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MakeWay Foundation

Annual Giving
$14.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $14 million CAD
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: Varies widely (average ~$47,000 CAD based on distribution data)
  • Geographic Focus: Canada-wide with emphasis on British Columbia, Northern Canada, and the Pacific region

Contact Details

Address: 333 Seymour St, Floor 8, Vancouver, BC V6B 5A6

Phone: 604.647.6611 | Toll-free: 1.866.843.3722

Email: info@makeway.org

Website: https://makeway.org

Office Hours: 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday

Program Inquiries: Organizations should reach out to a program lead to discuss alignment with strategic priorities

Overview

MakeWay Foundation (formerly Tides Canada Foundation, EIN: 98-0404212) is a Vancouver-based national charity and public foundation that operates in both Canada and the United States as a 501(c)(3) organization. Founded to enable nature and communities to thrive together, MakeWay mobilizes approximately $14 million CAD annually in grants to more than 300 community partners. The organization hosts over 140 donor and community-advised funds and operates with a trust-based philanthropy model that emphasizes flexible reporting requirements and community-led change. In 2025, MakeWay received a transformative $86 million CAD donation from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving, building on a previous $18.9 million donation in 2022. The organization recently transitioned leadership from Joanna Kerr to Alex Sardar as President and CEO in 2025. In fiscal 2023, MakeWay received $55.5 million in donations and spent $40.2 million on programs and grants, with nearly 90% of their BC Program funding going directly to First Nations or Indigenous-led work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

MakeWay does not operate through traditional grant programs with fixed application deadlines. Instead, they function as an intermediary organization managing multiple funding streams:

  • Community and Donor Advised Funds: Over 140 funds managed by MakeWay, advised by donors and communities
  • Funding Collaboratives: Trust community voices to play primary decision-making roles
  • Programmatic Funds: Including BC Program, Northern Program, and Indigenous Watersheds Initiative
  • Impact Invested Donor Advised Funds (ImpactDAF): Combining grant-making with impact investing

Application Method: No public application process; grantmaking is largely advised by community and donor partners and restricted to existing partnerships

Priority Areas

MakeWay has seven interconnected strategic priorities that guide their funding:

  1. Healthy Lands and Waters: Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship, restoration, and sustainable land and water governance models
  2. Bold Inclusive Leadership for Healing and Justice: Supporting diverse leadership advancing social and environmental change
  3. Indigenous Authority, Language, and Cultural Resurgence: Implementing UNDRIP and supporting Indigenous rights and self-determination
  4. Shared Wealth and Economic Wellbeing: Building economic models that support community wellbeing
  5. Transformed and Indigenous Food Systems: Food sovereignty, food security, and holistic food revitalization
  6. Fair Earth Living and Climate Action: Climate solutions and environmental sustainability
  7. An Equitable Charitable Sector for Planet and People: Strengthening the charitable sector infrastructure

Geographic Focus: Special emphasis on British Columbia, Northern Canada (supporting Inuit and Dene-led efforts), and Pacific transboundary watersheds of southeast Alaska and northwest British Columbia.

What They Don't Fund

While MakeWay does not explicitly list exclusions, their funding is:

  • Restricted to existing work and partnerships
  • Focused on community-led initiatives within their strategic priority areas
  • Generally directed to specific regions (BC, Northern Canada, Pacific)
  • Not available through open, unsolicited applications

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

  • Alex Sardar - CEO and President (joined 2025): Brings over 20 years of experience as a trusted partner to communities advancing transformative change. Previously Managing Director of Powered by the People (PxP) initiative at PartnersGlobal, Executive Director at SEEP Network, and held positions at Civicus and Counterpart International. Holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley.

  • Alison Henning - Chief of Strategy

  • Erin Blanding - VP, Thriving Leadership

  • Gayle Gioiosa - CFO

  • Lee Burton - Director, Philanthropic Services

Board of Directors

  • Aerin Jacob - Chair
  • Sean Burke - Treasurer
  • Bo Aganaba
  • Caroline Merner
  • Erica Barbosa
  • Leslie Campbell
  • Mritunjay (MJ) Sinha - Board Director and Treasurer for Definity Insurance Foundation

Recent Board Additions (2024): Katie Johnson (Agünda/Wolf Clan, Kluane First Nation), Cathy Galligos (Tla'amin Nation), and Barend van der Vorm (Founder of Helder Ventures)

Organizational Philosophy

MakeWay emphasizes that "How we steward resources is as important as where we direct them" and asks "What's possible when resources and relationships move together in support of community-led change."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

MakeWay Foundation does not have a public, open application process. Grantmaking is largely advised by community and donor partners and is restricted to existing partnerships and work.

Organizations interested in funding should:

  1. Review MakeWay's strategic priorities on their website
  2. Confirm alignment with their geographic regions of focus
  3. Reach out directly to a program lead to start a conversation about how goals may align with available funding or programs

Contact info@makeway.org or call 604.647.6611 to connect with the appropriate program lead for your region or issue area.

Getting on Their Radar

MakeWay's approach to identifying partners is relationship-based and community-led. While there is no standard way to "get on their radar," the following insights are specific to MakeWay's documented approach:

  • Program-Specific Outreach: MakeWay operates regional programs (BC Program, Northern Program) and issue-specific initiatives (Indigenous Watersheds Initiative, Arctic Indigenous Stewardship Network). Organizations working in these specific areas should reach out to the relevant program lead.

  • Shared Platform Projects: MakeWay's Shared Platform supports over 60 community-led projects tackling diverse social and environmental issues across Canada. This may be an entry point for some organizations.

  • Indigenous-Led Work: Nearly 90% of MakeWay's BC Program funding goes to First Nations or Indigenous-led work. Indigenous organizations and communities working on land, water, food systems, or cultural resurgence may find alignment.

  • Trust-Based Relationships: MakeWay emphasizes that they hold "deep trust-based relationships in small towns and big cities from coast to coast to coast" and work "with collaboration, creativity, and trust-based relationships with partners." Building authentic relationships over time appears to be central to their model.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no standard application timeline. Decisions are made through donor-advised funds and programmatic partnerships on varying timelines.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. With approximately 300 community partners receiving grants annually and no open application process, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the partnership-based funding model rather than competitive application process.

Application Success Factors

Since MakeWay operates through a partnership and relationship-based funding model rather than competitive applications, the following factors appear most important for alignment:

Community-Led Approach: MakeWay is explicit that they are "here to apply all our tools and resources in support of community-led change." Their funding collaboratives "trust community voices and those working on the ground to play the primary decision-making roles." Organizations should demonstrate genuine community leadership and decision-making authority within their projects.

Indigenous Leadership: With nearly 90% of BC Program funding going to First Nations or Indigenous-led work, and multiple strategic priorities centered on Indigenous authority and cultural resurgence, Indigenous-led organizations and authentic Indigenous partnerships are strongly prioritized. In fiscal 2023, MakeWay deployed $13 million in holistic funding to over 61 First Nations.

Integrated Approach: MakeWay explicitly states they work "to advance healthy lands, waters, peoples, cultures, and economies, recognizing that all these elements are intertwined." Projects that address multiple interconnected priorities (environmental, social, economic) rather than single issues are well-aligned with their systems-change approach.

Geographic Alignment: Clear priority for British Columbia, Northern Canada (Inuit and Dene communities), and Pacific transboundary watersheds. Organizations should be working in these regions or on issues directly relevant to these areas.

Trust-Based Values: MakeWay's commitment to "flexible proposal and reporting requirements" and "meeting community partners where they are" suggests they value organizations that appreciate reduced bureaucracy and can work collaboratively with flexibility.

Systems Change Focus: The organization emphasizes that "true sustainability will require that the systems supporting social and environmental change remain strong," indicating preference for work that addresses root causes and systemic issues rather than short-term projects.

Strategic Priority Alignment: Review the seven interconnected priorities carefully and be able to articulate clear alignment with at least one, and ideally how your work connects multiple priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No standard application process: Don't wait for a grant announcement - proactively reach out to program leads with demonstrated alignment to strategic priorities
  • Relationship-based funding: Success depends on building authentic, trust-based relationships with MakeWay staff and demonstrating long-term partnership potential
  • Indigenous leadership is paramount: Nearly 90% of BC funding goes to Indigenous-led work; authentic Indigenous leadership and partnerships are essential
  • Geographic focus matters: Strongest opportunities exist for organizations working in BC, Northern Canada, or Pacific transboundary regions
  • Systems-change over projects: Articulate how your work addresses interconnected environmental, social, and economic challenges rather than isolated issues
  • Trust-based approach: MakeWay values flexible reporting and community-defined evaluation - demonstrate capacity for collaborative, less bureaucratic partnership
  • Multiple funding sources: MakeWay manages 140+ advised funds; funding may come through donor-advised funds, collaboratives, or programmatic streams depending on alignment

References

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