Make MaRS your home for impact
We invite you to make a gift to MaRS Discovery District. Consider the following high-impact programs:
MaRS Carbon Removal Donation Program
Enabling individuals and organizations to support Canada’s most promising carbon removal technology companies through tax-deductible donations.
Mission from MaRS Leadership Fund
Mission from MaRS works to rapidly accelerate the widespread deployment of Canada’s most effective innovations tackling society’s greatest challenges.
Join the Mission from MaRS Leadership Fund, in honour of CEO Yung Wu.
DONATE
The MaRS Women in Cleantech Network
The MaRS Women in Cleantech Network brings together our growing community of Cleantech founders, accelerating and celebrating women entrepreneurs’ role in the new climate economy. Built by women, for women.
DONATE
Tech Stewardship
Tech Stewardship is a professional identity, orientation and practice. As tech stewards, we continuously discuss, refine and imagine new ways to shape technology for the benefit of all.
DONATE
Biotech and Health Innovation
We support companies and institutions that create health solutions with broad social impact. We help them streamline the healthcare system and improve patient outcomes, all while saving money.
DONATE
General Support
Your unrestricted gift allows us to focus on the organization’s most urgent priorities and compelling opportunities.
DONATE
Make a one-time donation, join our monthly giving program, or make a gift of securities safely and securely through CanadaHelps and automatically receive a tax receipt. You can also mail a cheque to:
MaRS Discovery District
Attn: Philanthropy Office
101 College St, Suite 100
Toronto ON
M5G 1L7
Have a bold new idea, want to leave a really big mark, or simply discuss your options? We would love to meet with you! Contact the Philanthropy Office and together, we will explore what’s possible.
MaRS Discovery District is a registered charity, number 876682717-RR0001.
In 2000, former University of Toronto president Dr. John Evans assembled a group of philanthropists with the dream of turning innovative ideas into action.
Canada already boasted some of the world’s greatest research and business talent, but lagged behind other countries when transforming those strengths into real-world products, services and wellness outcomes. And so, Dr. Evans and his team of visionaries founded MaRS in the heart of Toronto’s Discovery District, at the Old Toronto General Hospital, site of the discovery of insulin.
Today, MaRS is North America’s largest urban innovation hub. It supports more than 1,200 startups, is home to roughly 6,000 innovation workers, hosts 150,000 annual guests, and serves as the Canadian tech ecosystem’s strongest advocate.
Supporters
Our Supporters
MaRS College of Founders
- AIC Limited
- AstraZeneca Canada
- Baycrest
- Lawrence S. Bloomberg
- Cancer Care Ontario
- CIBC
- Eli Lilly Canada
- John R. Evans
- The Henry White Kinnear Foundation
- Arthur S. Labatt
- MDS Inc.
- NPS Pharmaceuticals
- St. Michael’s Hospital
- Peter Munk
- RBC Financial Group
- Joseph L. Rotman
- Allan Slaight
- Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
Foundational Partners
- Government of Ontario
- Government of Canada
- City of Toronto
- University of Toronto
Future Fund Campaign Donors
- Gord and Janet Nixon
- Michael McCain & Family
- Richard and Donna Ivey
- Ron and Kathleen Close
- Stefan M. Larson
- Ilse Treurnicht
- John Manley
- Martha Tory
- Meric Gertler
- Michael Serbinis
- Cal and Angie Stiller
- Don and Elyse Allen
- Elaine Campbell
Donors
Our Current Donors
$10M+
- Endowment – anonymous donor
$1M+
- RBC Tech for Nature Foundation
- Suncor Energy Foundation
$250K+
- Anonymous donor
- The Co-operators
- HSBC Canada
- Verschuren Foundation
$100K+
- Anonymous donor
- Business + Higher Education Roundtable
- Consecon Foundation
- Peter Gilgan Foundation
- Yung and Katrina Wu*
- TD Friends of Environment
- Trottier Family Foundation
- Grantham Foundation
- RBC Future Launch
- Mastercard
$10K+
- CIBC
- Holt Renfrew
- Chisholm Thomson Family Foundation
- Neil Betteridge
- Richard and Donna Ivey
- Mohammad Al Zaibak
- Brendan Calder
- Bruce Power
- Annette Verschuren
- Anonymous Donor
$1K +
- Cory Mulvihill
- MINI Canada
- Inbae Ahn
- adMare Team
- Elyse Allan
- Peter G Bowie
- Bill & Dawne Benson
- Diane Kazarian
- Graphite Ventures: Aaron Bast, Craig Leonard, and Lance Laking
- Stefan Larson
- Magyne Group
- Gayle and Marc Milgrom
- Al Otton / Otton Consulting Ltd
- Jodi Kovitz and Lily Shinewald
- Molly Shoichet
- MaRS Staff
- Susan Fox
- Penny Somervile
- Mark & Karen Cator in memory of Ralph and Ruth Anne Cator
- Lawrence Zimmering
- Gilda and Yousry Bissada
- Anonymous
*MaRS acknowledges our Board of Directors not only for their time and expertise, but for their generous financial support of MaRS through the Future Fund Campaign.
Donating to MaRS means fighting for a fairer economy, healthy communities and a clean planet. What kind of impact do you want to leave on the world?
The MaRS Philanthropy Office supports your ambitions to lift Canadians through inclusive innovation. MaRS donors can make a donation of cash, securities, or setup monthly giving safely and securely through CanadaHelps and automatically receive a tax receipt.
If you are unsure which donation method suits you best, feel free to consult our team philanthropy@marsdd.com.
MaRS is a registered charity. Our charitable registration number is 876682717-RR0001.
Grace Lee Reynolds
CEO
Grace Lee Reynolds is CEO of MaRS, leading the organization through its next phase of growth and impact. With nearly 30 years of experience in the public, private and philanthropic sectors, Grace is passionate about fostering economic potential and social impact through innovations and placemaking. Grace has been a key leader at MaRS for more than a decade, previously serving as CFO of MaRS Discovery District and president of MaRS Discovery Enterprises. She played a pivotal role in transforming MaRS into a globally recognized innovation hub, helping develop and scale the 1.5-million-square-foot MaRS Centre, driving its social purpose business model and advancing early-stage investment funds and innovation programming. Most recently, as head of development and programming, she oversaw the strategies and activities essential to MaRS’ mission reach, growth and financial sustainability. Since 2010, MaRS-supported ventures have collectively raised $19 billion in capital, generated $11.5 billion in net revenues and contributed $29.6 billion to the GDP. MaRS ventures currently employ 33,000 individuals across a range of sectors — a testament to their innovation, resilience and impact. Beyond MaRS, Grace served as CEO of Toronto Artscape, a social enterprise operating unique spaces and programs for creatives across Toronto. Prior to that, she spent 15 years in finance leadership roles at major Canadian academic hospitals, including SickKids Foundation and University Health Network, where she worked across clinical operations, corporate services and fundraising. She began her career in the entrepreneurship services group at Ernst & Young. Her diverse interests span the intersection of science, technology, arts and inclusive innovation, reflecting her belief that Canada needs robust infrastructure to drive economic well-being for future generations. Grace’s extensive background includes expertise in strategy, finance, fund and partnership development, commercial operations, and people leadership in both scaling enterprises and large complex organizations.
Michelle Khelawan
