Family Entreprise Foundation

A Foundation for Canada's Future
The Family Enterprise Foundation is a non-profit, registered charity, whose purpose is to endow educational programs and essential long-term research relating to family business. It is a sister organization of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise.

The family unit is not only the basis of our society but its economic growth and vigour as well. Family business is the backbone of any free country and the majority of Canadian companies are indeed family owned and operated.

We need educational programs specifically designed for the family in business in Canada. So many of our families are facing the issues and concerns that go with "passing the baton" to the next generation.

Our History
The Foundation was formed in 1989 by members of CAFE, the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise. The focus of the Foundation was to raise awareness of the unique challenges facing families in business, to both develop and encourage development of specific educational material at post secondary institutions across Canada, and to encourage research into the needs and future of families in business. Early in 1990, a significant sum of money was raised in order to develop several educational videos. Many of these videos are still in circulation and are a constant source of revenue for the Foundation.

Our Future
There are many challenges facing our members and all families in business in Canada. We have been successful at raising awareness. There are now Chairs in family business at the University level, as well as course curriculum designed specifically for family business. However, there is still much to be done. The Family Enterprise Foundation intends to be at the forefront of meeting this need. We need a vehicle whereby families across Canada might make a contribution to the country and the free enterprise system, which have helped nurture their own success. That vehicle is the Family Enterprise Foundation.