Role of the CHUM Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The CHUM Foundation is the official philanthropic foundation of the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), one of the largest university hospital centres in North America. Created in 1998, it mobilizes individual, corporate and institutional donors to provide complementary funding that enables the CHUM and its research centre (CRCHUM) to stay at the forefront of medical knowledge, technologies and patient care.
Each year, the foundation conducts major campaigns, annual appeals and signature fundraising events, then redistributes the money raised to priority projects in care, research and teaching. In 2024‑2025, donors contributed more than $36.9M, of which about $17.4M was granted to the CHUM and CRCHUM. Over time, this support has financed hundreds of initiatives and helped position the CHUM among Canada’s top research hospitals.
Funding themes and types of support
The foundation funds a wide portfolio of initiatives that transform care, research and education:
- Clinical care and patient experience: acquisition of state‑of‑the‑art medical equipment and technologies (e.g. imaging systems, surgical robots, neuro‑lasers, echoguidance devices), as well as complementary services in areas such as palliative care, pain management and mental health to improve comfort, dignity and quality of life.
- Health research and innovation: start‑up grants and major funds for promising research programs in oncology, diabetes, neurology, cardiology, mental health and other fields. Examples include the ImagingT2D project for type 2 diabetes, the Guy Lafleur Fund for precision oncology and large‑scale gifts that strengthen CRCHUM’s capacity to recruit top scientists.
- Teaching and talent development: fellowships and professional development bursaries for physicians, researchers and clinical staff, immersive simulation‑based training, and support to the CHUM’s teaching and academy directorate to accelerate the creation and transfer of new knowledge.
- Strategic innovation initiatives: contributions to the CHUM’s precision health strategy, artificial intelligence projects, robotics, and other cutting‑edge interventions that aim to “act faster than disease”.
Target communities and beneficiaries
Funding from the CHUM Foundation primarily benefits patients treated at the CHUM, as well as the hospital’s clinical and research teams. Indirectly, these investments benefit the broader Québec population by improving standards of care, spreading innovations to other hospitals and training the next generation of specialists.
The foundation also supports structured donor communities through recognition circles (Leaders, Major Donors, Visionaries) and legacy giving programs. Large transformational gifts from individuals, families, corporations and other foundations are highlighted as key levers for multi‑year research and infrastructure initiatives.
Governance, transparency and campaigns
The foundation operates as a registered charitable foundation, publishing detailed annual reports with financial statements, breakdowns of contributions and lists of funded projects. Its major campaign “Act faster than disease” aims to raise $200M by 2028, with clear orientation toward innovation, technology and precision health.
By channelling philanthropy into strategic grants, equipment purchases and bursary programs, the CHUM Foundation plays a central role in financing the transformation of specialized and highly specialized care, research and teaching in Montréal and across Québec.