The Brockville Foundation was established in 1974 by a group of community leaders with a modest financial endowment.

From 1974 to the 2000, the Foundation made small grants from the investment income that was earned on the fund. In 2001, the Board of Directors decided to join the rapidly growing Canadian community foundation movement, and re-established the organization as the Brockville Community Foundation.

The newly reborn Foundation quickly began to grow its endowed funds, and established a stream of revenue from a charity lottery licence to increase the amount of money it was able to award in grants. Since 2001, the Brockville Community Foundation has granted about $50,000 a year to local charities. To date, the Foundation has contributed about $400,000 to support local initiatives.

By 2002, thanks to a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Foundation hired its first ever Executive Director and focused energy on promoting itself in the community.  The Foundation also facilitated the collection of donations and grants on behalf of the community to restore the historic Fulford Fountain in downtown Brockville.