Like many grant-making philanthropies in Canada, the Winnipeg Foundation for years had no history of giving directly to schools, fearing that could let governments off the hook for public education. In 2003, the Winnipeg Foundation invested $3 million over five years in one of the city's most impoverished neighbourhoods, with a local school as the hub for intensive services delivered by the school board, government agencies, and non-profit partners. The Winnipeg Foundation is one of several Canadian philanthropies rethinking how they relate to the K-12 sector. Those with an interest in public education share a desire to invest in programs promoting innovation and student success, but the nature of foundation support varies widely across the country. With some notable exceptions, philanthropic giving to the K-12 sector is relatively small-scale (by American standards) and time-limited, usually up to three years. Typically, the focus is on projects to help students realize their potential, not system-wide reform espoused by philanthropies in the US. Still, despite limited resources and a long-held aversion to "letting government off the hook," some Canadian foundations are picking their spots in recognition that schools cannot do it alone. Among Canadian philanthropies, those directly funding schools are often community foundations that manage endowments from local donors. Having the foundation as a local partner that can fill in gaps for children gave an enormous boost to education officials on the front lines. In the future, foundation and school officials see room for a deeper conversation about working together to promote student success.