CRA-Registered Canadian Charity

Helping students, strengthening communities, and supporting dignified local impact

The Diewert Foundation is focused on reducing food insecurity among high school and post-secondary students, promoting responsible alcohol awareness, and supporting community healing, remembrance, and long-term charitable giving.

Support the Foundation Our Programs
CRA-Registered Charity Student Food Security Responsible Alcohol Awareness Community Scholarships Canadian Operations

Early traction from our pilot programs

These numbers reflect real participation from our founding phase — not projections or simulations.

246+
Student sign-ups in our founding pilot phase
$1.50
Per transaction flows to students and the Foundation
CRA
Registered Canadian charity — donation receipts issued
80%
Of merchant ad fees returned to community as vouchers
For University Foundations & Institutions

Activate campus funding in minutes

University foundations and institutional stakeholders can deploy the Diewert Foundation's student food security model on their campus through a frictionless white-label onboarding sequence.

No grant applications. No committee approval delays. The Cocendo commerce model funds the program automatically — every merchant transaction in your network generates recurring charitable support for your students.

Activate Campus Funding

What white-label activation includes

  • Branded student digital wallet via mpass.live
  • Integration with campus merchant network
  • Automatic $1.00 per transaction to student grocery access
  • CRA-compliant revenue separation and reporting
  • Onboarding support — live within 2 weeks

Charitable support where it's needed most

The Diewert Foundation directs charitable support toward student food access, scholarships, and grassroots community initiatives. We work alongside Cocendo's commerce platform to create a sustainable funding model that supports long-term social good.

Our approach is built on the belief that communities become stronger when local commerce, charitable giving, and everyday participation are connected in one practical model — not separated into isolated campaigns.

We also support community remembrance and healing through BAM.memorial, offering a respectful digital space for families and communities to remember those they have lost.

Foundation Focus Areas

  • Student food security — high school and post-secondary
  • Digital voucher assistance through mpass.live
  • Long-term scholarship and endowment programs
  • Responsible alcohol use awareness and designated driver programs
  • Prevention of drinking and driving through community education
  • Grassroots community initiative grants
  • Community remembrance through BAM.memorial
  • Stable charitable funding via the Cocendo commerce model
  • Electronic donation receipts — CRA compliant

In honour of Dr. Diewert

The Diewert Foundation carries the name of Dr. Diewert — a person whose life exemplified service, generosity, and a commitment to the wellbeing of others. The Foundation was established to honour that legacy by directing support toward students, communities, and causes that reflect those values.

The Foundation's dual mandate — student food security and responsible alcohol awareness — is rooted in Dr. Diewert's belief that community health requires both opportunity and safety. Supporting young people means ensuring they have access to food, education, and the conditions that allow them to thrive without the dangers of impaired driving and alcohol-related harm.

Every program the Foundation runs, every voucher issued, and every scholarship awarded is a continuation of that commitment.

The Foundation's Dual Mandate

  • Addressing student food insecurity with dignity and discretion — through digital vouchers, the mmercato student hub, and direct community support
  • Promoting responsible alcohol use and preventing impaired driving — through education, community partnerships, and the BAM.memorial remembrance initiative
  • Building scholarship endowments that create lasting educational opportunity for future generations
  • Supporting community healing through remembrance, grief support, and prevention programs

Practical programs with lasting impact

Each program the Diewert Foundation runs is designed to address a real and persistent need in the community — with digital tools that make it easier to participate and easier to sustain over time.

Student Food Access

We provide targeted food support for high school and post-secondary students facing food insecurity. Access is delivered through digital vouchers on mpass.live and through the mmercato.com student hub — discreet, dignified, and easy to use at participating local merchants.

Digital Voucher Assistance

Through mpass.live and mmercato.com, eligible students and community members receive digital vouchers redeemable at local merchants within the Cocendo network. The digital format removes stigma and makes access straightforward.

Scholarship & Endowment

Our approach addresses urgent needs today while building for tomorrow.

Phase 1 (Current): Direct funding for student food security and immediate access programs.

Phase 2 (Growing): Transition to perpetual annual scholarship awards through endowment funds built via sustained Cocendo ecosystem support — creating lasting educational opportunity for future generations.

Community Remembrance

The Foundation supports BAM.memorial — a respectful digital space for community remembrance, family legacy, and collective healing. Families can share stories, photos, and tributes in a dignified and secure environment.

Responsible Alcohol Awareness

We fund and support programs that promote responsible alcohol consumption and provide alternatives to impaired driving. Through community education, partnerships with local organizations, and the BAM.memorial remembrance initiative, we work to prevent alcohol-related tragedies before they occur.

Sustainable giving through everyday commerce

A portion of activity in the Cocendo ecosystem supports the Foundation's charitable work. This creates a stable flow of community benefit over time — allowing donations, commerce, and impact to work together in one coordinated model.

It means supporters don't need to make a separate donation to contribute. Simply shopping at local merchants, using mpass.live, or participating in the ecosystem creates a pathway to charitable support.

Learn About Cocendo
1

Merchants join Cocendo

Independent local businesses participate in the Cocendo commerce ecosystem, serving customers through digital tools and shared programs.

2

Community shops local

Customers shop at participating merchants, earning loyalty points and contributing to the shared local ecosystem through everyday spending.

3

Platform activity supports the Foundation

A portion of commerce activity flows to the Diewert Foundation, creating a consistent and predictable source of charitable funding.

4

Students and communities benefit

Foundation funds go directly to student food programs, digital voucher assistance, scholarships, and community initiatives.

Students and communities across Canada

Our primary beneficiaries are students and community members who face barriers to food security, education, and dignified participation in local life.

High School Students

Students experiencing food insecurity during the school year, supported through digital vouchers on mpass.live and access to the mmercato student hub.

Post-Secondary Students

University and college students facing financial barriers to food access and education, supported through voucher programs, scholarships, and mmercato.com.

Local Communities

Neighbourhoods that benefit from stronger local commerce, charitable programs, and a shared ecosystem that keeps resources working locally.

Bereaved Families

Families and friends who wish to honour loved ones through BAM.memorial — a respectful space for community remembrance and healing.

Connected to the Cocendo network

The Diewert Foundation is the charitable core of the Cocendo ecosystem. Each platform in the network plays a role in supporting students, merchants, and communities.

Cocendo's commerce infrastructure is what makes the Foundation's sustainable model possible. By connecting local merchants, digital tools, and charitable programs in one ecosystem, we create a structure where doing business locally also means doing good locally.

This is not a campaign or a one-time fundraiser. It is a model designed to deliver ongoing community benefit as a built-in outcome of everyday commerce — not an afterthought.

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Common Questions

Is the Diewert Foundation a registered Canadian charity?

Yes. The Diewert Foundation is a CRA-registered Canadian charity. Eligible donations receive an official electronic donation receipt in accordance with the Income Tax Act (Canada). For questions about receipts or registration, contact operations@cocendo.com.

Who benefits from the Foundation's programs?

Our primary beneficiaries are high school and post-secondary students facing food insecurity and financial barriers. We also support community members through local initiatives and bereaved families through BAM.memorial.

How does shopping locally support the Foundation?

A portion of commerce activity in the Cocendo ecosystem flows to the Diewert Foundation. When you shop at participating local merchants and use mpass.live, you contribute to Foundation programs without making a separate donation.

What are digital vouchers and how do students access them?

Digital vouchers are redeemable credits delivered through mpass.live that can be used at participating local merchants. They provide a discreet and dignified way for eligible students to access food and essential items without carrying physical vouchers or cash.

How does BAM.memorial relate to the Foundation?

BAM.memorial is a community remembrance platform supported by the Foundation. It provides families and communities with a respectful digital space to share memories, photos, and tributes for loved ones. The Foundation supports its operation as part of its broader community healing mission.

Can I make a direct donation to the Foundation?

Yes. Contact us at operations@cocendo.com to make a direct donation or to set up a recurring contribution. All eligible donations receive an official CRA donation receipt. You can also support our mission by shopping at local Cocendo merchants and using mpass.live.

How does the scholarship program work?

Our scholarship and endowment initiatives are funded through the sustained charitable model built into the Cocendo ecosystem. Phase 1 focuses on immediate student food security. Phase 2 transitions to perpetual annual scholarship awards through endowment funds. Details on eligibility and application will be published as the program launches. Contact operations@cocendo.com for updates.

How much of my contribution goes to programs vs. operations?

The Cocendo ecosystem operates on a transparent model where a portion of every merchant transaction flows directly to Diewert Foundation programs, with the remainder supporting platform operations, technology infrastructure, and sustainability. For direct donations to the Diewert Foundation, 100% of contributions go to charitable programs — administrative costs are covered separately through the Cocendo commerce model.

What is the Foundation's responsible alcohol awareness mandate?

The Diewert Foundation's mandate includes promoting responsible alcohol use and preventing impaired driving through community education and partnerships. This work is connected to BAM.memorial, which honours those lost to alcohol-related tragedies, residential school trauma, and other community losses. Prevention and remembrance are two sides of the same mission.

Join us in building something lasting

Whether you are a local business, a donor, a community organization, or a student in need — there is a place for you in the Cocendo ecosystem and the Diewert Foundation's mission.

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