Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Baycrest Foundation

Baycrest Foundation is the fundraising and philanthropic arm of Baycrest, an internationally recognized centre focused on aging and brain health in Toronto, Canada. The Foundation mobilizes individual, corporate, and legacy giving and channels these resources to strategic priorities across research, clinical care, innovation, and education related to dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and healthy aging. It fills gaps not covered by government funding, enabling new programs, expanded services, and leading-edge research infrastructure.

Through its support, Baycrest leads Canada’s largest federally funded dementia research program, houses the Rotman Research Institute for cognitive neuroscience, and serves as scientific headquarters for the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA). Donor funds also sustain the Kimel Family Centre for Brain Health & Wellness, a research-based community centre that operates as a "living lab" for dementia risk reduction programming.

A major part of the Foundation’s impact is realized through innovation platforms it powers. The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, functions as an innovation catalyst in the aging and brain health sector. CABHI reports more than 528 projects launched, 415 unique solutions supported, and approximately $185M in funding directed to advance innovative products, services, and technologies that improve quality of life for older adults and caregivers. These investments typically support innovators, researchers, and care providers to develop, test, and scale evidence-based solutions.

Within Baycrest itself, the Baycrest Innovation Office deploys philanthropic resources into technology-enabled care models, caregiver support tools, interactive engagement devices, and digital platforms such as Baycrest@Home. These initiatives demonstrate how donor dollars are translated into concrete, project-based improvements in care, engagement, and independence for older adults.

Beyond research and innovation, Baycrest Foundation funds a broad portfolio of care and educational activities. It backs residential and outpatient programs for older adults, memory and mental health services, and wellness and recreational programming in Baycrest’s congregate living environments. The Foundation also supports the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education and the Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care, which together train thousands of students, clinicians, and long-term care staff each year.

Philanthropic funding enables tele-education events, clinical teaching rounds, continuing education activities, public brain health literacy projects, and outreach through podcasts and public events such as the "Defy Dementia" series. By investing in education and training, the Foundation helps build a more skilled workforce and better-informed public capable of responding to the growing burden of dementia.

The Foundation operates as a registered Canadian charity with a published charitable registration number and a Donor Bill of Rights, reinforcing its commitment to ethical fundraising and responsible stewardship of gifts. It reports on impact through sections such as "Your Impact in 2023–2025," research, innovation, care, and education stories, and publications and financials. Dedicated teams for major gifts, corporate partnerships, legacy giving, and donor relations work to match donor interests with priority projects and ensure that contributions are used for their intended purposes.

Through this combination of strategic fundraising, targeted project funding, and transparent reporting, Baycrest Foundation plays a central role in financing advances in aging and brain health in Canada and beyond.