Role of the Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation is a charitable foundation dedicated to securing philanthropic support for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel’s largest level-one trauma center. From its base in Canada, the foundation mobilizes individual, corporate and legacy giving to fund medical priorities that receive limited government support, ensuring the hospital can sustain cutting-edge care for over one million patients each year.
Funds raised are transferred to Shaare Zedek to support a wide portfolio of needs: advanced diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, expansion and renewal of critical care units, clinical and basic research projects, and professional training for physicians and nurses. The foundation highlights strategic hospital assets such as the Huberfeld Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Helmsley Cancer Center, the Jesselson Heart Center, emergency and trauma services, and the Mental Health Resilience Center as key destinations for donor investment.
Funding themes and types of support
- Research: Donor gifts underwrite clinical and translational research, including work on new cancer drugs, gene therapies, medical cannabis for neurological conditions, nano‑particle eye drops, and studies on BRCA‑1 genetic mutations.
- Equipment and infrastructure: Contributions help purchase incubators, MRI systems, ventilators, monitoring devices, and other life‑saving equipment, as well as support redevelopment of essential hospital areas.
- Scholarships and education: The foundation finances scholarships and fellowships that allow medical staff to pursue advanced training in Israel and abroad, alongside CME seminars, simulation workshops and community education.
- Designated projects: Donors can direct support to specific centers of excellence across cardiology, oncology, neonatology, emergency medicine, women and infant health, genetics, and mental health.
Donor engagement and giving vehicles
The foundation offers multiple ways to contribute, including online donations, tribute and memorial cards, corporate sponsorships, special events such as ski days and poker tournaments, and opportunities to host peer‑led fundraisers. Its planned giving program encourages bequests and other legacy gifts through the Legacy Zedek Donor Circle, providing recognition to donors whose estates or wills support the hospital’s long‑term sustainability.
Stewardship policies emphasize transparent reporting and donor recognition, including tax receipts, donor walls, newsletters and annual charts on revenue and transfers to the hospital. Through these mechanisms, the Canadian Shaare Zedek Hospital Foundation functions as a key funding partner, channeling Canadian philanthropy into medical innovation, patient care and health education in Jerusalem.