FAQ
General questions
What is the Northern Legacy Fund?
The Northern Legacy Fund is an endowment established by the Yellowknife Community Foundation to address both current and future needs across the Northwest Territories. Through collective contributions from individuals, businesses, and organizations, the Fund supports a wide range of community initiatives by providing annual grants to NWT-based organizations. Once the fund reaches its goal endowment of $3 million, it will generate lasting and sustainable support, through investment income, for charitable projects across the territory.
Why is the Northern Legacy Fund important?
The Yellowknife Community Foundation established the Northern Legacy Fund to create a sustainable source of funding for important community causes in the Northwest Territories, such as health, education, food security, and environmental conservation. This initiative aims to provide reliable, long-term support for organizations addressing important community needs.
The Northern Legacy Fund works alongside the Yellowknife Community Impact Fund, which has been strengthening the Yellowknife community for over 30 years. A $2.5 million endowment fund as of 2024, this fund grants to organizations in Yellowknife working to improve their community.
Who is the lead sponsor for the fundraising campaign?
The Northern Legacy Fund has received a seed contribution of $225,000 from Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine. This support reflects Diavik’s commitment to leaving a positive legacy in the North as they approach their closure in 2026. Their involvement underscores the importance of fostering community resilience and ensuring that vital funding remains available, even as existing resources evolve.
What is the goal of the Northern Legacy fundraising campaign?
The campaign’s goal is to raise $3 million by 2028, which will generate an estimated annual income of at least $125,000, with expected growth over time. The principal amount of $3 million will always remain in the fund. Investment income will be granted to community initiatives that align with the Foundation’s mission.
What are some examples of projects that the Northern Legacy Fund can grant to?
The Northern Legacy Fund will support a broad range of community-focused projects. Some examples include:
- Health and wellness programs like addiction recovery programs, health education workshops, and resources for clinics that serve remote or underserved areas.
- Educational initiatives like vocational training, after-school programs, or partnerships with schools to provide specialized learning resources.
- Food security projects like food banks, community gardens, or food distribution networks that address hunger and improve access to fresh, nutritious food.
- Environmental conservation projects like waste reduction campaigns, or research and monitoring of local ecosystems to ensure sustainable use of natural resources.
- Cultural preservation activities like traditional skills workshops, language revitalization initiatives, or events celebrating Indigenous heritage and history.
- Economic development activities like small-scale entrepreneurship programs, business training workshops, or micro-financing for small businesses that drive local economic growth.
Who can be a grant recipient, and how will recipients be selected?
Grants from the Northern Legacy Fund are available to registered charities and qualified donees in the Northwest Territories that align with the fund’s purposes of addressing pressing community needs. Eligible organizations can include non-profits and Indigenous governments or councils, all focused on community-driven projects that meet charitable purposes.
Grant recipients will be selected through an application process managed by the Yellowknife Community Foundation’s board and a review committee. Each application will be evaluated based on its alignment with the Fund’s goals. This structured process ensures that grants are awarded to projects with strong potential for impact and long-term benefits for communities across the Northwest Territories.
What happens if the Northern Legacy Fund doesn't reach its $3 million goal by 2028?
If the goal isn’t reached by 2028, the Yellowknife Community Foundation will continue raising funds beyond this target date. The funds raised will still be invested to provide income for annual grants, but the annual impact will be adjusted based on the fund’s actual size at the time.
What happens if the Northern Legacy Fund reaches its $3 million goal before 2028?
Reaching the goal early would enable the Yellowknife Community Foundation to begin offering grants sooner or expand its grant-making capacity. Additional funds beyond the target may allow for increased annual distributions, furthering the Fund’s impact across the NWT.
How does the Foundation invest the funds within the Northern Legacy Fund?
The Yellowknife Community Foundation follows a strategic investment policy to protect the fund’s long-term growth and impact. Yellowknife Community Foundation’s policies can be found here. The income generated from investments will be distributed as annual grants while preserving the fund’s principal to ensure lasting support.
Can donors designate their Northern Legacy Fund donations to a specific community?
No, donations to the Northern Legacy Fund support initiatives across the entire Northwest Territories, creating a broad, lasting impact through pooled contributions. However, donors interested in directing funds to a specific community can explore setting up a separate fund with the Yellowknife Community Foundation. While we encourage supporting the Northern Legacy Fund for the wide-reaching impact it offers, we are happy to discuss other giving options that align with your specific goals.
Questions about giving
Who can donate to the Northern Legacy Fund?
Anyone can donate to the Northern Legacy Fund! We’re open to contributions from individuals, families, businesses, and organizations. No matter the size, every donation is important and helps support community initiatives across the Northwest Territories. Your generosity helps us create a lasting impact and strengthens our ability to fund vital projects that make a difference in our communities.
Can a donor donate in someone else's name?
Yes! Donors have the option to give in honour or memory of someone special. When making a donation, you can indicate if it’s a tribute gift, and we will acknowledge the contribution accordingly.
Donors can also create a Named Contribution, which can be named in memorial of someone as well.
What are Named Contributions?
Named Contributions within the Northern Legacy Fund offer donors the unique opportunity to create a fund in their own name, a loved one’s name, or the name of their business or organization. This personalization allows donors to leave a legacy that reflects their values and commitment to supporting NWT communities. Named Contributions come with specific thresholds, each reflecting a commitment to supporting community initiatives:
- Visionary – $5,000 (only available for individuals and families)
- Silver – $15,000
- Gold – $50,000
- Platinum – $150,000
- Diamond – $250,000
Donors are recognized for their generosity on the Northern Legacy Fund website, where they can share their stories and experiences. This platform not only celebrates their contributions but also encourages others to give, helping to cultivate a strong culture of giving throughout the Northwest Territories.
Check out the list of existing Named Contributions here, and learn more about establishing your own Named Contribution here.
What is an ‘Emerging’ Named Contribution?
An “Emerging” Named Contribution is an option for donors who want to start a Named Contribution, and who do not yet have the funds to meet the minimum threshold but anticipate that they will within three years. With this approach, a donor can start a Named Contribution now, allowing their initial funds to be pooled and invested right away. This not only begins a donor’s journey of giving but also allows their contributions to grow while they work toward reaching the full threshold.
Can donors designate their Northern Legacy Fund donations to a specific community?
No, donations to the Northern Legacy Fund support initiatives across the entire Northwest Territories, creating a broad, lasting impact through pooled contributions. However, donors interested in directing funds to a specific community can explore setting up a separate fund with the Yellowknife Community Foundation. While we encourage supporting the Northern Legacy Fund for the wide-reaching impact it offers, we are happy to discuss other giving options that align with your specific goals.
Can donors designate their Northern Legacy Fund donations to a specific purpose or cause?
Donors cannot designate their donations to a specific purpose or cause within the Northern Legacy Fund, as the fund is designed to support a broad range of charitable activities across the Northwest Territories. However, we encourage donors to contribute to the Northern Legacy Fund because pooling resources allows us to maximize the impact of every donation, ensuring that support reaches various community initiatives effectively.
If you are interested in more directed giving, we would be happy to discuss options for establishing a separate fund that aligns with your specific interests. Please contact us for more details.
How does the Northern Legacy Fund accept donations?
The Northern Legacy Fund offers flexibility in how donors can contribute. In addition to one-time and recurring donations made through our online portal, we also accept donations via cheque, wire transfer, and in-kind contributions. If you’re interested in exploring these options or have specific questions, please contact us.