TB Vets Charitable Foundation is a long‑standing, donor‑funded charity dedicated to strengthening the respiratory frontline in British Columbia and beyond. Originating in the 1940s as an initiative of tuberculosis veterans, it has evolved into a leading provincial foundation that channels community donations into grants for respiratory equipment, research, education and patient support.
Role in the funding ecosystem
TB Vets acts as a specialized grantmaker for respiratory health. Through its Respiratory Grants program, it provides funding to hospitals, universities, search and rescue organizations and related institutions. Grants are used to purchase state‑of‑the‑art respiratory equipment, such as adult, transport and newborn ventilators and airway management devices, and to support programs that improve respiratory care and patient outcomes across BC’s regions.
The foundation is widely recognized as a primary charitable sponsor of respiratory equipment in the province, awarding over half a million dollars annually in respiratory grants and having invested more than $16 million in respiratory grants since its inception. It also supports recreation therapy for isolated tuberculosis patients and community outreach initiatives like free fitness and educational webinars.
Research and education support
Beyond equipment, TB Vets funds Canadian respiratory and tuberculosis research at leading institutions including Vancouver General Hospital, the University of British Columbia, Royal Columbian Hospital and Simon Fraser University. Its support includes endowed or named research positions, targeted projects on mechanical ventilation, diaphragm pacing technologies, tuberculosis drug development and risk‑assessment tools.
In education, the foundation provides bursaries to students in the Respiratory Therapy program at Thompson Rivers University, and funds patient simulators and other training technologies for TRU, UBC, BCIT and hospital training centres. These investments help ensure a highly skilled respiratory workforce for both urban and rural communities.
Grant programs and impact
TB Vets runs recurring competitive calls for Respiratory Grants with clearly published application deadlines and decision dates. Recent grant cycles list numerous award recipients and funded projects, demonstrating transparent allocation of donor dollars. Over the past six years alone, the foundation has granted approximately $5 million, contributing equipment and programs that collectively benefit hundreds of thousands of patients.
Transparency and governance
The foundation is incorporated under the Canadian Not‑for‑profit Corporations Act and registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. It publishes audited financial statements and annual reports, highlighting cost per dollar raised, program expenditures and overall impact. A leadership team and board of directors oversee strategy, stewardship of funds and alignment with the organization’s veteran‑rooted legacy of service.
