Vanier Institute Endowments
Investing for the future of families in Canada.
The Vanier Institute of the Family was founded in 1965 by Pauline and Georges Vanier as Georges was leaving the office of Governor General of Canada. As an expression of gratitude for his years of service, the Government of Canada provided a legacy gift to endow the Vanier Institute, and pledged to match other gifts made over the next two years. Provinces, businesses, community groups, and individual Canadians responded to that call and gave the Institute a strong start and a vibrant future.
From a balance of around $6 million at the end of the initial fundraising campaign, the endowment has grown to nearly $20 million today. Since 2006, the endowment has been managed by Beutel, Goodman & Company, Ltd., and is invested under strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. The Finance, Audit, Investment and Risk (FAIR) Committee of the Board of Directors monitors and stewards these investments so that they will continue to finance the work of the Institute of years to come.
Special Funds
Within the endowment, the Vanier Institute also maintains three restricted funds established by covenant with the original donor. These funds are invested with the rest of the endowment portfolio, but their use is limited to specific activities as designated when the gift was received.
Max Bell Fund
George Maxwell Bell, a native of Regina, Saskatchewan, contributed $40,000 to the Vanier Institute of the Family in 1969 for the purpose of financing a lecture in Western Canada from time to time. The first Bell Lecture was given at the University of Calgary in October 1971 by Dr. H. Rodman, a Canadian sociologist associated with the Merrill-Palmer Institute in Detroit.
Mr. Bell died in 1972.
Maritime Fund
The Maritime Fund was created in 1988 by a donation from the Province of Nova Scotia, Department of Community Services, mirroring the terms of the Max Bell Fund. The Maritime Fund supports conferences, seminars, and other learning opportunities in the Atlantic provinces.
Robert G. Glossop Fund
In 2005, to mark its 50th anniversary, the Lawson Foundation honoured four Canadians with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Each recipient received a $100,000 grant to direct to the Canadian charity of their choice. Dr. Robert G .Glossop, our former Executive Director of Programs and Research, who was one of the Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, dedicated the funds to the mission of the Vanier Institute of the Family.
The Robert G. Glossop Fund supports the work of the Vanier Institute to communicate the lessons learned from scholarly research to a variety of non-specialist audiences.
Dr. Glossop is retired and lives in Ottawa. He continues to provide advice and support to the Institute.
Donate
The Vanier Institute of the Family is a registered charity and relies on public funds for its work. Donations made online support our annual programming costs. To direct a donation to the endowment, or to discuss the establishment of a named special fund, contact [email protected].
Investment Management Request for Proposals
During the winter of 2025, the Vanier Institute’s FAIR Committee decided to test the market for Investment Management Services. A request for proposals for Investment Management Services was issued on February 10 and is open until March 24, 2025.
Note: The RFP is only available in English.
