Item - 2020.TA9.3

The Board of Directors of the Toronto Atmospheric Fund:

1.  Approved Toronto Atmospheric Fund's 2021 Consolidated Operating Budget as set out in Attachment 1 to the report (October 23, 2020) from the Director of Finance.

Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF)’s 2021 Operating Budget is presented for Board consideration and approval.

A key driver of the proposed 2021 Budget is having three endowments totalling approximately $90 million. Revenues are based on: historically conservative assumptions for the performance on marketable securities (5.5% annual return), a larger portfolio of Direct Investments in keeping with the Target Portfolio and risk/return expectations; and ambitious expectation for attracting external revenues for specific projects.

Expenditures are based on: the available resources, including investment proceeds and external funds (which are not spent until raised); compliance with the Payout Ratio established to protect the endowments; the minimum grant making and maximum administrative expense requirements. The proposed budget reflects 15 core staff positions (an increase of two) and 15 term contract positions of which five would be supported by external revenues.

The 2021 Business Plan to advance climate solutions for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), which will be presented to the Board at the first meeting in 2021, will be crafted in keeping with the proposed 2021 Consolidated Operating Budget, and the fund-specific requirements.