The Northpine Foundation is a Canadian organization dedicated to creating sustainable and systemic change for underserved and underinvested communities across Canada. Here are key aspects of the foundation: ## Mission and Focus - Mission: The Northpine Foundation aims to drive meaningful, lasting change for Canada's underserved communities by providing customized financial support and building connections between people, ideas, and resources[2][5]. - Focus Communities: The foundation targets several focus communities, including formerly incarcerated persons, refugees, Newfoundland and Labrador, Scarborough, and Winnipeg[5]. ## Investment Strategy - Investment Approach: Northpine makes unrestricted, milestone-based investments tailored to each venture, focusing on maximizing outcomes and ensuring sustainability and scalability[2][3]. - Financial Mechanisms: The foundation uses a variety of financial tools, including grants, loans, equity, and service contracts, to support ventures in areas where traditional funding is hesitant or risk-averse[5]. ## Founders and Leadership - Founders: John and Cathy Phillips founded the Northpine Foundation over twenty years ago. John is a retired angel investor, and Cathy is a retired psychologist[2]. - Leadership Team: The foundation is led by a diverse team, including CEO Aatif Baskanderi, who brings extensive experience in social policy and innovation[2]. ## Impact and Achievements - Financial Impact: As of 2022, Northpine had provided $105 million in grant and investment capital to 109 organizations across Canada[3]. - Programmatic Achievements: The foundation has supported various initiatives, such as providing essential furniture to families, improving credit scores for residents, employing youth, and resettling refugees with meaningful jobs and housing[5].