Founded in 1997, the National Gallery of Canada Foundation is an independent not-for-profit registered charity dedicated to achieving sustained private financial support for the Gallery. In 2009, the Foundation also launched the American Friends of the National Gallery of Canada to facilitate the support of art patrons living in the United States.  

The Foundation aims to support initiatives and to establish strategic endowments and restricted funds in support of all key priority areas of the Gallery including:

• Acquisition of outstanding works of art for the national collection;

• Curatorial and technical research;

• Exhibitions and public programs;

• Education and community engagement;

• National outreach initiatives;

• National Gallery of Canada Library and Archive.

Since inception, the Foundation has raised more than $75 million in financial contributions and has facilitated donations of art to the National Gallery valued in excess of $62 million. Financial assets currently under management are valued at $30 Million and include a range of general and designated endowments and special purpose funds.

The Foundation focuses primarily on cultivating and receiving individual and corporate donations at the major gift level (above $10,000) including an exceptional Gallery Naming Opportunity program for donations of $1 Million and above. The Foundation also manages all corporate sponsorship above $1 Million.