In its capacity as a charitable organization, the Institute is currently focusing its funding on two very important areas: Individual Giving and Endowment.
Individual Giving
The C.D. Howe Institute is fortunate to be able to rely on a number of dedicated stakeholders who support its work. Throughout the past year, when many charitable organizations saw membership rates and donation amounts decrease significantly, the Institute has maintained solid membership retention. This not only reflects the dedication of our members but the quality of work that we continue to produce.
While current membership fees and special project grants support the core operations of the Institute and help to ensure the Institute remains relevant, they do not provide sufficient funds for the Institute to second scholars from universities or the public/private sector. The Institute does not have the resources to support an in-house team that can facilitate rapid response in a multitude of areas nor can they dedicate attention to specialized audiences or all regions of Canada.
The C.D. Howe Institute has operated with a staff and budget that are modest in size relative to the scope of its mandate and the resources of other think tanks. As time passes, the demands on the Institute are increasing. The risks and opportunities confronting policymakers are as urgent as ever. The complexity of issues is increasing, moreover: new theories and evidence require more analytical depth. The C.D. Howe Institute needs your support to continue the exceptional work that it is currently undertaking and also to increase the scope and complexity of its current focus.
In the current economic climate, it can be difficult to justify certain expenses, such as charitable donations, when resources seem to be increasingly scarce. However, this is why the Institute’s work continues to be crucially important. A rising unemployment rate and a Canada newly committed to a deficit require independent, non-partisan organizations such as the C.D. Howe Institute to provide innovative policy solutions and to hold successive governments to account. Demographic pressures place increased stress on already stretched labour markets and healthcare system. The Institute will continue to work hard tackle these and other critical issues facing Canadians.
As a charitable organization, the C.D. Howe Institute requires individual gifts in order to be able to remain relevant and competitive. In order to achieve this goal, we need the support of exceptional donors, who truly appreciate the exceptional work that the C.D. Howe Institute undertakes and supports that work on a personal basis.
Endowments
An endowed fund is a unique way to ensure that your philanthropic gift has a lasting impact on the C.D. Howe Institute. The strength of an endowment is inherent in its structure. Donors make gifts that are pooled into one fund, with gifts from other donors. The larger the capital, the more income is generated.
A percentage of the income that is generated by the endowment capital is spent annually but the capital itself remains untouched, ensuring that monies continue to be generated with each succeeding year.
The Institute has several endowment funds that continue to support critical initiatives and funding priorities in perpetuity. These include:
The Endowment for Special Studies
Social Policy Endowment:
Boosts output and quality in tackling critical social policy concerns such as education, Aboriginal issues, and health care
David Dodge Monetary Policy Endowment:
Enables the Institute to expand its world class monetary policy program
Jack Mintz Endowment:
Provides for the annual Mintz Seminar on tax policy in Canada
Sylvia Ostry Endowment:
Provides for the annual Sylvia Ostry Lecture in honor of Dr. Ostry's important role in freeing trade in the postwar years
For further information regarding our endowment funds, please contact Duncan Munn at 416-865-1904.