Celebrating Jim’s legacy and honouring his life-long passion for building community.
Thank you! Jim’s Fund has raised over
$173K
and dispersed $30K to our community
The Jim Button Community Builder Fund
The Fund was launched by Jim’s friends and colleagues at Evans Hunt, Village Brewery and Dave Kelly Live, along with Jim’s family, to honour Jim’s legacy and his lasting influence on all of us.
It commemorates Jim’s life-long passion for bringing people together to celebrate each other by supporting organizations and institutions dedicated to building community.
The Jim Button Community Builder Fund is administered by the Calgary Foundation and directed by a Fund Advisory Board selected by Jim’s family.
Jim was a community builder
Whether it was gathering friends and family, collaborating with colleagues or mentoring rising stars, Jim was always bringing people together and extracting the best out of them through his sheer enthusiasm and generosity of spirit.
He loved people, and people loved him.
Jim believed if you bring good people together, great things will happen. From endeavours like Circle, Best of Calgary and Superjocks to Evans Hunt, Village Brewery or Dave Kelly Live, Jim had a significant and lasting impact on the fabric of Calgary.
“My philosophy has always been that if you just keep giving, and don’t really care what the get is, you get back twice as much as you could ever possibly have imagined.”
— Jim Button
Jim Button Community Grants
The grants recognize excellence and leadership among organizations that demonstrate a commitment to building a strong Calgary community.
The Fund makes multi-year commitments so recipients can plan ahead, which improves the impact of the donor dollar.
So far, the Fund has dispersed $30,000 into our community.
Tax deductible gifts to the Fund are graciously accepted and can be made through the Calgary Foundation here.
2026 Fund Disbursements
Youth Central received $10,000 for the Jim Button Youth Grant
Every year, Youth Central engages more than 2,200 young people with events and programs that build confidence and social connections as well as essential life and leadership skills.
in 2026, Youth Central received $10,000 for the Jim Button Youth Grantwhich went to organizations and individuals aged 12 to 18 who have “big ideas” that will “make a splash in the community—just like Jim did.”
We love that.
Umoja Community Mosaic received $5000 to help women & girls
Umoja is the Swahili word for “unity/belonging.” Umoja Community Mosaic works with newcomers to Calgary and low-income families.
In 2026, Umoja received $5,000 for leadership curriculum and girls-only programming that encourages girls to stay in sports; supporting women as they build vocational skills; and/or hiring recent high school or post-secondary graduates to provide real-life work experience.
2025 Fund Disbursements
Jim Button Youth Grant established at Youth Central
Calgary Youth Foundation’s Macrogrant is now named the Jim Button Youth Grant, empowering young changemakers, dreamers, and doers - just like Jim would have wanted.
Supporting Umoja Community Mosaic
Umoja Community Mosaic builds community through workshops, leadership programs, and skill-building to foster connections, grow talent, and empower individuals. Learn more
Fund News
If you’d like to contact the Jim Button Community Builder Fund, click here.