Our History
The Victoria Foundation began with a soup kitchen and a vision
The story of the Victoria Foundation began in 1936 in a soup kitchen called the Sunshine Inn. Located on Pandora Avenue, it fed locals who were struggling with homelessness and employment during the Great Depression. However, Burges Gadsden, its founder and operator, wanted to take his community service even further. He dreamed of establishing a solid source of funds for the capital region that would support charitable organizations across the sector.
Burges Gadsden
Burges was born in Nebraska and immigrated to Canada in 1884. He lived an eclectic life as a former businessman, army captain, Victoria city councilor, police commissioner, conservationist and activist. As a prominent philanthropist, he dedicated his life to community service, making his vision of a thriving community a reality through the Victoria Foundation.
$20 that changed a community forever
The Victoria Foundation became a registered Canadian charity, and Canada’s second community foundation after Winnipeg, through an Act of the B.C. Legislature. Its first financial gift, in April 1937, came from none other than Burges Gadsden’s mother, Fannie. She gave $20, “with the wish that I could afford one hundred dollars to so fine an undertaking,” she wrote.
Fannie proved that no gift is too small. Almost 90 years later, the foundation still stewards that first gift and the many others that followed.
Private Act of the Legislative Assembly of BC document
Note by Fannie Gadsden that accompanied the Victoria Foundation’s first donation
First donation thank you letter
Honouring the legacies of people who loved their community
One of those gifts came from a community-minded woman named Dorothy. She found a passion in making a difference when she immigrated to Victoria from England and became a Girl Guide leader, and a music teacher. She was always looking for ways to help her community.
When Dorothy was diagnosed with cancer in 1984, she began to consider what legacies of difference she could leave behind after she was gone. She decided on a Donor Advised Fund through the Victoria Foundation, which shared so many of her values.
Dorothy passed away in 2006, but her endowment continues to annually support the 15 Victoria charities she chose, making a lasting difference to the arts, education, environment, health care and more.
The Victoria Foundation is proud to continue the legacies of people like Dorothy, Burges and Fannie Gadsden — uplifting our community through the generosity of people committed to the region they called home.
‘Forgotten’ charity fund still exists from 1937
Col. R. O. Bull started the first designated fund at the Victoria Foundation.
July 4, 1969 Victoria Daily Times story about the Victoria Foundation