Fighting poverty
and social exclusion
About Centraide of Greater Montreal
Centraide of Greater Montreal is a philanthropic organization that was founded in 1974 out of a desire to create an effective collective fundraising tool in Greater Montreal to support community agencies, which are key actors in the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
Being in a situation of poverty means…
not having the resources to meet your essential needs like housing, food, clothing, and transportation. It generally means having to live one day at a time and always worrying about the future. It means experiencing constant stress and, in many cases, facing social isolation.
Experiencing social exclusion means…
being left out or marginalized because of a specific trait (sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, ethnic or cultural origin, or a similar characteristic) or due to a specific situation (poverty, job loss, family trauma, mental health problem, complex immigration pathway, or other circumstance that trigger a series of hardships).
For 50 years, Centraide has been uniting philanthropic, institutional, social and community partners to improve the living conditions of people in various situations of vulnerability all while investing in social innovation.
In 2023-2024, Centraide invested $73.2 million in 375 agencies in the community to support their operations or involvement in collective projects and to strengthen their skills and leadership. These agencies help 800,000 people every year in Laval, in Montreal and on the South Shore, a territory that is home to over half of all Quebeckers in a situation of poverty.
Vision
For all people to live in dignity in communities where they can reach their full potential.
Mission
Taking action together for an inclusive Greater Montreal without poverty.
