Role of the Fondation du CSSS du Granit in the funding ecosystem
The Granit Health and Social Services Centre Foundation is a charitable foundation created on 1 January 2010 following the merger of two earlier hospital foundations. Based in Lac-Mégantic, it supports the Centre de santé et de services sociaux du Granit (CSSS du Granit) and its facilities — hospital, long-term care centres (CHSLD), local community and first-line services (CLSC) and home-care services — serving the population of the MRC du Granit.
The Foundation’s core role is to collect donations from individuals, companies and partner organizations and to reinvest these funds in equipment purchases and development projects that improve care and services. According to the “Où vont vos dons ?” section, it has invested close to 1.94 million dollars between 2010 and early 2026 in addition to the 1.78 million dollars invested by its predecessor foundations between 1986 and 2009.
General funding priorities and beneficiaries
The Foundation finances primarily the acquisition of leading-edge medical equipment and improvements to care environments. Examples documented on the site include mammography units, echographs and echocardiographs, ophthalmology equipment, anaesthesia machines, scanners, mobile showers for CHSLD, specialized furniture and therapeutic mattresses, as well as the renovation of birth rooms and paediatric spaces.
Beyond equipment, the Foundation also supports projects in social geriatrics, psychosocial activities in CHSLD and Maison des Aînés, mental health programs, early childhood and family initiatives, and first-line CLSC and home-care services. Beneficiaries are the departments and services of the CSSS du Granit and certain local community partners closely linked to health and social services.
Funding mechanisms and campaigns
To sustain its interventions, the Foundation runs an annual fundraising campaign and takes part in regional lotteries such as the Grand Tirage de la Santé and Tirage Voyage. It also relies on payroll deduction programs with major employers, corporate sponsorships, planned gifts and In Memoriam donations. These mechanisms provide recurring revenues that are then allocated each year to priority investments identified with the health institution.
Governance, ethics and transparency
The Foundation is overseen by a volunteer board of directors and supported by an administrative agent who ensures day-to-day operations. It highlights strong ethical values — honesty, fairness, non-discrimination, empathy and mutual aid — in its relations with donors and partners. The detailed annual breakdown of funded projects on the “Where your donations go” page serves as a transparency and accountability tool for the local community.
Supported audiences and overall impact
By equipping the CSSS du Granit with modern technology and improving living environments in CHSLD and community care, the Foundation helps maintain high-quality, nearby health services for residents of the Granit RCM and for patients from neighbouring regions. Its financial support allows the institution to acquire equipment and develop projects that regular public budgets cannot always cover, reinforcing the resilience and attractiveness of local health services.