The Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement catalyzes collective action with diverse leaders to solve major community challenges. These include ending poverty, building youth futures, fostering belonging, and addressing climate change. They believe that strengthening collective capacity to engage citizens and lead collaboratively contributes to building peace and a more equitable society. Their approach is guided by principles of community connections, place-based focus, hope and optimism, equity and inclusion, courage and learning, and action with impact.

The Tamarack Institute operates across Canada and around the world. They are a remote organization with decentralized offices throughout Canada, allowing team members to work within their own communities. Their mailing address is at the Kindred Centre for Peace Advancement at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. Tamarack has built a network of local community partnerships that reach nearly 60% of Canada's population. Their work extends beyond Canadian borders as they build capacity for changemakers globally.

The Institute's programs focus on five interconnected practice areas for community change. These include collective impact, community engagement, collaborative leadership, community innovation, and evaluating impact. They support close to 200 local communities through these practice areas. Their Vibrant Communities initiative bridges theory into practice through four pan-Canadian issue-based networks. These networks are Communities Ending Poverty, Communities Building Belonging, Communities Building Youth Futures, and Community Climate Transitions. They provide coaching, consulting, in-person and digital training, and publications to support change efforts.