The Giller Foundation has received a C$4 million (about $2.9 million), multi-year gift from the Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation in honor of the late Hilary Weston, building on a previous C$1 million (about $717,310) contribution from the Weston family, Quill & Quire reported. Last summer, the C$100,000 (about $71,730) Giller Prize's financial future looked uncertain after it ended its 20-year partnership with lead sponsor Scotiabank in early 2025. The prize continued to operate through the fall, with Souvankham Thammavongsa being named the winner.
In announcing the gift, the Giller Foundation said: "The investment will help broaden the prize's reach and impact by increasing support for Canadian authors, expanding a national book tour featuring shortlisted authors, and enhancing digital engagement and book club programming."
Elana Rabinovitch, executive director of the Giller Foundation, said that the foundation is "deeply grateful" for the donation, which "will help ensure that Canadian writers and their stories continue to shape and strengthen our national identity."
Alannah Weston commented: "As both an author and a champion of the literary arts, our mother understood the power of storytelling to expand our thinking and help us make sense of the world around us. This gift reflects her enduring commitment to literature and Canadian voices, and to ensuring they are supported, celebrated and widely shared for years to come."
The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation also supports literary prizes through the Writers' Trust of Canada, which administers two annual awards for nonfiction named for the Westons: the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction and the Hilary Weston International Award.