About

The Sarnia at Lambton Future Fund Foundation works closely with its partner, United Way of Sarnia-Lambton.

While the United Way or Sarnia-Lambton focusses its efforts on the annual fall campaign, raising funds for some 30 or more local programs and services, it is the Sarnia-Lambton Future Fund Foundation that encourages Sarnia-Lambton residents to make plan gifts through their will, through life insurance, and other estate planning vehicles to the United Way at Sarnia-Lambton. In addition to promoting this method of giving, the Future Fund Foundation is also focused on quality, conservative investments to grow the foundation’s principal.

Currently, 3.5% of the principle of the total Sarnia-Lambton Future Fund Foundation as of October 31 of each year is used for direct United Way of Sarnia-Lambton funded agency allocations. It is expected, that this distribution formula will increase to 5% in 2023, and based on a $3 million endowment fund, translates into $150,000 each and every year directly into agency funding.

It is consistent with the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton strategic plan which indicates the objective of the Foundation to transfer, an amount equal to the overall cost of operation so the United Way can promote to its donors 100% of the annual campaign is invested directly into agencies.  This is a fundamental strategy of the business case and long-term sustainability of the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton.

The Future Fund Foundation encourages new and existing United Way donors to support the United Way through creative means. This may include donations of stock and equities, donations of life insurance and unused life insurance policies, bequests, art, and individual’s Wills.

Any one-time contributions made to the United Way, that is not specifically directed by the donor, is transferred to the Sarnia-Lambton future fund for immediate investment for legacy type use. Over the years, the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton has received large contributions of stock and other appreciated equities, memorial donations, boats and vehicles, unclaimed insurance payments, etc., which was immediately invested in the Sarnia-Lambton Future Fund Foundation, to provide sustainable funding for the funded agencies of the United Way.  During 2020 and 2021, United Way of Sarnia-Lambton did receive a number of one time contributions from corporate donors but where specifically earmarked for COVID-19 support, those such donations would not be invested with the foundation, but rather, any one-time contributions that were not donor directed, and not expected to be annualized.