Welcome to the Atkinson Foundation's Website

Our mission is to "promote social and economic justice in the tradition of our founder," Joseph E. Atkinson.  In the categories of health, social welfare, economic justice and education the Foundation has granted more than $55 million since its inception.

The Foundation has a focus on three priority areas in 2010:

Early Learning and Child Care: Innovative projects that demonstrate how to improve the futures of children and youth at risk through more effective early years programming and policies.

Poverty Reduction: Innovative projects--including community organizing, research and educational activities—geared to increasing community and policy capacity to tackle poverty. 

The Canadian Index of Wellbeing: A new approach to measuring how Canadians' lives are getting better – or worse – in areas that matter: health, standard of living, quality of the environment, time use, education and skills, community vitality, civic engagement, and arts and culture.

Please note that given our priorities and committed resources to current partners and initiatives in 2010, we are not accepting unsolicited applications.

Her areas of focus have included learning disabilities, diversity and race equality, community development and engagement, mental health, and children and youth services.  While holding senior policy positions in the U.K.’s health department, Ms. Nuamah implemented national poverty reduction and social inclusion strategies to achieve better delivery of services to diverse and socially disenfranchised communities.

Ms. Nuamah’s appointment is the result of a four-month international search led by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

"We are very excited about the next chapter of the Foundation’s work under Olivia’s leadership," said Peter A. Armstrong, President and Board Chair. "Olivia brings a compassionate, courageous and collaborative approach to working with people and systems that we are confident will make a difference in the lives of the disadvantaged in Ontario.”

Ms. Nuamah is moving to Toronto from the U.K. to begin her appointment on September 7, 2010.  She replaces Charles Pascal, the first full time Executive Director, who is leaving the Foundation following 15 years of leadership.

Established in 1942 by Joseph E. Atkinson, former publisher of The Toronto Star, the Atkinson Charitable Foundation is a private Canadian foundation with the mission to "promote social and economic justice in the tradition of our founder.”  It has granted more than $60 million in the categories of health, social welfare, economic justice and education.  Current priority areas are Poverty Reduction, Early Learning and Development, and the Canadian Index of Wellbeing.