Our Community

The greater Edmonton area is home to vibrant, creative, and resilient communities. We celebrate the diversity and contributions of people, cultures, experiences, and perspectives that strengthen our region. Our community is rooted in this place, along the North Saskatchewan River, which has been a gathering place of First Nations people for thousands of years, a Métis homeland, and now a welcoming place for all people who come from around the world who call Edmonton home.  We recognize the contributions of all communities and embrace our place-based responsibility to steward the land, resources, and relationships here, honouring those who have come before us and serving those who will come after.

Our Commitment to Community

ECF is committed to enriching communities now and for generations. True community well-being requires equity, inclusion, and the active participation of diverse voices. We commit to being responsive to changing community needs and to working together with various communities as they define and achieve their own goals.

The word “community” to us means:

• Belonging to all residents regardless of political affiliation, religious beliefs, ideological perspectives or socio-economic status
• Collective ownership and benefit, where ECF serves as a steward for shared resources
• Local knowledge and responsiveness, grounded in the specific context of the Edmonton region
• Convening power, bringing together different sectors and perspectives to address shared challenges

We embrace active listening as a core value, recognizing that understanding the dreams, ambitions, and goals of the communities we serve must be our priority. This means listening and engaging with a wide spectrum of community members and ensuring that people see themselves reflected in our work.

Building Community Together

We are relationship-centred in all that we do. We balance risk and reward by making thoughtful, informed decisions grounded in community interests and needs. We know that supporting and representing the diversity of Edmonton’s communities requires ongoing learning, adaptation, and a willingness to be uncomfortable as we challenge ourselves to grow.

As the partner of choice for all community builders, we are committed to:

• Working collaboratively with diverse communities toward shared goals
• Supporting and creating inclusive and equitable communities where everyone belongs
• Amplifying community voices in telling our shared stories, featuring community members as narrators and not just subjects
• Identifying and addressing barriers so that all communities can access our philanthropic programs
• Engaging people of all backgrounds in our work as donors, volunteers, board members, staff, and partners

Our Ongoing Journey

We are on a continuous learning journey. We commit to transparency about our progress and challenges, and we welcome feedback from the communities we serve. We are committed to reviewing our Community Statement as part of each new Strategic Plan to ensure we are current and relevant. Together, we are building a stronger, more vibrant, and equitable Edmonton.