Mission & Fund Guidelines

To help family members at their time of urgent need.

a. “Family” shall be recognized as a living, breathing, evolving unit.

b. Family Council shall define family eligibility in terms of relationships rather than biology, i.e. not moral judgments or “legal” documentation.

c. The Trustee has the power to appoint as beneficiaries, individuals who, in the opinion of the Family Council, meet this definition of “Family” and warrant support. However, the direct beneficiaries/recipients of the fund are only those persons related to Bart 

and/or Hilda by blood or adoption. Step-children or others who might be included by the Family Council as part of a potential recipient’s “Family” when considering possible funding for that recipient only qualify as such until they reach age 19. The applicant in that case is the step-parent or other family member, not the minor stepchild. 

a. The Fund is a bridge of compassionate assistance when other sources of help/funding are not available, and is intended to be used only when the recipient’s own resources have been utilized to as significant an extent as reasonably possible.

b. It should be used to meet an urgent need as timely as possible, always keeping in mind this is family helping family, hopefully over several generations.

c. Using an old expression, the Fund is to be “a welcome port in a storm”. 

d. The maximum “help/support” disbursement for any situation is $10,000. 

e. In certain extraordinary circumstances that could warrant “special” attention, Family Council may, at its discretion, provide help/support that exceeds the $10,000 maximum. Under no circumstance should this supplemental amount exceed $5,000.

f. All disbursements exceeding $10,000 require unanimous agreement by members of Family Council as well as the Trustee.

g. Every five years, beginning in January, 2026, the Family Council is to consult with the Trustee to consider the impact of inflation on maximum disbursements. The Trustee will consider the rate of inflation as reflected by the Ontario CPI over the period, along with the number of years remaining in the life of the fund. The Trustee and the Family Council may then adjust the maximums accordingly.

They are stand-ins for Bart and Hilda Fulcher, carrying on with their same spirit, flexibility, and heart.  As needed, the current members of the Family Council will replace retiring members from the Families.

a. Good listener, non-judgemental, empathetic, caring, insightful, thoughtful, action and results-oriented, collaborative, respectful, and possessing a sense of humour.

b. “Team” player with good common sense.

a. Structure – there is NO hierarchy. All members are peers, working together as “the right people doing the right thing at the right time.” 

b. Team Building – there is a need for a common bond to ensure members feel they have the freedom to speak openly and honestly – having a “safety net” to do so without fear of judgment.  Family Council members should get together twice a year, whether or not there has been a specific need to do so.

c. Leadership – Family Council will have a “floating” leadership role whereby the member who introduces a subject or issue for Family Council deliberation will perform the steps of identifying the need, setting the agenda and the meeting date and time for discussing the need and determining the appropriate “helping” hand.

d. Family Council Size – five to six members representing various families (excluding immediate family relationships such as parent-child, brother-sister) and at least two different generations.

e. Family Council Quorum – all decisions regarding eligibility and the amount of help/support disbursed require a quorum of four members.

f. Family Council Disbursement Recommendations – all recommendations for help/support disbursements must be approved by a majority of Family Council members.

g. Bart and Hilda Family Fund Disbursements – final approval of help/support disbursements are to be made by the Trustee and funds to be disbursed by the Trustee.

h. Payments from the Fund will be made either to the family member directly or to the third parties to satisfy an obligation of that family member (i.e. hospital bills, etc.).

i. Confidentiality -  anything shared with the Family Council will be kept in complete confidence. 

The Fund’s goal is to provide assistance to Fulcher and Bewick families in accordance with the “Fund Guidelines” noted herein, for up to 40 years beginning January 1, 2021 and ending on December 31, 2060. Any monies remaining in the Fund on Dec 31, 2060, will be donated to the Fulcher Foundation.