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Growing at the speed of trust
How Sandra Richardson turned trust and purpose into lasting community impact.
Sandra “Sandy” Richardson says she’s always enticed by need.
That instinct led the former hospice director of development to a humble community foundation 25 years ago. It shaped her tenure as CEO, and in turn, much of the community.
In 2001, the Victoria Foundation was in a small rented downtown office in the historic Yarrow building, back when some of the grant applications were handwritten.
“This organization was ready to burst open, to become something huge for the community,” recalled Richardson.
Under the Board’s direction, she got to work with her small staff. She hired an accountant and worked to strengthen the Foundation’s governance and financial systems — all while firmly focused on the community.
“There’s nothing meaningful we can do on our own. Our community holds the answers. Our job is to bring people together, listen deeply and act.”
Sandra Richardson
Victoria Foundation CEO Emeritus
Community at the core
Richardson understood that to learn what really mattered, she had to meet communities where they gathered. She made connections at local events, at Annual General Meetings and listened deeply to pressing concerns.
“I learned that a community foundation grows at the speed of trust, not ambition,” she said.
Sara Neely, Senior Director of Philanthropic Services, says Richardson’s “enthusiasm for advancing the Foundation’s purpose is unparalleled.” The organization’s profile soon soared because she rarely said “no” to exploring an idea or emerging trend.
Key early moments were joining Community Foundations of Canada and connecting globally through the Transatlantic Community Foundation Network.
Richardson’s philosophy that “leadership should come first, not endowment size” shaped initiatives like Victoria’s Vital Signs. Data from this watershed initiative helped spur action that led to a regionwide Food Security Distribution Centre in Esquimalt and ongoing local food ecosystem growth, among other changes.
Neely says Richardson also helped develop Every Step Counts, a running program for those facing mental health and addiction challenges.
“And in 2011, when the Governor General of Canada asked community foundations to help create a smart and caring nation, Sandy was the first CEO to respond with the launch of a Smart and Caring ABC’s of Physical Literacy program that now serves up to 15,000 children each year,” she says.
From crisis to opportunity
But Richardson says some of her greatest learnings came during times of crisis. This meant fast-tracking community support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chuck Burkett, former Board Chair, says it also meant weathering the financial crash of 2008. When the Foundation’s resilience was tested, Richardson “leaned into the challenge,” turning crisis into opportunity.
“She brought together a highly skilled group of Board members, staff and volunteers to protect the Foundation’s ability to support the community for the long term,” he reflects.
Louise MacDonald, who worked closely with Richardson for 13 years, says “Sandy has always embodied the word ‘community’ with humility and openness. Sandy is a leader who doesn’t try to command a room or a table, but provides strong, quiet leadership, always thoughtful and strategic.”
A legacy of collaboration
Richardson’s many accolades, including an Honorary Doctor of Laws, appointment to the Order of British Columbia and the King Charles III Coronation Medal, reflect her profound legacy.
Former Board Chair T’esóts’en (Patrick Kelly), of the Leq’á:mel First Nation, says this legacy includes unwavering support for Indigenous communities, locally and beyond, including a meeting he and Richardson attended “with local First Nation leaders to jointly develop approaches for sustainable, long-term relationships.”
He cites a list of partnerships the Foundation has made with Indigenous communities across BC, and of investments into local reconciliation initiatives, including helping establish an Indigenous-led granting advisory. Kelly, himself, became the first Indigenous Board Chair of any community foundation in Canada.
“Sandy cares deeply about people, family, the community and about making the world a better place for all,” Kelly says.
Working closely with the Board of Directors, Richardson has empowered staff and broadened the Foundation’s role as a community leader. Her tenure also secured the Foundation’s permanent downtown home to serve the region for generations.
Richardson heads into a well-deserved retirement after leading the Foundation to grant more than $400 million over the years. She resolutely points to collaboration as the throughline of progress.
Her legacy is built on trust, purpose and an enduring belief that uplifting people means communities rise with them.
