Crohn's and Colitis Canada is a registered Canadian charity focused on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Operating across all provinces and territories, the organization combines research funding, patient and caregiver support, health professional education, and public awareness to improve outcomes for people living with IBD.
Role of Crohn's and Colitis Canada in the funding ecosystem
The charity administers a diversified portfolio of funding programs. Under its Research section, it highlights "Funded Research" streams such as finding causes and triggers, discovering novel treatments, helping manage symptoms, and getting the best care, as well as large national initiatives like the GEM Project and the PACE Network. Dedicated "Apply for Funding" pages and guidance for "IBD Researchers and Healthcare Providers" confirm that Crohn's and Colitis Canada offers competitive research grants with specific eligibility requirements and application deadlines.
Beyond investigator-led research, the organization invests in capacity-building for health professionals. Through the Canadian IBD Nursing (CANIBD) community of practice, it supports clinical nursing excellence and provides research and travel grants, fellowships, and education opportunities for nurses specializing in IBD. This helps disseminate best practices and strengthens multidisciplinary care teams across Canada.
Support for students and people living with IBD
Under "Support for You", Crohn's and Colitis Canada runs IBD Scholarship programs that provide financial assistance to students living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. The site includes application information, scholarship forms, FAQs, and lists of past recipients, showing an established and recurring scholarship stream. These awards complement a wide range of non-financial supports such as the MyGut app, peer support programs, educational webinars, resource hubs, youth wellness initiatives, and summer camps.
Publics accompanied and overall impact
The organization serves several key audiences: people newly diagnosed with IBD, children and youth and their families, adults managing long-term disease, students pursuing education, and the clinical and research communities that care for them. It also works with partner organizations and industry supporters to co-fund strategic research and knowledge-translation projects. National publications such as research reports, impact of IBD reports, and annual reports provide transparency on how donated funds are invested in grants, scholarships, and support programs.
Transparency, governance and accountability
Crohn's and Colitis Canada maintains formal governance and accountability structures, including a board of directors, strategic leadership team, and detailed policies on privacy, whistleblowing, conduct, and accessibility. Annual and financial reports, donor recognition pages, and compliance with Imagine Canada’s Standards Program underscore its commitment to ethical fundraising and responsible management of the grant and scholarship funds it distributes.