Through the 1990s the Endswell Foundation was the largest, BC based, charitable foundation funding environmental issues in the province. Endswell’s grant-making era is now complete.
Carol Newell founded Endswell with the intention to spend beyond the annual earnings—choosing to maximize its immediate impact over its longevity as a private institution. This spend-down strategy was highlighted by our largest annual grant to the first two decades of building MakeWay, then Tides Canada. MakeWay will continue to be a lasting legacy: a robust Public Foundation that will serve the philanthropic needs of thousands of Canadians.
In 2001 Carol Newell made a grant to initiate a Social Justice Fund at Tides Canada. This seed set roots, and is now a central core of MakeWay which supports “innovative initiatives that promote more broadly shared economic opportunity, robust and inclusive democratic process, respect for human rights, and cultural diversity.”
From Vigorous Deployment of Principal to Full Planned Spend Down
From the start we intentionally utilized principal dramatically, but in 2002 Carol made a clear decision to spend down Endswell’s entire grant-making resources over the ensuing ten year period. While we planned for a graceful exit during the final four years, the financial downturn of 2008/09 accelerated that timetable. Over the course of nineteen years the Endswell Foundation delivered more than 700 grants representing over $25 million dollars. We are proud to have been able to channel the prosperity that arose during positive financial markets to numerous worthy and impactful organizations and initiatives over the years. We are particularly pleased to have played critical roles in funding the protection of some large areas of wilderness and old growth ecosystems as well as several smaller and more local wild areas.
We have worked to build leadership, infrastructure and tools that will contribute to the long term work of environmental and social sustainability in our region. Endswell’s largest annual grant went to the development of MakeWay—a national public foundation, designed to grow smart, effective, strategic philanthropy across Canada. Since 2000 MakeWay has granted over $100 million to hundreds of charities. MakeWay carries Endswell’s work into the future, leveraging its scope to catalyze thousands of donors and initiatives.
Endswell provided 12 years of support to the Hollyhock Leadership Institute (HLI). HLI was formed to build networks, skills, leadership, and capacity within the social change sectors. HLI offers high level strategic consulting, facilitation, and unique customized programming to enhance careers within civil society.
Endswell played a crucial role in the transformation of the Hollyhock Centre on Cortes Island from a for-profit business into a charitable organization. It’s iconic and beloved campus is renowned for its transformational qualities. Hollyhock exists to inspire, nourish and support those working to make the world better. Offering life skills that serve as the foundation for advancing important societal advances, Hollyhock is now positioned to carry forward long into the future.
Endswell developed the Flack Block on Victory Square, bringing together social entrepreneurs in LEED certified office space that is a hot bed of collaboration and continual learning. Its beautiful meeting space, The Hollyhock Room, extends and expands the workshops and convenings of its tenants and the broader Vancouver community.
Endswell has played a role in many initiatives, large and small, that have helped to preserve BC’s wildernesses, enhance models of a solutions economy, extend the reach and breadth of social change, and sometimes, just kept the music playing.
We are proud to have had the privilege to help support so many inspired leaders whose selfless work gives hope for the future. Click here for a sample of the grantees that were funded by Endswell Foundation
