Building resilient communities

Insurance is a people business, inside and out. So, it makes sense that giving back to our communities through volunteerism and community investment is woven into the very fabric of who we are.

2024 marked a transformative year for Definity’s Community Investment and Social Impact strategy, with $4.3 million — the highest contribution in our company’s more than 150 year history — directed toward building more equitable and climate-ready communities across Canada.

Our employees

We match our employees’ personal donations to Canadian registered charities and are proud to support employees whose volunteer efforts benefit communities where they live and work. Whether they’re helping plant green infrastructure or virtually mapping remote locations to support disaster response, employees receive paid time off work and volunteer grants to engage in their communities — as individuals or as a team.

In 2024:

15% of employees reported participation in volunteerism.

Employees’ volunteer hours are matched up to $400 in financial contributions and personal donations up to $500 annually. In 2024, the Matching Program contributed nearly $68,000 to support community organizations.

Our communities

We invest in the well-being of our communities to create measurable social impact. Actively supporting our neighbours and future generations through national partnerships, scholarships, and local grants helps us fulfill our purpose of building a better world by helping our clients and communities adapt and thrive.

  • We support equity-deserving groups and employee’s dependents in their pursuit of post-secondary education in communities across Canada through our scholarship programs
  • We improve and support the well-being and resiliency of people across Canada — and their pets — through strategic partnerships
  • We support the communities where we live and work through our network of broker partners, employees, and community relationships

 

Read more about our investment in our communities


Supporting charitable organizations and programs

To create social impact, the programs we consider for support align with our ambition to build a better world by helping our clients and communities adapt and thrive, focusing on two areas:

  • Addressing systemic barriers that prevent marginalized and underserved communities from achieving their potential in society and the economy
  • Helping Canadian communities, households, and businesses understand, prepare for, and respond to climate-related risks

In addition to supporting initiatives that align to our areas of focus, successful applicants must be Canadian charities that provide direct community service and have measurable social outcomes in Canada.

We don't consider:

  • Political, fraternal, heritage, or religious organizations
  • Boards of trade, chambers of commerce, service clubs, or third-party fundraisers
  • Individual pursuits
  • Sports teams
  • Schools, daycares, student travel, or playgrounds
  • Endowment or memorial campaigns
  • Advertising or promotional initiatives
  • Statues, monuments, artwork, publications, or production projects

 

To share your initiative with Definity, complete and submit our community investment request form. Requests are reviewed quarterly.

Questions? Please contact our Community Investment team at communityinvestment@definity.com.

Scholarships

Definity Equity Scholarship Program

We are committed to an inclusive and equitable culture. To support this commitment, the Definity Equity Scholarship program is available to members of equity-deserving groups. The scholarships provide tuition support to students attending post-secondary institutions in Canada who are pursuing a diploma or degree in a field that works toward our goal of making insurance better.

  • 10 scholarships available each year, recipients are determined by committee review
  • Students should have a 75% GPA in their last full school year
  • Each scholarship is $5,000 and is added to the student’s account at their post-secondary institution

Applications are open from July 1 to August 22, 2025.

Definity Dependent Children Scholarship

Every year, we provide $40,000 in academic scholarships for the dependent children of Definity employees.

To apply for a scholarship, complete an application form. Questions? Please email scholarships@definity.com.

DEFINITY INSURANCE FOUNDATION

The Definity Insurance Foundation is a Canadian registered charity, financed with $100 million of the proceeds of the demutualization of the Economical Mutual Insurance Company to represent past and present policyholders and employees. The Foundation has been entrusted with designing and supporting community initiatives that reduce the effects of social and economic inequality, increase the health and well-being of marginalized people, and slow the speed of climate change.1

Since 2022, Definity has contributed to and collaborated closely with the Foundation to identify and recommend potential causes for the Foundation to fund, and to make contributions to charities whose activities are aligned to the strategic priorities of both organizations.

Learn more about the Definity Insurance Foundation

1. Definity Insurance Foundation is not an affiliate of Definity Insurance Company, as defined under the Insurance Companies Act (Canada).

Prism badge

Our commitment to enabling climate-ready communities and driving equitable economic participation has earned Definity the PRISM Certification demonstrating our dedication to building strong corporate-community partnerships.