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IMPACT VIA CHANGE, PEOPLE

AND EVIDENCE
ANDREA COHEN BARRACK, CEO OF THE ONTARIO TRILLIUM FOUNDATION, SHARES HER
PERSPECTIVE ON THE ORGANIZATIONS TRANSFORMATION
ANDREA COHEN BARRACK
CEO, Ontario Trillium Foundation
GOOD
GRANTMAKERS
DONT JUST
WRITE
CHEQUES
ANYMORE.
T
he Ontario Trillium Foundation is Canadas largest granting
foundation awarding $115M to about 1300 organizations every year. And
right now, were embarking on our frst renovation in 15 years. Organizational
transformation is a journey and while weve done a lot of work so far, were only really at
the beginning.
As the CEO, its my job to keep the objectives in sight, at all times. Over the next decade,
OTF will invest $1 billion in Ontarios public beneft sector. It is our duty to have the
greatest possible impact with these investments and that takes making focused, evidence-
based decisions. ReDesign2015 is about having the services, products and organizational
structure to match this goal. It is about measuring our progress along the way, and
making corrections, with the help of key performance signals from the Canadian Index of
Wellbeing. And it is about responding to our context. The world we all live and work in
each day is very different than it was 15 years ago faster, more connected and volatile.
Good grantmakers dont just write cheques anymore. We want to live up to your
expectations and be a better partner in building healthy and vibrant communities in the
province. While we need to change to do that, we are also staying true to our roots and
strengths. At the end of all this, investment decisions will still be made by teams of local
volunteers people deeply committed to and knowledgeable about community wellbeing.
And as they are now, they will be supported by skilled and dedicated staff who feel an
unmatched sense of responsibility to get all these changes right.
But there will be setbacks along the way, so its also our job to make sure we challenge
assumptions that prevent us from being the best we can be; rally the help of critical
support from inside and outside the Foundation; and, guide the Foundation through
diffcult decisions. Its ok to make mistakes along this journey as long as we learn and grow
in the process.
Were excited about the next steps, and as we move forward, the needs and desires of the
people we serve will be top of mind. What does ReDesign2015 mean to you?
As a follow-up to this blog post, we hope to publish a series of interviews with grantees,
applicants, volunteers, staff and partners.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Sourci ng bri ght i deas, f resh perspecti ves and personal opi ni ons
on transformati onal change f rom Ontari o and around the worl d
www.otf.ca/sic