The Toyota Canada Foundation (French: Fondation Toyota Canada) is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and outreach among youth. The foundation primarily supports registered charitable organizations that work to engage young Canadians, especially those from underserved and underrepresented communities, in STEM learning and career pathways.

Mission and Focus

The Toyota Canada Foundation focuses on encouraging youth across Canada to pursue education and careers in STEM fields. A key part of its mission is to improve diversity and inclusion within STEM by supporting programs that engage girls and young women, Indigenous youth, Black youth, youth living with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. The foundation aims to create equitable opportunities and to help close gaps in STEM participation nationwide.

Key Initiatives and Partnerships

The foundation has partnered with several organizations to advance its goals:

• Actua: Since 2017, the Toyota Canada Foundation has supported Actua, a national organization delivering STEM programs for Canadian youth. In 2022, the foundation announced a $1 million investment over four years to enhance Actua’s outreach to underserved youth, including the launch of a National Black Youth in STEM program[5].

• StopGap Foundation: The foundation has contributed to StopGap Foundation’s Community Ramp Project, which promotes physical accessibility and inclusion, reinforcing Toyota’s vision of “mobility for all.” In 2024, Toyota Canada renewed its support with a $100,000 donation to help raise awareness and build accessibility ramps in communities across Canada[3].

Impact

Through its funding and partnerships, the Toyota Canada Foundation has helped expand STEM education and accessibility initiatives that empower youth, raise awareness on inclusion, and stimulate national conversations about equity in STEM and society at large.

Governance and Registration

The Toyota Canada Foundation operates as a registered Canadian charity under business registration number 119268100RR0001. It functions as a private charitable foundation aligned with Toyota Canada’s broader community and corporate social responsibility efforts[2][4].

This nonprofit exemplifies corporate philanthropy in Canada, leveraging resources to support STEM education and accessibility projects that foster long-term community benefits and inclusive innovation.