Our History
Two unique features that MFC brought to the world of foundations in Canada were the deliberate purpose of operating as a charity that was and remains largely donor advised, and the investment of a large portion of assets back in its supporting community through loans to churches and related organizations, for buildings and programs. This means, on the one hand, that most of the funds distributed to charity − any registered charity in Canada is an eligible beneficiary − through the Foundation are recommended by donors themselves. On the other hand, depositors and donors are assured that while their funds are under Foundation management, a significant portion of the investments are used directly in the church community from where they originate.
Mennonite Foundation of Canada (MFC) received a federal charter in December of 1973. It was formed through the merger of Comeca Foundation of Manitoba and Mennonite Mutual Foundation of Ontario, two fledgling charitable foundations begun in the 1960s by Conference of Mennonites in Canada and Mennonite Conference of Ontario, respectively. Since 1973, other church conferences have joined through official service agreements. By 2004, the Foundation’s constituency extended to some 60,000 members in more than 470 churches across Canada.
The Foundation continues to solicit donated and revocable funds through a variety of agreement options. These investments can come for a limited period of time, in the case of revocable trusts, or as short and long-term gifted funds, in perpetuity if that is desired by the donor. We accept donations of cash, real estate, shares, mutual funds, life insurance and other property for charitable purposes, and offer assistance with estate and gift planning to help carry out a donor’s wishes.
Reasons for the emergence of a foundation to promote stewardship education and to manage funds on behalf of charities can be found in a historical emphasis on mutual aid that goes back to the sixteenth-century beginnings of the Anabaptist movement. “Anabaptism” was the name given by contemporary critics to communities which grew up around a group of reformers emerging out of the Protestant Reformation − a movement that charted a course distinct from either Lutheran or Calvinist understandings of theology, community, and lifestyle.
Anabaptist leaders understood that the Christian church ought be a covenanting community in which members would follow the example of Christ in their daily living and support each other, as well as those in need around them, in all aspects of their lives. They believed that they were not only obliged but privileged to share their gifts in response to God’s supreme gift of love and reconciliation through Christ.
The name Mennonite soon came to identify a large segment of the Anabaptist community, due to the exemplary and forceful leadership of Menno Simons, a former Dutch Catholic priest who joined the reform movement in the 1530s. From the very beginning, members of the Anabaptist/Mennonite community responded spontaneously to needs in their midst and to lend a hand to those outside their communities and around the world.
It is in this tradition of sharing and mutual aid that Mennonite Foundation of Canada finds its reason for being. We believe it is our purpose to challenge the supporting community to be good managers of the gifts they have been given, to put these gifts to work in seeking to meet the needs of members of their own communities and of people in need around the world. This, in a very real sense, completes the circle of mutual aid.
For a detailed history of MFC’s first 25 years of operations, see our history book: “A Foundation Like No Other – Mennonite Foundation of Canada, 1973- 1998.” The book is available from any MFC Office.