Rivers and Area Community Foundation is opening up its first grant applications of this year, from February 3-28, 2025, thanks to the Thomas Sill Foundation.
Thomas Sill was a very meticulous chartered accountant who had several offices in Manitoba. He was a quiet bachelor and was very philanthropic all his life. As per his wishes, The Thomas Sill Foundation was started in 1987 when he passed away and it became one of Manitoba’s largest private charitable organizations.
A quote from one of his partners said, “He knew the importance of community and power of philanthropy in driving positive change. He was a keen curler, a humble bachelor, and self-described fish and chips enthusiast.” The proud Winnipeg native was interested in responding to communities’ immediate well-being needs.
When it closed in 2023, the assets of the Thomas Sill Foundation were provided to the Winnipeg Foundation to create funds that would carry on Thomas Sill’s legacy of giving. Each community foundation in Manitoba will receive a grant every year to carry on Thomas SIll’s good work.
2025 is the first year for what will be known as “The Thomas Sill Manitoba Fund Grant”. It will be an annual grant event and it will be through money provided to the Rivers and Area Community Foundation.
Grant projects must be completed by October 1, 2025 with final reports completed by October 15, 2025.
