Social Sustainability Fund’s First Year Delivers Big Impact Across Kawartha Lakes

Carissa Ferguson, Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes

KAWARTHA LAKES: The Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes is proud to celebrate the success of the inaugural Social Sustainability Fund (SSF), a new granting initiative supporting locally driven programs that promote well-being, equity, and belonging throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Launched in 2025 with seed funding from the City of Kawartha Lakes Human Services Department, the SSF’s first year clearly demonstrated the power of community investment. In just its initial intake, the fund received 18 applications totaling more than $160,000 in requests, underscoring the strong need for responsive, locally led solutions to community challenges.

“It’s inspiring to see how this fund empowers local organizations to make a real difference,” said Laurie Dillon-Schalk, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes. “The SSF’s first year proves that even modest investments can spark meaningful and lasting change in our community.”

With $56,000 awarded, the SSF supported nine impactful initiatives addressing mental health, youth engagement, food access, newcomer inclusion, digital literacy, and child development.

2025 SSF Recipients:

Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes – Mobile workshops for isolated older adults focused on fall prevention, nutrition, and mental health.

John Howard Society of the Kawarthas – Nutritious snacks and meals at the Community Integrated Care Hub to encourage wraparound support.

A Place Called Home – Weekend food program for people living in Lindsay encampments.

Pinnguaq Foundation – Inclusive weekend STEAM programming for youth promoting mental wellness and digital literacy.

New Canadians Centre Peterborough – Expansion of newcomer integration and well-being programs into Kawartha Lakes.

Coboconk & Area Food Bank – Upgrades to food-prep and bulk-purchase capacity.

Looking ahead with the 2026 intake on the horizon, the Community Foundation is excited to continue supporting inclusive, resilient, and community-led solutions that make Kawartha Lakes a place where everyone belongs. Next year’s cycle will feature a larger pool of funding to disburse and, for the first time, will expand eligibility to include both registered charities and nonprofit organizations (NQDs). This expansion will ensure more community groups can access the Fund and bring forward innovative solutions.

The Foundation’s ambitious Vital Signs research project, which measures community well-being across eleven key indicators of health, will also play a pivotal role in guiding future grantmaking. While the SSF’s first year was shaped by the City’s Community Safety and Well-being Report, future cycles will increasingly draw on Vital Signs insights to ensure granting decisions are both evidence-based and deeply responsive, targeting areas where investment can make the most lasting and meaningful impact.

Want to learn more about the Kawartha Community Foundation? Check out our website: www.kawarthafoundation.ca