A Vision for a Thriving Edmonton Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan 2026-29

Edmonton’s strength comes from the people, organizations and ideas that shape it every day — and from what we can achieve together.

Our region is expanding, resourceful and full of possibility. Across Edmonton, people are stepping forward with creativity and commitment to support one another and build strong communities. At the same time, we are navigating important challenges. Affordable housing remains out of reach for many, and the support our youngest children deserve is not yet accessible to all. We can do more to support the vibrancy and well-being of our communities.

These realities underscore the opportunity before us. By working together — aligning efforts, investing strategically and deepening our understanding of how people, neighbourhoods and systems connect — we can make meaningful progress. This is where ECF contributes our collective energy and expertise.

For more than thirty-seven years, we have partnered with donors, charities and community partners to invest in the people and opportunities that help our city thrive.

Our 2026–2029 Strategic Plan reflects clear priorities and a shared commitment to impact. It builds on decades of relationships, trust and community knowledge to set a bold path forward. We are not just working alongside others; we are co-creating the lasting change our city is ready for.

Together, we’ll continue building an Edmonton that is inclusive, resilient and full of opportunity — now and for the future.

Read the highlights below or download our Strategic Plan

Goal 1. Mobilize action for early childhood development and affordable housing Icon Close

Take a leadership role in convening, funding and rallying Edmonton’s community to create lasting solutions for early childhood development and affordable housing.

Our strategies

  1. Identify, target and take action on opportunities to improve early childhood development outcomes.
  2. Accelerate and invest in affordable housing solutions.
  3. Build and leverage relationships with municipal and provincial government partners.
  4. Increase community awareness and activate support for early childhood development and affordable housing.
  5. Build a repeatable approach to identify and address additional complex community needs.

Success measures

  • Three to four early childhood development projects identified and underway.
  • $20+ million committed to house at least 5,000 Edmontonians.

Goal 2. Strengthen capacity and capabilities Icon Close

Build a healthy, adaptive and financially resilient nonprofit sector.

Our strategies

  1. Collaborate with other funders to support sector-serving organizations.
  2. Accelerate high-potential organizations through targeted capacity development to sustainably scale their impact.
  3. Support organizations with an integrated, coordinated and flexible solution set (i.e., financial and non-financial resources).

Success measure

  • Ninety percent of the participating organizations (5–10) report that ECF support has materially strengthened their resilience.

Goal 3. Create thriving local communities Icon Close

Key Strategies 

  1. Define ECF’s customer standards, approach and performance objectives for prospective and existing grantees and donors. 
  2. Enhance, personalize, and improve granting experiences. 
  3. Simplify, personalize, and improve donor experiences.

Support community-driven ideas and initiatives that make neighbourhoods resilient places to live, work and thrive.

Our strategies

  1. Support community-driven approaches to neighbourhood innovation and revitalization in partnership with others.
  2. Bolster community development by leveraging ECF’s integrated resources.
  3. Develop co-investment partnerships to unlock additional funding to achieve desired outcomes.

Success measure

  • 4–6 community-led development projects that generate social, cultural or economic opportunities

Goal 4. Optimize how we work Icon Close

Improve and simplify processes and tools so that ECF can deliver greater impact more efficiently.

Our strategies

  1. Assess and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our workflows.
  2. Automate and elevate through AI and technology improvement.
  3. Adapt skills, behaviours and responsibilities to align with new workflows and technology.
  4. Enhance how we work as one organization by bolstering how departments plan, communicate and deliver together.

Success measure

  • Key workflows across ECF have been streamlined, with measurable reductions in time spent on low-impact activities and more resources directed toward community impact.

Our Strategic Plan is grounded in community — and so is the future it’s building toward. Stay connected, share your ideas and join us in bringing our vision for a thriving Edmonton to life.

Together we thrive.