The Endswell Foundation is an independent registered charity, operating under the Renewal group of organizations. Through the 1990s Endswell was the largest, BC based, charitable foundation funding environmental issues in the province.

Carol Newell founded Endswell with the intention to spend beyond the annual earnings - choosing to maximize its immediate impact over its longevity as a private institution. This spend-down strategy is highlighted by our largest annual grant to the building of the Tides Canada. Tides Canada will be a lasting legacy: a robust Public Foundation that will serve the philanthropic needs of hundreds of Canadians.

As part of the legacy of Endswell, Carol Newell initiated and funded the Social Justice Fund at Tides Canada, which supports “innovative initiatives that promote more broadly shared economic opportunity, robust and inclusive democratic process, respect for human rights, and cultural diversity.”

All’s Well That Ends Well

Over the past 15 years the Endswell Foundation made over 700 grants totalling over $20 million dollars.  From our 1992 inception was the intention to spend down our entire grant making resources over a ten year period.   Positive financial markets extended that lifespan, and we are proud to have been able to channel the prosperity of the good times to numerous worthy and impactful organizations.  While we planned for a graceful exit in the next year or so, the financial downturn accelerated that timetable.  

Endswell’s grant-making era is now complete.

We have worked to build leadership, infrastructure and tools that will contribute to the long term work of environmental and social sustainability in our region.  Endswell’s largest annual grant went to the development of Tides Canada – a national public foundation, designed to grow smart, effective, strategic philanthropy across Canada.  Since 2000 Tides has granted over $80 million to hundreds of charities. Tides Canada carries Endswell's work into the future, leveraging its scope to catalyze thousands of donors and initiatives.

Endswell provided 12 years of support to the Hollyhock Leadership Institute (HLI). HLI was formed to build networks, skills, leadership, and capacity within the social change sectors.  HLI offers high level strategic consulting, facilitation, and unique customized programming to enhance careers within civil society.

Endswell played a crucial role in the transformation of the Hollyhock Centre on Cortes Island from a for-profit business into a charitable organization. It's iconic and beloved campus is renowned for its transformational qualities.   Hand in hand with HLI, Hollyhock exists to inspire, nourish and support those working to make the world better.  Offering life skills that serve as the foundation for advancing important societal advances, Hollyhock is now positioned to carry forward long into the future.

Most recently, Endswell developed the Tides Renewal Centre on Victory Square, bringing together social entrepreneurs in LEED certified office space that is a hot bed of collaboration and continual learning.  Our hope is that the Centre becomes a recognizable landmark for social innovation in the heart of Vancouver.   Its two beautiful meeting spaces, the Endswell and Hollyhock Rooms, will extend and expand the workshops and convenings of its tenants and the broader Vancouver community.

Endswell has played a role in many initiatives, large and small, that have helped to preserve BC’s wildernesses, enhance models of a solutions economy, extend the reach and breadth of social change, and sometimes, just kept the music playing.

We are proud to have had the privilege to help support so many inspired leaders whose selfless work gives hope for the future.  Click here for a sample of the grantees that were funded by Endswell Foundation