We are Trico Foundation.

Leveraging social entrepreneurship to close gaps in society

Our programs

Our Story

Photo by Kelly Hofer, for the Haskayne School of Business

Trico Charitable Foundation was established in December of 2008 by Wayne and Eleanor Chiu. Previously, the Chiu’s built a company, Trico Homes, that over the years has achieved – and continues to achieve – financial success while serving and giving back to the community. Indeed, the “c” in Trico stands for “community”. While Trico Homes began as an entrepreneurial venture that became increasingly socially-minded, the Trico Charitable Foundation turns that idea around and asks “how much impact can you have if you start out socially-minded and use business models to serve that cause?” For the Trico Charitable Foundation, this is the essence of “social entrepreneurship”.  

To learn more about us, watch this short video here:

 

Our Work

The Trico Charitable Foundation seeks to close gaps in society by provoking innovation and building capacity in social entrepreneurship. Its work focuses on three key areas:

    • social entrepreneurship training: Inspiration + Empowerment = A New World of Possibility. In addition to ‘the basics’, TCF’s training provides a) real-life social entrepreneurship stories to inspire you as to what is possible when you master the art of using business models to serve social impact, and b) tools to explore those possibilities. These materials are available for free, in video and transcript, 24/7;
    • ecosystem building: we seek an ecosystem that moves from a ‘program mentality’ to a ‘population mentality’ so that, together, these supports enable social enterprises to achieve their full potential; and
    • data: giving social entrepreneurs a voice through data that truly tells their story and enables policymakers and others to make evidence-based decisions on how best to help social enterprises achieve their full potential.
 
 
 
 

Fully harness the power of business models to serve social impact.

A social entrepreneurship movement that is inclusive and aspirational:

  • Inclusive: all are welcome who want to use business models to make the world a better place, even if it is ‘just’ a little bit better; and
  • Aspirational: in addition to using business models to make the world a little bit better, we need to use business models to solve social problems; taking this even further, we need to use business models to fulfil our potential as a vibrant, equitable planet with a connected and compassionate humanity.      

Leverage social entrepreneurship to close gaps in society.

Provoking innovation and building capacity in social entrepreneurship.

Trust

Respect

Integrity

Community

Opportunity

Find us at:

#100, 7711 Macleod Trail SW   |   Calgary, AB   |   T2H 0M1

403-228-6756

Please note: Appointment only

Engage with Trico

The Team

Board of Directors

  • Wayne Chiu, Chairman
  • Eleanor Chiu, Director
  • Chris Hopfner, Director
  • Karen Ramchuk, Director
 

Staff (click on name for email)