In 2000, changes in provincial legislation forced the Town of Campbellford to sell it’s 100-year-old public utility. The electrical distribution company was sold to Hydro One Networks Inc. and the electric generation corporation was sold to Peterborough Utility Services, Inc.
A citizen’s group was formed and this group researched ideas, held community meetings, and then lobbied the Mayor and Council of the Municipality of Campbellford/Seymour and the Campbellford Seymour Public Utilities Commission, with the idea of the creation of a Community Foundation with the proceeds of the sale, for the benefit of the rate payers of the Campbellford/Seymour geographic area.
In December 2002, the net proceeds of the sale, an amount of $6,212,047 was transferred to the Campbellford/Seymour Community Foundation. The proceeds were split 50/50 into two designated endowment funds, $3,106,023.50 into the Community Fund and $3,106,023.50 into the Municipal Fund. The Community Fund is the main endowment fund used to provide grants to registered charities primarily in the Campbellford/Seymour area, through a grant application process. The Municipal Fund is used for projects determined by the Council of the Municipality of Trent Hills. Through this collaboration, many projects have been developed to enhance and benefit the Campbellford/Seymour community. Our partnership is sustained with continuous consultation and conversation.
In May 2023, the Board of Directors announced that we changed our name to the Community Foundation of Campbellford/Seymour and Northumberland, and expanded our geographic boundaries to include all of Northumberland County. The original funds established at the community foundation, such as the Community Fund, Municipal Fund, Youth Endowment Fund, Environmental Fund, Arts & Culture Fund and the Scholarship Funds, will continue to support projects and programs in Campbellford/Seymour only. In order to support community organizations in the county, the Northumberland County Fund was created, and once there are sufficient funds in it a granting program will be initiated. We look forward to working with the many outstanding organizations that serve the residents of Northumberland County.
Champion the gifts of energy, ideas and money to enhance meaningful and lasting impacts through grants, stewardship, leadership and partnership that benefit our community.
A strong, healthy, connected, inclusive and caring community.
The Community Foundations strives to live by our values each and every day by:
A community foundation belongs to the community it serves and the Community Foundation of Campbellford/Seymour and Northumberland belongs to you, your family, your friends and neighbours.
Community foundations bring together people who care about their communities. They are independent, volunteer-driven, charitable organizations that aim to strengthen their communities by facilitating philanthropy, by partnering with donors to build permanent endowments and other funds from which they support community projects, and by providing leadership on issues of broad community concern. A Community Foundation touchs the lives of everyone in a community.
To date, CFCSN has granted approximately $4.2 million to Campbellford/Seymour charities with the forethought of creating a well-rounded community. These grants provide much-needed funding to develop the local arts, music and sports scene, to create green space and accessibility, and to ensure a thriving, healthy community.
