(cfcab.ca)

By Erin Peden, Executive Director, Community Foundation of Central Alberta

erin peden

Letter: Looking ahead to 2026 with central Alberta’s community foundation

Dec 22, 2025 | 4:33 PM

Dear Friends,

As the year comes to a close, I have been reflecting on how incredible 2025 has been for the Community Foundation of Central Alberta. I am genuinely grateful for the people I have met, the stories I have heard, and the collective energy that has shaped our work. Central Alberta continues to amaze me with its generosity and its commitment to caring for one another.

The progress we made this year shows the strength of this community. I had opportunities to sit with donors who are passionate about the future of Central Alberta, connect with charities who show up every day for their neighbours, and work alongside partners who believe in the long-term strength of this region. Every one of those moments reinforced how vital this work is.

This year, we strengthened our systems, invested in better tools, and made our granting processes more accessible. We continued to grow our endowment funds and supported programs that lifted families, built belonging, and ensured stability for local organizations. Through all of this, we stayed grounded in our mission to be a catalyst for community and to help build a legacy that strengthens the quality of life in Red Deer and the surrounding areas.

One of the highlights for me was working with our board on the 2026 to 2030 Strategic Plan. I cannot say enough about this group. They challenged assumptions, asked important questions, and kept the needs of our community at the center of every decision. The plan they created feels thoughtful, trusting, and focused on the long-term health of Central Alberta. I truly cannot wait to bring it to life.

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Looking ahead to 2026, we have several priorities that I am excited to move forward. These commitments reflect what we heard from our community and the direction our board has set for the years ahead including:

• A stronger focus on donor engagement through accessible storytelling, meaningful touchpoints, and clear pathways for legacy giving.
• More intentional community leadership through convening conversations, sparking collaboration, and helping partners turn good ideas into action.
• Continued improvements to our internal systems so we can be nimble, responsive, and ready to support a growing philanthropic landscape.
• New initiatives that will reconnect past stakeholders, highlight community impact, and celebrate the generosity that strengthens our region.

The work ahead is grounded in a simple belief: When we build strong foundations, we build strong communities. Your support makes that possible.

As we step into a new year, I want to offer my heartfelt thanks. Whether you gave, volunteered, partnered with us, attended an event, or simply stayed connected, you played a part in everything we accomplished this year. I am grateful for you and excited for what we will build together in 2026.

I wish you a peaceful and hopeful start to the new year. Thank you for being part of this story.

Warmly,

Erin Peden

Executive Director
Community Foundation of Central Alberta touch points