The Willowbank Foundation is the arm of Willowbank that sustains the National Historic Site and the School of Restoration Arts. It is the resources – the people, the assets, and the operating and capital funds – that provide the means by which Willowbank is able to grow and develop.

The Foundation is not the most visible part of Willowbank, but it is central to its success. It is the place where the staff and the Board, together with the Friends of Willowbank, connect with donors and sponsors to create a sustainable base for the institution. The Willowbank Foundation has its own activities, including private functions for the Board and for donors and sponsors, which reflect an appreciation of the input of time and money from this broad community of sponsors. 

The Foundation supports the activities of Friends of Willowbank, the place where the broadest number of people from across North America and the world can become involved and stay in touch with events and debates at Willowbank. It also carries out the major fundraising campaigns, connecting with generous individuals, corporations, foundations, and government granting agencies to seek the financial resources needed to keep the operation healthy and growing. 

The Foundation oversees both the operating and capital funding requirements of Willowbank. It also develops special bursaries and scholarships for students in the educational programs, and considers new initiatives related both to the National Historic Site and the School of Restoration Arts. Examples of the work of the Foundation include the successful securing of Ontario Trillium Funding for the new summer program in Documentation, as well as private support for an annual bursary related to student research at Willowbank.