Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The Sackville Memorial Hospital Foundation Incorporated (SMHF)

The Sackville Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF) is a community-based charitable foundation dedicated to preserving, maintaining, and enhancing the quality of healthcare in the Tantramar region of New Brunswick. Working alongside Horizon’s Sackville Memorial Hospital, the Foundation raises additional funds beyond core government funding in order to support advanced equipment, innovation, and patient-centred improvements.

Through campaigns, memorial donations, planned gifts and community fundraising, SMHF pools contributions from individuals, businesses and local partners. These resources are then allocated to priority projects at the hospital and in the wider community, helping ensure that residents of Sackville, Dorchester, Port Elgin and surrounding areas have access to high-quality, modern care.

The Foundation supports a range of funding streams. Within the hospital, it helps finance new technologies, renovations and specialized equipment, as well as professional education and training for healthcare staff. These investments are intended to give clinicians the tools and knowledge they need to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care.

Beyond the hospital walls, the Foundation administers a Health & Wellness Funding program. Community groups and not-for-profit organizations across the Tantramar area are invited to apply for financial support for projects that improve community wellbeing, provided their proposals align with the priority needs identified in the Tantramar Area Community Health Needs Assessment. SMHF offers an application form and guidance to structure these requests.

The Foundation also invests in the next generation of healthcare professionals through Tantramar Regional High School bursaries. Each year, it awards bursaries to students who plan to pursue post-secondary education in health-related fields, encouraging local youth to enter healthcare careers and eventually serve the region.

While detailed selection criteria are not extensively described on the public site, SMHF indicates that requests for Health & Wellness Funding must respond to specific community health priorities. The foundation emphasizes accountability and transparency, publishing audited financial statements and outlining complaints procedures. This governance framework supports responsible management of donations and clear reporting to donors, beneficiaries and the wider community.

SMHF primarily serves patients and families who rely on Sackville Memorial Hospital, as well as residents of the broader Tantramar region. Through equipment purchases, facility enhancements, educational opportunities for staff, community wellness initiatives, and bursaries for future health professionals, the Foundation contributes to a stronger local health system. Its funding model combines philanthropic support with structured application-based programs, making it a key partner in regional health and wellness development.