The Knifewear Foundation

Knifewear has donations 50% of all knife sharpening proceeds since 2011, totalling $1,524,983 million donated to date*.

From the beginning, Candace and I have tried to leave things better than we found them, wherever possible. We aim to Sharpen Our Communities, meaning we want to make a positive impact on the communities intersecting with the Knifewear Group.
- Kevin Kent, Knifewear Founder and Knifenerd

View all

How it started

Established in 2023 by Knifewear founders Kevin and Candace, the Knifewear Foundation was created to increase our contributions from knife sharpening and to enhance our donation strategies.

Every year, 50% of all sharpening earnings are given to those in need. We began this initiative in 2011 to support tsunami relief in Japan and have continued ever since. Through our Knifewear Group, we have donated over $1.5 million to various organizations over the years.

What we are doing

To date we have donated $1,524,983 to causes in our communities such as Centre for Autism Services Alberta, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Skipping Stone Foundation, Operation Come Home, Growing Chefs, the Red Cross, Soul Food Street Farms and many more.

In addition to cash donations, Knifewear has done clothing drives, lent our social media and voice to causes we support, does training with our staff with organizations like Skipping Stone, and having our carbon footprint measured so we can work towards reducing it company-wide via policy changes and staff initiatives.

Whats next

We have a fantastic team taking on this challenge. Folks with a wide variety of backgrounds & life experiences, each providing their unique perspective & skills to this endeavour.

When we take in your knives for sharpening, know that we give half of the proceeds to charities focused on sharpening community wellbeing. Knifewear also works hard to make our shops and communities more inclusive, positive, and environmentally responsible.

Knifewear in action

$24 Challenge for Operation Come Home, February 2022

Many of us think nothing of spending $24 for a bottle of wine or a steak, but that's what the average OPeration Come Home client has to spend on groceries every week after their bills are paid. For one week, Knifewear staff tried to feed themselves on just $24 to raise donations, which were matched by the Knifewear Foundation.

Knife Sharpening Clothing Drives

Our stores run clothing drives yearly where customers can exchange new & lightly used winter or summer clothes in exchange for free knife sharpening services. Donated items are given to local organizations for distribution to those in need, including Operation Come Home, Boyle St. Services, Street Cats YYC, and more.

Protect Trans Kids T-Shirts

Our 'Protect Trans Kids' T-Shirt, designed by Mason Hastie, lets you show your support for trans folks with 100% of proceeds from these $35 shirts donated to Skipping Stone.

find more actions here

Our organization was honored to receive a donation from the Knifewear Foundation in February 2023. It helped us accomplish some important things to support Indigenous communities facing water challenges. One of our success stories that you made possible was the completion of our 4th cohort of Drinking Water Interns who came from First Nation communities in the North Shore Tribal Council.

- Jessica Rawn, Water First