We exist to inspire generosity.

Board of Directors

Back row from left to right:
 Fred Blackstein, Brian Mulvihill, Yves Roy, Jamie Berry (Community Liaison)

Front row from left to right:
, Hilary Moss (Treasurer), Kim Chenard, Matt Bradley (Chair), Shelley Murphy, Shannon Fraser

About Us

The Ottawa Valley Community Foundation is a public foundation that benefits the community by providing funds to charities, local groups, and organizations that are also registered under the Income Tax Act. It is one of more than 191 Community Foundations in Canada.

The idea of giving something back to the community is often a considerable aspect of estate planning, though knowing which organization could most benefit from planned giving can sometimes be difficult to determine. The Foundation assists donors in meeting the request of giving back to the community by directing funds to the areas in greatest need.

The Ottawa Valley Community Foundation was established in 2008. We exist to inspire generosity.

Our mandate is to invest and manage charitable funds for projects, causes, and other community organizations. The proceeds are then distributed to meet the community’s greatest needs.

A Community Foundation helps to create great communities through building a permanent source of funds, connecting donors with community needs, and providing leadership on key community projects.

Generosity lives in all of us

We hope you will be encouraged to join in investing with the Ottawa Valley Community Foundation, so that we may continue to make a positive impact in our region for generations to come.

Code of Conduct

This code of conduct is intended to guide the Directors in carrying out their responsibilities while serving on the Ottawa Valley Community Foundation Board. These Guidelines are intended to ensure the highest standards and maintenance of the integrity of the Board and its committees. Directors shall always act in the best interests of the Foundation and perform his/her duties in such a manner that promotes public confidence and trust in the objectivity and impartiality of the Board and its committees.

Responsibilities of Directors  

• Be informed of the Foundation’s mission, values, code of conduct, and policies
• Attend Board meetings regularly, serve on committees of the Board and contribute from personal, professional, and life experience to the work of the Board
• Be independent and impartial
• Act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Foundation
• Act with integrity and conduct him/herself in a manner consistent with the maintenance of public confidence in the conduct of the Board
• Declare any real or perceived conflict of interest
• Maintain confidentiality at all times

Conflict of Interest

• No Pecuniary Benefit: No Director shall directly or indirectly receive any profit from his/her work on the Foundation. The pecuniary interests of immediate family members or close personal or business associates of a Director are considered to also be the pecuniary interests of the Director.
• Impartiality: Directors must avoid any situations in which personal, occupational, or financial considerations may affect, or appear to affect, a Director’s judgment or ability to act in the best interests of the Foundation. Any real or perceived conflict of interest must be declared to the Board.

1. A real conflict of interest arises where a Director has a private or personal interest, for example, a close family connection or financial interest.
2. A perceived conflict of interest may exist when a rational, well-informed person has a reasonable belief that a Director has a conflict of interest, even if there is no real conflict.

• A Director who has a conflict of interest must abstain from participation in any discussion on the matter, shall not attempt to personally influence the outcome, and shall refrain from voting on the matter.
• The disclosure of any conflict shall be duly recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

Privacy

• A Director must treat as confidential all deliberations of the Board and its committees obtained by reason of his/her status as a Director and not generally available to the public (while serving on the Board and following completion of term).
• A Director shall not use information obtained as a result of his/her involvement on the Board for his/her personal benefit.
• Each Director shall avoid activities which may create appearances that he/she has benefited from confidential information received during the course of his/her duties.

Social Media

• The Ottawa Valley Community Foundation will support their member agencies both in the community and via their social media pages.  Each year, OVCF will promote the agencies that have been the successful grant recipients for that particular year. 
• OVCF will use their social media platforms to promote the granting process, any emergency initiatives outside of the granting timelines and projects/events related to donor or recipient agencies.  They will also use it for issues that the board sees fit.
• OVCF may recognize the donations and/or sponsorships of private businesses but it is not intended to directly promote private businesses.