Role of the FIUSMM in the funding ecosystem
The Fondation de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (FIUSMM) is the philanthropic arm of the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, serving primarily the East-end of Montreal. As a non-profit foundation, it raises and distributes private funds to support mental health initiatives that are not covered by public budgets. Its funding strengthens innovation and excellence in clinical research, patient care and services, and the academic and teaching mission of the Institute.
Through annual campaigns, major gifts and events, the FIUSMM finances a portfolio of projects ranging from frontline crisis intervention to long-term recovery and social reintegration. Donations help improve access to care, develop new therapeutic approaches, and create more humane and recovery-oriented environments for people living with mental health challenges.
Main funding themes and sectors
- Clinical research – The foundation supports applied research projects carried out at the research centre of the IUSMM. Funds are used to welcome promising young researchers, acquire cutting-edge equipment, supplement salaries and support studies that directly inform clinical practice. Examples include the Research Chair in Mental Health and Work, self-management tools like “Aller mieux à ma façon”, avatar therapy using virtual reality, studies on physical activity, and the BIOBanque Signature.
- Patient care and services – FIUSMM finances initiatives that complement medical treatment but are not financed by government budgets, such as therapeutic and social activities, art therapy, community meals, cultural outings, animal-assisted therapy, food bank services, a basic-needs store for patients transitioning to independent living, and holiday drives like the Guignolée de Noël.
- Academic mission – The foundation also invests in training and knowledge transfer. It funds the Academic Mission of the IUSMM through support for the Centre d’apprentissage Santé et Rétablissement (CASR), clinical placements and fellowships, excellence scholarships for master’s and PhD students, and activities that disseminate best practices in mental health care.
General approach to funding and impact
FIUSMM does not operate as a public grant council; instead, it works closely with the Institute’s clinical teams, researchers and university partners to identify priority projects and channel donations where needs are greatest. The foundation emphasizes initiatives that improve quality of life, foster social inclusion, and support durable recovery for users of the Institute and their families.
Impact is documented through annual activity reports and stories of beneficiaries and researchers. The foundation highlights concrete outcomes such as increased crisis-bed capacity, improved living environments, access to training opportunities, reduced isolation and the development of innovative clinical tools used in Quebec and internationally.
History and evolution of the organization
Created in 1982 as the Fondation Guillaume-Lahaise, the organization became the Fondation de l’Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine in 1993, before adopting its current name with the transformation of the hospital into the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal. Over the years it has led several major fundraising campaigns, created high-profile events such as the Fire & Ice benefit cocktail and the Golf & Cycling Day, and launched targeted initiatives like the mobile grocery project during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the FIUSMM continues to expand its reach through the multi-year campaign “Raising our heads, together”, which aims to finance key projects including the relocation of the crisis centre and the strengthening of research, care and reintegration services across the territory.
Supported audiences and overall impact
The foundation’s primary beneficiaries are patients and their relatives served by the IUSMM and the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, a population marked by higher rates of mental illness and social vulnerability. By supporting research, care, education and community initiatives, the FIUSMM contributes to a broader movement to reduce stigma, promote recovery and make mental health services more accessible, both in Quebec and beyond.