Founded in 2002, Health Care Foundation of St. John’s (Heath Care Foundation) works to improve healthcare services in Newfoundland and Labrador. The charity grants funds to nine hospitals and health centres in the Eastern Health network. Health Care Foundation provides grants to buy new medical equipment, improve patient comfort, and support research not funded by the government. Health Care Foundation transferred $2.8m to Eastern Health in F2019.  

In F2019, the three largest areas funded by grants were cardiac technology, senior’s healthcare, and treatment for blood-borne illnesses. Health Care Foundation allocated $550k, or 19% of grants, toward the purchase of three new cardiac ultrasound machines in F2019.

The charity provided $500k, or 18% of grants, to senior’s healthcare. These grants funded the Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) project, an initiative to make hospitals more senior-friendly. Health Care Foundation states that hospitals need to be better equipped to handle patients with cognitive limitations, mobility issues, or impaired vision.

Health Care Foundation raised $354k, or 13% of grants, to renovate an ambulatory care unit into a new patient facility for those with blood-related illnesses. According to the charity, funds will support new entertainment consoles, coffee stations, and treatment chairs to improve patient comfort.

The remainder of grants funded a variety of programs, including women’s health, orthopedics, mental health, and rehabilitative care. Health Care Foundation also provides funding to improve patient experience at hospitals. In F2019, the charity invested in four “Peaceful Ports,” private spaces in hospitals that encourage patients and their families to feel at ease.

Health Care Foundation of St. John’s is a medium-sized charity, with $4.8m in donations and special events revenue in F2019. This represents a 45% increase from $3.3m in F2018. The increase in revenue was largely due to $1.3m in deferred revenue received in F2019.

Administrative costs are 18% of total revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 10% of donations and special events revenue. This means that total overhead spending is 27%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 73 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

Health Care Foundation has $11.6m in total funding reserves. This results in a program cost coverage ratio of 415%, meaning the charity can cover more than 4 years of annual program costs with its reserves.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Health Care Foundation of St. John’s for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 17, 2020 by Eric Zhao.