The Philanthropic Contract: Mutual Benefit for the Public Good

In this speech to the Private Foundations Canada Conference held in Toronto on June 1, 2001, Alan Broadbent explains The Maytree Foundation’s approach to philanthropic giving.  Broadbent is a businessperson (Chair and CEO of Avana Capital Corporation) and one of Canada’s leading foundation leaders (Chair of The Maytree Foundation).  Maytree is the principal funder of the Caledon Institute of Social Policy, and Broadbent serves as Chair of Caledon’s Board. The Maytree Foundation’s highly successful track record in grant-making results from its business-like approach to philanthropy: “…we have devised one approach to business at both places [Avana Capital Corporation and The Maytree Foundation], where we think the philanthropy model borrows from business, and the business model borrows from philanthropy…The paradigm in investment. In both cases you are investing in capital, for financial return or social return.”

ISBN – 1-894598-86-5