Bringing hope and healing to the world
Welcome to The Charis Foundation
The Charis Foundation is on a mission to identify, resource, and empower Canadian registered charities that bring hope and healing to the world in the name of Jesus. Our partners work creatively in high-need, low-resourced communities across Canada and around the globe.
We invite you to join us in our vision of seeing the love of Jesus bring hope and healing to all creation.
This guide is designed for those interested in supporting the work of The Charis Foundation. It addresses common donor questions and provides insights into our mission, vision, guiding principles, leadership, and history.
Why Charis?
Your donation to The Charis Foundation is more than a gift—it’s an investment in human flourishing that reflects your compassion and longing for a better world.
We promise to honour your generosity with integrity and excellence, supporting meaningful change through a diverse range of charitable initiatives in Canada and globally.
How We Work
Rigorous Due Diligence
Our board and staff ensure meticulous evaluation, selection, and ongoing monitoring of our partners.
Firsthand Insight
In addition to annual reports, we conduct periodic on-site visits to assess the impact and alignment of our partners’ work.
Guiding Principles
Our evaluation framework prioritizes charities committed to making sustainable and generational changes.
Who We Support
The Charis Foundation funds initiatives in education, leadership development, skills training, healthcare, church planting, evangelism, economic development, food security, mental health, and anti-trafficking efforts. We favour asset based community development over emergency relief.
Our charitable partners range from established institutions to innovative startups. We are not afraid to take strategic risks to maximize impact.
Our Reach
Beyond Funding
Our support goes beyond financial grants.
We provide:
Encouragement
Walking alongside our partners in their missions.
Professional Development
Connecting leaders with resources for success.
Collaboration Opportunities
Connecting partners with experts and fostering a culture of learning.
Get to Know Us Better
To catch a glimpse of our heart and soul, we invite you to read Inside The Charis Foundation 2.0. Together, we can bring hope and healing to a broken and beautiful world.
Guiding Principles
Our guiding principles not only shape our actions and decision-making but also play a crucial role in evaluating potential charitable partners.
Long Term
Committed to generational impact
holistic
Addressing the whole person and all of creation
INNOVATIVE
Cultivating ventures that are creative, strategic and original
LOCAL LEADERSHIP
Identifying and equipping local leaders to run local organizations
LOCAL CHURCH
Strengthening and encouraging the church through every opportunity
COLLABORATIVE
Learning from peers, sharing best practices, pooling resources and partnering with others
SUSTAINABLE
Moving toward financial independence
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Foundation sustained financially?
The Charis Foundation was endowed by the Bernardo family, with its assets carefully invested across various markets. The returns from these investments fund our annual grants.
How much do you give away per year?
The Canadian government mandates foundations to donate at least 5% of their assets annually to Canadian registered charities. These charities serve both in Canada and globally. Our annual grants have consistently exceeded the CRA’s minimum requirements and historically been in the $3–$4 Million range.
Does The Charis Foundation need to fundraise?
We don’t need to actively fundraise to sustain our operations, but as a registered charity, we can accept donations and issue charitable receipts. Growing our endowment would enable us to support more amazing charities bringing hope and healing in the name of Jesus. We consistently receive far more grant requests than our annual granting budgets can accommodate.
Do you want to exist in perpetuity? Why not give away the endowment?
Honouring the Bernardo family’s wish for The Charis Foundation to exist in perpetuity, the Board continues to preserve the capital base. We recently surpassed $40 million in grants awarded since inception, while maintaining an asset balance of approximately $47 million.
How do you choose your charitable partners?
We use our Vision, Mission, Values, and Guiding Principles (see charisfoundation.ca) to screen potential partners, seeking charities that share our approach to bringing hope and healing in the name of Jesus. It’s about how they do their work, not just what they do. We’re happy to share more—just give us a call at 905-849-8552 or email us at info@charisfoundation.ca.
Can I donate directly to The Charis Foundation grantees?
Over nearly 30 years, our staff and board have collaborated with over 200 charities, building a network of trusted partners. If you’re interested in supporting the charities endorsed by The Charis Foundation, please give to our partners directly. To receive a list of our partners, email Martha Arevalo at martha@charisfoundation.ca. We’re also available for a direct conversation about our charitable partners and the specific causes you want to support.
Do you accept restricted or designated funds?
No. If you would like to donate to a specific charity, we encourage you to do so directly.
How You Can Give
As a registered Canadian charity, The Charis Foundation invites you to partner with us to expand our reach and increase the grants we provide to charitable initiatives in Canada and around the globe.
Online Donations
For gifts under $5,000, we recommend using CanadaHelps for a secure and convenient option.
Cheques
For gifts of $5,000+, please mail a cheque to “The Charis Foundation” at the address at the bottom of this website.
LeavE a Bequest
Include The Charis Foundation in your will to leave a legacy of hope and healing for generations.
Gifting Securities
Donate stocks or securities to support our mission—gain tax benefits while creating lasting, meaningful impact.
If you have any questions or need assistance with your donation, including legacy giving or gifting securities, please contact our President, Brad Klinck - (brad@charisfoundation.ca; 905.849.8552)
Every gift matters—join us in bringing hope and healing today!
History
In 1995, Bob and Leslie Bernardo, along with their adult children Geoff and Karen, established The Charis Foundation to address the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of people worldwide. The Bernardo family believed they were blessed by God to bless others.
Since its inception, The Charis Foundation has sought to bring hope and healing to the world in the name of Jesus. Guided by the Bernardo family’s compassion for the marginalized and the oppressed, and their belief in God’s transformative love, the foundation supports a wide range of charitable activities both in Canada and globally. The founders’ faith, now shared by us, continues to inspire everything we do.
Since the passing of Bob, Leslie, and their two adult children, The Charis Foundation has restructured but remains true to its original vision, mission, and values. Over time, the foundation transitioned from a relatively small family foundation to a larger public foundation, expanding its team from one part-time staff to three full-time staff and growing its board to a group of eight, all of whom are at arm’s length. Together, they are committed to following Jesus and honouring the legacy of the Bernardo family.
We are deeply grateful for the Bernardo family’s generosity and foresight, which enable The Charis Foundation to continue bringing hope and healing to the world.
TCF Board
DOREEN E. HARVEY
A strategic HR consultant with over 20 years of experience, Doreen aligns HR and organizational strategy to boost engagement. She has led leadership training both in Canada and abroad, recently co-developing LearningCircles with her business partner, Marla Konrad. Doreen holds an MBA and an HBA from the Schulich and Ivey Schools of Business.
GLYNIS MACGIBBON (CHAIR)
A retired Registered Nurse with diverse experience in healthcare, Glynis has been involved with The Charis Foundation since 2005, as an Executive Assistant, Director and now Board Chair, with a passion for missions and hospitality.
JANET NELLICH
With 37 years in corporate finance, including as Director of Finance for a Canadian corporation, Janet brings financial expertise and a love for family, cooking, and outdoor activities to the board.
JOHN TABET
An independent financial advisor and President of Viewstone Partners Inc., John has experience in nonprofit board leadership, financial strategy, and a personal interest in golf, cycling, and music.
PAUL DAVIDSON (SECRETARY)
With an extensive international business background, Paul has served in an executive capacity at The Yonge Street Mission for ten years, bringing his leadership and mentoring skills to both nonprofit and corporate sectors.
RHONDI FOWLER
A Registered Social Worker and Student Counsellor, Rhondi has over a decade of experience in youth ministry and nonprofit work, including with Impact Romania, and holds a Master’s in Social Work.
stephen Collins
An investment professional in Toronto, Stephen has nearly 15 years of experience helping clients manage and protect their wealth. He holds a BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.
TCF Staff
Brad Klinck
Formerly a robotics engineer, Brad shifted to ministry in 2003 and served as Pastor of Missions & Mobilization at Compass Point Bible Church, with a focus on church planting and Kingdom service. He became President of The Charis Foundation in 2025.
PETER ROEBBELEN
With 30 years of pastoral experience and a deep commitment to leadership development, Peter served as President of The Charis Foundation from 2011-2025, and is now President Emeritus. He is a published author and Arrow Leadership trainer.
STEPHANIE GALLA
As Director of Partnerships and Strategy, Stephanie brings expertise in communications and strategic planning. She is studying Global Leadership at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and is an Arrow Leader. She has been with The Charis Foundation since 2016.
MARTHA AREVALO
Martha, Director of Operations and Administration, holds a Master’s in Health Administration and has a strong background in research. She has served at The Charis Foundation since 2020.