Endowment Funds

Endowment Funds for Bursaries and Scholarships for
Students with Disabilities
May 22, 2026

Mission

Endowment funds for bursaries and scholarships will assist students with disabilities to get post-secondary education and prepare them for senior leadership positions, including a seat at the corporate board table.

Financial hardship is the main reason that many students with disabilities do not acquire professional designations.

Project

The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP) is endeavouring to set up endowment funds for bursaries and scholarships for students with disabilities at all major universities in Canada.

To achieve this goal, CFPDP is inviting donors to commit $100,000. As an incentive, CFPDP will donate $10,000 and name the endowment fund in the donor’s name. CFPDP will ask universities to match the $110,000 to create a $220,000 endowment fund. In addition, we will issue a charitable tax receipt/acknowledgement as per CRA guidelines for your donation.

Donors who wish to make a meaningful donation of less than $100,000 are also encouraged to contact the CFPDP office at 416-760-7351 or by email at whynot@cfpdp.com.

CFPDP has already established endowment funds at Dalhousie University, Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario, Nipissing University, Ontario Tech University, Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, Pearson College, Queen’s University (two endowment funds), Toronto Metropolitan University (two endowments funds), University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of New Brunswick and York University (two endowment funds).

CFPDP has also partnered with the Asper Foundation to provide five bursaries each year to students with disabilities at the University of Manitoba.

We are currently in the process of completing a pan-Canadian endowment fund project in partnership with the Shah Family Foundation, which has generously committed $1.3 million to create an endowment fund in each Canadian province and territory.

Endowment Fund Progress Report
May 14, 2026

Endowment funds established:

  1. Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia* – The Honourable Vim Kochhar Award in Partnership with Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons
  2. Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario – Thorpe Family Foundation in partnership with CFPDP
  3. Nipissing University* – The Honourable Vim Kochhar Award in partnership with Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons
  4. Ontario Tech University – Dottori-Attanasio Family with CFPDP Award
  5. Osgoode Hall Law School at York University – Abe Bresver Award with CFPDP
  6. Pearson College, Vancouver – Vim Kochhar
  7. Queen’s University – Duncan and Michelle Sinclair Foundation in partnership with CFPDP’s “A Seat at the Table” program
  8. Queen’s University – Jim Leech in partnership with CFPDP’s “A Seat at the Table” program
  9. Toronto Metropolitan University – CFPDP
  10. Toronto Metropolitan University – Vim Kochhar – CFPDP
  11. University of Alberta* – The Honourable Vim Kochhar Graduate Bursary in partnership with Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons
  12. University of British Columbia* – Hon. Vim Kochhar and CFPDP Award for Students with Disabilities
  13. University of Calgary – Aaron Family Award for Students with Disabilities in partnership with CFPDP’s “A Seat at the Table” program
  14. University of Manitoba – Asper Foundation – CFPDP
  15. University of New Brunswick* – The Honourable Vim Kochhar Award in partnership with Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons
  16. York University – CFPDP
  17. York University – Noor Award with CFPDP

Endowment funds to be established:

Post-secondary institutions in each Canadian province                                    $1,300,000
and territory, in partnership with the Shah Family Foundation*
(Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
and Ontario completed)

Matching funds available to CFPDP**:

  1. Carleton University                                                                                        $100,000
  2. Toronto Metropolitan University                                                                       $50,000
  3. University of Toronto Scarborough                                                                $200,000

** Donors who wish to establish an endowment fund at a post-secondary institution that is not on this list are encouraged to contact the CFPDP office at (416) 760-7351 or by email at whynot@cfpdp.com.

Endowment funds under negotiation:

  1. CFPDP is negotiating with five donors for $1,200,000.
  2. CFPDP is negotiating with additional universities for matching funds.