About

The Ontario Deaf Foundation (ODF) strives to empower Canadian Deaf charities to create a lasting, positive impact across society.

Strategic stewardship of permanent endowment funds to provide continuous, reliable income to Deaf charities and to ODF’s charitable activities.

ODF was founded in 2001 to develop long-term, sustainable funding for charitable initiatives within the Deaf community. In 2003, the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf (OCSD) transferred three Funds to ODF: the Bilingual-Bicultural-Research Fund (now the ASL Research & Resource Fund), the Celebrating Deaf Culture Fund, and the Future-building Fund. Under this arrangement, ODF assumed the role of managing the investments in the Funds, allowing OCSD to focus entirely on its charitable operations.

In 2013, the Deaf Hamilton Community Fund was established using a donation from a closed local Deaf club. The ODF Community-Building Fund was launched in 2021 to support strategic, lasting charitable initiatives.

In 2024, the Future-building Fund began providing OCSD an annual grant in support of the organization’s charitable activities.

In the same year, Raymond James was retained to manage ODF’s growing Funds. In the following year, the organization engaged Doane Grant Thornton LLP to undertake annual review engagements and provide financial reports.

Celebrating 25 years of excellence, ODF continues to build a legacy of success. Visit our 25th Anniversary Picture Gallery to view some of our milestone moments.