Find the right Donor Advised Fund.

For donors already at Scotia Wealth Management. Administered by Scotiatrust as part of the Scotia Wealth relationship. Accepts a wide range of complex assets including real estate, art, and private shares. Capital encroachment permitted.

Eligibility

For Scotiatrust (Scotia Wealth Management) clients

Min to open

$100,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$840M

Payout rate

9.4%

For donors already at Assante, Richardson Wealth, or CIBC. The charitable infrastructure behind their DAF programs. Keep your existing advisor; they continue to manage the investments. Accepts complex assets including private shares and real estate.

Eligibility

Accessible via Direct to donor, Assante Wealth Management, Richardson Wealth, CIBC

Min to open

$25,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$792M

Payout rate

10.2%

For existing Nicola Wealth clients. No additional DAF-specific administration fees; the Foundation's costs are absorbed into the broader wealth management relationship. Legacy advisors assist with charity selection and integrate giving with your financial and tax planning. Note that Nicola Wealth's standard AUM fees (1.25% on the first $1M) apply to the full client portfolio, including DAF assets. Reports $39.5M disbursed to 1,000+ charities across 529 DAFs in 2024.

Eligibility

For Nicola Wealth advisors clients

Min to open

—

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$365M

Payout rate

10.8%

For Christian donors seeking faith-aligned charitable giving. Full capital encroachment permitted from day one (unlike most community foundations, which grant only investment income). Bring-your-own-advisor permitted above $50K. Stewards $91M+ in managed assets as of 2024.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$25,000

Granting

Ongoing (~2 weeks processing)

Assets

$90M

Payout rate

46.3%

DAF sponsor affiliated with Value Partners Investments and Value Partners Investment Counsel, a Winnipeg-based independent wealth firm. Positioned for Canadian families working with a VPIC advisor who want to integrate philanthropy alongside their personal investment accounts. Donors can align their donor-advised fund to be invested in the same manner as their personal accounts, using VPIC's full range of investment options.

Eligibility

For Value Partners Investment Counsel advisors clients

Min to open

$100,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$12M

Payout rate

5.8%

Jewish community foundation serving Montreal (est. 1969). The lowest top-tier rate of any Canadian community foundation (0.10% above $10M). 0% fees on cash-held funds. Three fund types including DAFs, institutional trust funds, and cash-held funds.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$5,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$2.5B

Payout rate

9.4%

For BMO clients. Runs on the Charitable Gift Funds Canada Foundation infrastructure — the same underlying charity that powers RBC’s charitable program — so the fee schedule and granting rules are identical. Your BMO advisor continues to manage the investments within the BMO fund lineup. Two fund types: Classic (endowment) and Flex (flow-through).

Eligibility

For BMO clients

Min to open

$25,000

Granting

Ongoing (~2 weeks processing)

Assets

$2.4B

Payout rate

8.9%

For RBC Wealth Management clients. Runs on the Charitable Gift Funds Canada Foundation infrastructure — the same underlying charity that powers BMO’s charitable program — so the fee schedule and granting rules are identical. Your RBC advisor continues to manage the investments within the RBC fund lineup. Two fund types: Classic (endowment) and Flex (flow-through).

Eligibility

For RBC Wealth Management clients

Min to open

$25,000

Granting

Ongoing (~2 weeks processing)

Assets

$2.4B

Payout rate

8.9%

Canada's first community foundation by charter (est. 1921), serving Winnipeg and Manitoba. Offers the lowest all-in cost among Canadian community foundations, with tiered investment and admin fees that decrease meaningfully above $10M.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$20,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$1.0B

Payout rate

4.7%

For donors already banking with TD. Keep your existing TD Wealth relationship and add a charitable giving account alongside it. The only major Canadian bank that operates its own in-house charitable foundation, rather than using a third-party wholesale provider.

Eligibility

For TD Wealth clients

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Annual

Assets

$972M

Payout rate

13.6%

Endowment development program for UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and the broader Jewish community. Offers permanent endowments alongside donor-advised funds plus youth-focused Tzedakah Funds starting at $500 to introduce bar/bat mitzvah-age donors to philanthropy. Grants can go to any CRA-qualified charity whose mission aligns with Foundation goals, not exclusively Jewish organizations.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Monthly

Assets

$888M

Payout rate

7.0%

Online-native platform with two-account architecture (Impact Account for granting, Charitable Investment Account for invested assets), bring-your-own-advisor model, and accepts complex assets including private shares and real estate.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

None

Granting

Ongoing / immediate

Assets

$713M

Payout rate

18.6%

Calgary and area community foundation (est. 1955) with deep local granting relationships and the most transparent published fee schedule of any Canadian DAF provider, with four tiers across standard and flow-through fund types.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$637M

Payout rate

7.2%

For donors already working with IG Wealth Management or IG Private Wealth Management. Keep your IG advisor and stay within the Investors Group fund family while adding a charitable giving account. Shares the Strategic Charitable Giving Foundation infrastructure with the Mackenzie program (both are IGM Financial subsidiaries).

Eligibility

For IG Wealth Management advisor network clients

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Quarterly (Mar 1, Jun 1, Sep 1, Dec 1)

Assets

$510M

Payout rate

6.4%

For donors already invested with Mackenzie. Keep your Mackenzie advisor and stay within the Mackenzie fund family while adding a charitable giving account. Ten portfolio options across conservative to growth mandates.

Eligibility

For Mackenzie Investments advisor network clients

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Quarterly (Mar 1, Jun 1, Sep 1, Dec 1)

Assets

$510M

Payout rate

6.4%

One of Canada's earliest community foundations (est. 1943), serving donors across British Columbia. Community advisors with charity expertise review hundreds of grant applications annually to direct Focus Area donations. Permanent endowment model means one gift creates impact year after year.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Quarterly

Assets

$409M

Payout rate

9.4%

Advisor-agnostic Foundation Account platform. Bring your own advisor, fully asset-portable model. Designed for donors who want private-foundation-style authority without the administrative burden.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$100,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$332M

Payout rate

10.6%

Faith-rooted (Mennonite) public foundation offering three distinct fund mandates (Flowthrough, Responsive, Sustainable) with different pricing, accepts complex assets, cause-neutral granting policy.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

—

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$270M

Payout rate

20.5%

Canada's largest community foundation by grants made (2,435 grants to 1,074 charities totalling $26.7M in 2024). 20+ years of Toronto's Vital Signs research anchors an equity-focused granting practice. Named Canada's #1 Equitable Funder by Future of Good in 2024. Distinguished by the breadth of grantee relationships and responsible investing commitment.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$204M

Payout rate

11.2%

DAF program affiliated with National Bank, offered through National Bank Private Wealth and Financial advisors. $250,000 minimum positions this for high-net-worth clients already in the National Bank wealth ecosystem. Bilingual FR/EN service with Quebec legal expertise.

Eligibility

For National Bank Financial clients

Min to open

$250,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$181M

Payout rate

6.1%

Community foundation for Edmonton and region (est. 1989). ESG-integrated investment management with a Mission Related Investment Portfolio allocating up to 10% to local social-impact investments. 4% annual spending policy preserves endowment value.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$175M

Payout rate

3.7%

Place-based community foundation serving Hamilton and surrounding region (est. 1954). Endowment-model; distinctive for community leadership spending and an impact-investing portfolio. 2024 Donor Brochure states fees 'typically two percent annually' as a bundled all-in rate.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$25,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$158M

Payout rate

4.0%

Community foundation for Canada's capital region, connecting donors with Ottawa and Gatineau charities. Simple flat-rate pricing with no tiering. Publishes an annual Vital Signs report on the region's quality of life.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$141M

Payout rate

16.5%

Canada's second-oldest community foundation (est. 1936), serving Greater Victoria. Operates exclusively on an endowment model with donations 'permanently invested.' One of the most transparent published fee schedules of any Canadian DAF provider — admin and investment fees disclosed separately, all-in approximately 1.58% for donor-advised funds.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$138M

Payout rate

4.5%

Place-based community foundation serving Waterloo Region (merged 2022). Primarily endowment-model but explicitly accommodates non-endowed spend-down funds, with capital still pooled in their investment program. Transitioning toward a 100% mission-aligned portfolio with 10% directed to impact investments.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$5,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$130M

Payout rate

5.8%

Community foundation serving the Town of Oakville and surrounding area (est. 1995). Offers multiple fund structures spanning short-term, long-term, and legacy, including Flow-Through Funds. Allocates 3% of endowed assets to impact investments and has progressively reduced fees since 2023.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$20,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$108M

Payout rate

4.5%

DAF-style giving program for Raymond James Ltd. clients. Legally structured as a private foundation but operates functionally as a DAF sponsor. Administered by Solus Trust Company in Vancouver.

Eligibility

For Raymond James Ltd. investment advisors clients

Min to open

$100,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$102M

Payout rate

9.7%

Public foundation positioned as a private-foundation alternative: the autonomy of a private foundation without the administrative burden. The only provider in this comparison with activity-based pricing — fees are calculated on granting activity rather than assets held. Can be established in days rather than the months needed for a true private foundation.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

—

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$82M

Payout rate

19.2%

Bilingual place-based community foundation serving Greater Montreal (est. 1999). Donors choose between two distinct fund structures at creation: Endowment Fund (10-year to perpetuity horizon) or Philanthropic Fund (under one year to perpetuity, with up to 20% of capital distributable annually). Granting is framed around the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Annual minimum (donor advises; FGM executes)

Assets

$79M

Payout rate

10.2%

Boutique private-wealth-affiliated DAF for Cidel clients. High-touch service model consistent with Cidel's private-client positioning. Limited public information — treated as an advisor-channel DAF sponsor.

Eligibility

For Cidel advisors clients

Min to open

—

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$74M

Payout rate

8.4%

Community foundation established by Vancity Credit Union (est. 1989). Distinctive for its values-aligned investment mandate: approximately 90% of capital is in socially-responsible investments via Vancity Investment Management, with fossil fuels screened out. Offers both long-term invested funds (endowment-style) and short-term non-invested funds for donors who want faster grant turnover. Vancity membership is not required.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$71M

Payout rate

6.0%

Place-based community foundation serving Saskatchewan (est. 1969). Among the most transparent published fee schedules in the sector — separate tiered fees for Legacy (endowed) and Flex (flow-through) fund types, plus a No-Fee Flow-Through option for cash-held funds. Donors can hold both Legacy and Flow-Through accounts simultaneously.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$10,000

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$67M

Payout rate

5.6%

Community foundation serving London and Middlesex County (est. 1954). Operates exclusively on an endowment model — gifts are 'invested in perpetuity.' Distinctive for its Social Impact Fund, which deploys foundation assets as loans and financial instruments to social enterprises alongside traditional grants.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

—

Granting

Annual (Grants Committee for unrestricted and field-of-interest)

Assets

$51M

Payout rate

14.9%

National public foundation for environmental and social-justice philanthropy (formerly Tides Canada, rebranded June 2020). Every fund's overhead includes integrated philanthropic advisory services — unusual among Canadian DAF providers — and investments are 100% fossil-fuel-free. Launched Canada's first 100% customizable impact-invested DAF (ImpactDAF) in 2019. New funds must align with one of seven organizational priority areas, including Indigenous authority, healthy lands and waters, climate action, and equity-focused philanthropy.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

$25,000

Granting

Bi-weekly

Assets

$49M

Payout rate

19.3%

Quantum Private Wealth-affiliated DAF sponsor. Operational pattern (88.6% payout rate vs. sector 5–10%) suggests GiftPact functions as a flow-through vehicle rather than an endowment — donors granting in close to the same year they contribute. Limited public product information.

Eligibility

For Quantum Private Wealth advisors clients

Min to open

—

Granting

Ongoing

Assets

$38M

Payout rate

88.6%

Online-native giving platform with zero fees under $25K, bring-your-own-advisor above that threshold, and a streamlined interface for everyday donors.

Eligibility

Open to any Canadian donor

Min to open

None

Granting

Ongoing / immediate

Assets

$38M

Payout rate

41.1%