Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes hires new office and grants administrator

Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes (CFKL) is pleased to welcome Carissa Ferguson to the team as the new office and grants administrator. With a strong background in nonprofit administration, grant management, and stakeholder engagement, Carissa brings a wealth of experience that aligns with the foundation’s mission to foster lasting community impact through strategic philanthropy and accessible grant making, according to a media release.
 
Ferguson joins CFKL with over a decade of experience supporting community-focused organizations and businesses. As a former funding specialist at GrantMatch, she managed over 100 high-impact grant applications and helped secure more than $5 million in funding for small medium enterprises. Her work supported diverse initiatives in food security, the environment, labour relations — areas that directly reflect CFKL’s commitment to the Kawartha Lakes region. She also holds a graduate diploma in Culture & Heritage Site Management from Centennial College and a B.A. in Anthropology from Trent University.    
 
In her new role, Ferguson will support day-to-day operations, manage donor and community communications, and oversee CFKL’s grant programs — including the launch of the Social Sustainability Fund, an annual grant initiative designed to address urgent social challenges. The fund, developed in collaboration with Kawartha Lakes, will support projects that promote poverty reduction, equitable labour practices, housing support, food security, mental health and addiction services, and efforts to reduce inequality in the region.