The **Gordon & Ruth Gooder Charitable Foundation** is a Canadian nonprofit organization established in 2010 in memory of its namesake founders. Registered as a charity (Business Registration Number 850240110RR0001), it focuses on improving the lives of youth facing economic, social, or physical challenges through targeted funding for innovative programs and capital projects.

## Mission and Focus  
The foundation prioritizes initiatives that address systemic barriers for marginalized youth in Ontario, emphasizing trust, respect, and decisive action aligned with its founders' principles. Its mission centers on advancing opportunities for youth at risk while excluding operational deficits, ongoing general operations, or research-oriented projects from funding eligibility[1][2].

## Grantmaking  
Eligibility is restricted to registered Canadian charities or qualified donees, with unsolicited applications not accepted. Successful proposals typically involve innovative, Ontario-based projects or national initiatives with local ties. Recent grants include a three-year investment (2022–2025) in the YMCA's Life Pathways program, an online career-planning tool, reflecting the founders' emphasis on technology and forward-thinking solutions[4][5].

## Key Initiatives  
- **SNAP Expansion**: Supported scaling the evidence-based SNAP® (Stop Now And Plan) program to northern communities[3].  
- **BLAC Program**: Provided $200,000 (2021–2023) to Yorktown Family Services for mental health support targeting Black youth in Toronto[5].  
- **YMCA Life Pathways**: Funded development of a gamified career exploration platform for youth nationwide[4].

## Operational Approach  
The foundation's leadership, including president Gordon Sproule, emphasizes legacy-driven philanthropy, prioritizing capital projects and special initiatives over recurring operational costs. Its funding strategy targets measurable community impact while maintaining alignment with the founders' vision of equitable opportunity creation[1][5].

[1] https://www.gooderfoundation.org [2] https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=GORD362 [3] https://childdevelop.ca/snap/gooder-foundation [4] https://www.ymcagta.org/blog/why-i-give-gordon-sproule-the-ruth-and-gordon-gooder-charitable-foundation [5] https://www.yorktownfamilyservices.com/blogposts/community-partnership-award-the-gordon-and-ruth-gooder-charitable-foundation/