Allan Northcott

Allan Northcott is the president of Max Bell Foundation. He has a deep understanding of Canadian civil society developed over more than 25 years in post-secondary, think tank, and foundation settings. He has advised on strategy, communications, and program and project design for a range of organizations, including the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Imagine Canada, Philanthropic Foundations Canada (where he served as board chair from 2018 to 2020), the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers’ Network (where he served as board chair from 2009 to 2012), Pemsel Case Foundation, the Agora Foundation, and the Association of Grantmakers in Alberta. Over those years, he has developed an extensive network of contacts within Canada’s community of non-profit organizations.

Allan has been with Max Bell Foundation since 1998. He has overseen the development and execution of more than 250 grants aimed at strengthening democracy and informing policy in health, education, and the environment across Canada. His responsibilities also include oversight of the foundation’s $100- million-plus+ investment portfolio and directing the foundation’s Public Policy Training Institute.

Before joining Max Bell Foundation, Allan taught a range of communications courses at the University of Calgary, the University of Illinois, and Old Sun College on the Siksika Nation. He worked at the Calgary-based policy think tank Canada West Foundation, where his responsibilities included managing a project aimed at ensuring broad citizen access to the internet.