Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Foundation for the Works of the Hôtel-Dieu of Saint-Basile Inc. (FOHD)

The Foundation for the Works of the Hôtel-Dieu of Saint-Basile Inc. (FOHD) is a non-profit, registered charitable corporation based in Saint-Basile, New Brunswick. Incorporated by letters patent on 31 January 1994, it was created to ensure the continuity and financial sustainability of the works initiated by the Religieuses hospitalières de Saint-Joseph at the Hôtel-Dieu of Saint-Basile, in particular the Résidence Hôtel-Dieu for seniors. The foundation’s core role is to support the board of the Œuvres de l’Hôtel-Dieu Saint‑Joseph Inc. by meeting its financial needs.

FOHD does not operate as a competitive grant program with public calls for proposals; instead, it channels community generosity into targeted financial support for projects and infrastructure linked to the Hôtel-Dieu. Examples highlighted on the site include financing the refurbishing and equipment of the residents’ lounge, upgrading the sound system in the Salle Rose, and fitting out new suites to increase accommodation capacity. Through these interventions, the foundation contributes directly to the quality of life of residents and to the preservation of a historic institution that remains central to the region.

The foundation mobilizes a wide range of philanthropic tools. Donors can contribute via immediate gifts in cash or in kind, In Memoriam donations, trust funds, securities, bequests, life insurance policies and other deferred gifts. The information booklet clearly distinguishes between immediate and deferred donations and explains how each can be structured to maximize both philanthropic impact and tax advantages. As a registered charity, FOHD issues official tax receipts for donations of 10 dollars or more, and can provide cumulative annual receipts.

To sustain its mission, the foundation also organizes fundraising activities such as the Boutique O’Grenier, bingos, memorial masses and special events. A formal recognition program classifies benefactors by cumulative gift levels, from “Friends” to “Eminent Benefactors”, and offers visibility on an honour roll, public acknowledgements, naming of rooms or suites, and invitations to receptions.

The Hôtel-Dieu of Saint-Basile is both a heritage site and a living care environment. By directing funds to the Résidence Hôtel-Dieu and associated works, the foundation supports seniors, vulnerable persons and the broader local and regional community. Its financial contributions help maintain and improve residential facilities, social spaces, equipment and services that respond to contemporary needs while preserving an important religious and cultural legacy in Madawaska.

Through its governance by a volunteer board of directors and close collaboration with the management of the Résidence Hôtel-Dieu and the Corporation des Œuvres de l’Hôtel-Dieu Saint‑Joseph inc., the foundation acts as a long-term financial partner dedicated to the continuity, adaptation and enhancement of the Hôtel-Dieu’s mission.