Our History
In 1993, the Yellowknife Community Foundation began with a simple concept – that people working together can make a difference. From our humble beginnings, we have grown to inspire and help to build a healthy and resilient community.
The Yellowknife Community Foundation recognizes and acknowledges the colonial history of the lands now known as Canada, including the impacts of British and French colonization. We honour the Indigenous peoples whose territories we are located on, specifically the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, as well as the broader Dene, Métis, and Inuit peoples who have stewarded these lands for generations.
We are committed to supporting Indigenous reconciliation efforts and fostering a respectful and inclusive community that acknowledges the past, celebrates the resilience of Indigenous cultures, and supports ongoing efforts toward healing and justice.

Origins
Yellowknife was a very different place in 1991 when the idea for a community foundation was first proposed. It was a city of gold on the edge of the tundra. It had been over fifty years since the first gold brick was poured at Con Mine but there was a change on the horizon that would propel the City onto the world stage – the discovery of diamonds.

Founding

First Donation

Growing, Growing...

First Grant

Building Momentum

First Named Funds

Y2K

Celebrating 10 Years

Our Watershed Year

A City Built On Gold

Growing At An Extraordinary Pace

$250,000 In Grants and Scholarships

Our Largest Donation

Foundations For The Future
A few years later, the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine would official open and in 2016 the Con Mine headframe, once a symbol of Yellowknife’s rich gold mining heritage would come down.
On Mars, NASA would name geologic formation in Gale Crater on the planet after the City and back on Earth, the Foundation’s capital was approaching $4 million dollars and we added 9 named funds: Albert Hall Seniors' Enhancement Fund; Barb Bromley Memorial Fund; Diavik Community Scholarship; Douglas Bothamley Memorial Fund; Friends of Fred Carmichael Scholarship; Legislative Assembly Scholarship; Luke Charpentier Memorial Fund; Sally Manning Writing Fund; and Wally12Million Fund.

Celebrating 25 Years
From day one, we have embodied the simple concept that people working together can make a difference. Our mission; to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of Yellowknife and the surrounding area. We’ve distributed over $1 million dollars in grants and scholarships since our inception and our capital fund is fast approaching $5 million dollars. Imagine what we’ll be able to achieve in the next 25 years with your support.

40 funds now call YKCF home

The Yellowknife Community Foundation makes most significant donation in its 27-year history

Most Giving Year Ever

$5 million in our endowment fund

Who We Are

Legacy Donors

Our History

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Investment Policy
