Giving away money is easy.

Giving it away well is hard.

Catalyst Philanthropy is Canada’s leading social impact consultancy focused exclusively on mobilizing philanthropic capital.

We’re on a mission to improve philanthropy in Canada. Using a purpose-driven approach, we support funders of all scales to enhance their impact.

Turning wealth into impact

We do one thing exceptionally well: develop effective philanthropic strategies.

Whether you’re an early stage philanthropist seeking clarity or a seasoned funder trying to create system-level change, we have the leadership experience and subject matter expertise to help you make a mark on the issues you care about.

Work with us to:

  • Clarify your priorities and principles

  • Understand the needs and gaps in your areas of interest, and where your funding can make the biggest impact

  • Design thoughtful, creative strategies that help you achieve your philanthropic goals

  • Foster relationships with community partners and fellow funders

Who We Support

We work with a range of philanthropic actors:

Individual philanthropists

Whether you give through a foundation, a donor-advised fund or personal contributions, we help you put the building blocks in place for a clearer, more goal-oriented giving plan.

Professionalized private foundations

Even with staff, foundations often have more to do than time allows. We work seamlessly with your team, bringing focused expertise in a way that aligns with your goals, governance, and culture.

Corporate foundations

Looking to move beyond basic CSR reporting? We help businesses design social impact strategies that are rooted in community needs, credible partnerships, and a clear connection to corporate purpose.

Funder collaboratives

Funders can have so much more impact when they work together. We help funder groups and networks to strengthen member connections, understand needs and solutions, and develop collaborative infrastructure.

We’re multidisciplinary by design

We care about the issues we tackle with our clients – and go above and beyond to help their investments create real value for communities.

Catalyst Philanthropy has developed strategies and insights across a wide range of issue areas, including:

Health

Improving youth mental health and surfacing systemic solutions for addressing substance use & addictions.

Climate

Understanding how to advance climate justice through an integrated, community-rooted approach.

Gender Justice

Growing the field of gender equity funders, improving women’s health, and supporting the unique needs of trans organizations.

Basic Needs

Tackling homelessness through the lens of belonging, improving food security.

Arts

Increasing access to the arts and using the arts for social impact.

Let’s connect

If you’re looking to give with more clarity, purpose, and confidence, we’d be happy to chat.

Share a bit about your goals, and we’ll follow up to explore how Catalyst Philanthropy can support your next chapter of impact.