximum tax advantage for gifts

VISION A Kenora and Lake of the Woods Region where life flourishes and communities grow.

MISSION The Community Foundation is dedicated to helping improve community living and the quality of life for citizens and visitors to Kenora and the Lake of the Woods Region.

MANDATE The Community Foundation aims to strengthen the communities we serve by continuously striving towards three key objectives:

• Endowment building
• Broad and effective grant-making
• Community leadership

Our Impact

Our Foundation serves the City of Kenora and the neighbouring communities of Reddit, Minaki, Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, the Anishinaabe communities surrounding the Kenora & Lake of the Woods region and the unincorporated areas surrounding Lake of the Woods. We have a staff and team of volunteers that have broad expertise on community issues and needs.

We hold a collection of charitable funds established by people from all walks of life who have one thing in common: the desire to make a difference in their community.

The Kenora and Lake of The Woods Community Foundation helps people invest in the causes they care about most. Grants are awarded to local charities in the following fields: Arts and Culture, Health and Wellness, and Social Services. Animal Welfare, and Environment and the Community at Large.

We have granted over $5 million for community initiatives in these fields since our inception in 2004.

Get Involved

Become a donor. Planned gifts come in all sizes and can be directed in any number of ways:

• Community Fund
• Field of Interest Fund
• Designated Fund
• Donor Advised Fund
• Charitable Agency Endowment
• Memorial Fund
• Funds Held for Others

You Can Help

Become a volunteer. Refer to our Volunteer Handbook to learn more.

Connect with us on social media. Join KLWCF in creating a lasting legacy for our region.

• Stay informed on all of the great things happening in our community.
• Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Share your ideas, your inspiration, and your dreams for our community. Refer to our Donor Handbook to learn more.

I am excited to introduce Lynn McAughey as the new Executive Director of KLWCF. Committee Chairs please share this email with your members.

Lynn is a retired school principal and central administrator with Keewatin Patricia District School Board and comes to the KLWCF with over twenty-five years of experience serving youth and families in northwestern Ontario communities.

Lynn has noted how she has always admired the work of the KLWCF and its commitment to improving our community and the quality of life for citizens and visitors to the Kenora and Lake of the Woods region, and her eagerness to work with us.

You will soon have the opportunity to meet Lynn through Board and Committee meetings, and events. Committee chairs, please connect with Lynn to introduce her to your committee’s work. 

Lynn can be reached at [email protected].

(Kenora, ON), (July 15^th, 2022): On June 16^th, 2022, Westland Insurance hosted the 3^rd Annual Kenora & Lake of the Woods Community Foundation Charity Golf Tournament at the Kenora Golf and Country Club.  Over 100 golfers and 26 teams took to the links on what turned out to be a beautiful day celebrating our community.

Lead Organizer Tracy McDonald of Westland says “The day was fantastic, and a lot of fun was had! We are happy to say that due to this amazing community, we raised over $30,000! A huge thank you to our event sponsors, our hole sponsors, our prize sponsors, our volunteers, and other community organizations that made the day a huge success.”

All the funds raised will stay with the Kenora & Lake of the Woods Community Foundation to help it do what it does best – create and support positive community growth and impact throughout the Kenora and the Lake of the Woods Region.

Executive Director of KLWCF Tara Douglas says “Having so many community members, organizations like Rotary, and businesses come together to enjoy a day of golf and support the Community Foundation was inspiring and heartwarming. Everyone we heard from had a wonderful day and we are so grateful to Westland Insurance for once again hosting this fun tournament for our benefit!”

For more details and media inquiries please email Jake Goselin @ [email protected]

A big thank you to Tracy and her team at Westland Insurance for their efforts in putting this successful tournament together!

Kenora and Lake of the Woods Community Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of a new flow through fund to assist Kenora Supports Ukraine. Donations will assist overall efforts in helping Ukrainian refugees resettle in the Kenora area, providing educational, employment, housing, and financial support.

You can donate by going to www.klwcf.ca, click on the DONATE now button and choose the “Kenora Supports Ukraine Flow-through Fund” to make your donation.

Executive Director of KLWCF, Tara Douglas says “This is a hugely impactful initiative in our area during a troubling time in the world. Introducing this fund really showcases our Community Foundation’s mission to improve quality of life for citizens and visitors to the region.” She goes on to say, “As a foundation we are thrilled to be assisting Kenora Supports Ukraine in reaching their fundraising goals by bringing our community together.”

St. Alban’s Cathedral has graciously partnered with KSU to make this flow through fund possible. Thank you for your continued support of the Kenora community.

For more details and media inquiries about the flow-through fund, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @KLWCF or contact Jake Goselin, Community Engagement Coordinator at [email protected]

Kenora and Lake of the Woods Community Foundation is happy to announce the results of our 25 in 5 Giving Challenge that was hosted at Copperfin Credit Union on May 13^th, 2022. This year, we challenged the community to raise $25,000 in 5 hours in support of community endowment funds.

We had a very success challenge after a 2-year hiatus due to COVID-19 and with many agencies and donors coming to support, we’re excited to announce that $30,460.71 was raised.

Donations made from our challenge will go into our Community Foundation endowment funds to be invested. The income from these investments is then used to make grants to support community projects with local registered charities and not-for-profit organizations sponsored by a registered charity, while the original donation remains untouched. If you’d like more details on grant applications or to see if your organization is eligible during our grant cycles, please visit www.klwcf.ca.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the kindness and generosity of Copperfin Credit Union, media partner 89.5 The Lake and Acadia Broadcasting for broadcasting live and their continued support of foundation initiatives and Iron and Clay coffee for our refreshments.  Special thanks to the Rotary Club of Kenora for hosting their charity BBQ which raised over $1,700 which is included with our final totals and to the entire community for their continued support.

Interested in joining one of our committees, or volunteering at a KLWCF event? We are always looking for volunteers to join our team. To learn more, click here or call (807) 467-4427.

We’re looking forward to your help!

Time to start figuring out who you will challenge whether that’s your friends, family members, or even local businesses to make a donation towards community endowment funds on May 13th.

These funds are the reason we can continue making grants to registered charities and not-for-profits sponsored by a charity in the community, that and your donations of course!

We’d like to thank 89.5 The Lake and the Rotary Club of Kenora for partnering with us this year. You will be able to hear our progress on the challenge from 10-3pm on the radio and your lunch plans are set with a Rotary BBQ!

Hoping you can join us this year either in person or virtually since donations will be accepted at Copperfin, on our website at www.klwcf.ca or by calling 465-4042 with your credit card information.

We're excited to announce that the 25k in 5h giving challenge is RETURNING on MAY 13th! You can challenge your friends, family or coworkers to make donations to support our community endowment funds which stay in the community! pic.twitter.com/GTCxKvqsyu

— Kenora and Lake of the Woods Community Foundation (@KenoraLOWCF) April 17, 2022