Contributing to Community Impact Through Strategic Grant Stewardship
Grant & Strategy Committee – Sistema and The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area
Role: Dan Hendry
Year: Present
Giving back to the community I call home has always been an important part of my professional and personal life. I currently volunteer as a member of the Grant Strategy and Impact Committee for the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area (CFKA). This role allows me to contribute my experience while supporting local organizations working to strengthen and sustain the Kingston region.
As a member of the committee, I support the foundation’s granting process by reviewing and assessing grant applications from community organizations across Kingston and the surrounding area. This work focuses on ensuring that proposed projects align with the foundation’s priorities and objectives before recommendations are brought forward to the Board of Directors for final approval. The review process plays a key role in helping ensure that community resources are directed where they can have the greatest possible impact.
Beyond individual grant reviews, the committee contributes to broader conversations about granting strategy and emerging areas of need. Together, we discuss trends, identify opportunities, and help ensure that CFKA’s granting work aligns with its Building Resilience Strategic Plan, which emphasizes long‑term community strength, equity, and sustainability.
Serving on this committee has provided meaningful insight into the wide range of initiatives underway across the community. It is consistently inspiring to see the creativity, care, and commitment demonstrated by individuals and organizations seeking support. In turn, I bring my background in systems thinking, community‑based innovation, and project development to help inform discussion, ask thoughtful questions, and contribute to careful, values‑based decision‑making.
Ultimately, this volunteer role is about stewardship and trust. Being part of the Grant Strategy and Impact Committee allows me to support the foundation’s mission while contributing, in a small but meaningful way, to a more resilient, inclusive, and thriving Kingston.
Related Links & Media: Committees | Community Foundation for Kingston & Area