Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Victoria Hospitals Foundation (VHF)

Victoria Hospitals Foundation (VHF) is a registered charitable foundation dedicated to advancing patient care at Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria General Hospital, the two major acute-care centres serving Vancouver Island. The Foundation does not deliver clinical services itself; instead, it raises and deploys philanthropic dollars to purchase priority medical equipment and support special projects, education, and research identified in partnership with Island Health.

Each year, VHF collaborates with hospital and health authority leaders to determine the most urgent needs across all medical specialties, from cardiac, cancer and critical care to maternity, pediatrics, mental health, diagnostics, surgery and seniors’ health. Donor contributions fund roughly 40% of the equipment in Victoria’s hospitals, helping care teams access technology that would otherwise be delayed or unavailable through public budgets alone.

The Foundation structures much of its funding through thematic campaigns that focus on specific clusters of equipment or areas of care. Recent examples highlighted on the site include campaigns for medical imaging, critical care capacity, mental health and substance use services, and large-scale surgical innovation initiatives such as “It’s Time for Surgical Evolution.” These campaigns typically aim to raise multi‑million‑dollar totals to purchase suites of equipment — sometimes more than 100 items — ranging from advanced imaging systems and surgical robots to monitors, beds and specialized tools.

In 2024/25, VHF reports more than $24.2 million in revenue dedicated to funding thousands of urgently needed pieces of equipment and special projects. Over a typical year, the Foundation finances more than 100 new pieces of equipment and initiatives that enhance diagnostics, treatment, and patient experience in both hospitals. Funds raised in the community stay in the community, with all investments directed to Island hospitals and programs.

VHF’s primary beneficiaries are hospital-based programs and departments at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals. Supported areas include cardiac surgery and cardiology, oncology and radiotherapy, intensive and high-acuity care, emergency and trauma, neurosciences, pediatrics and neonatal intensive care, maternity, general surgery, diagnostics and pharmacy, mental health, rehabilitation, and seniors’ health. The Foundation’s funding focus is largely capital in nature: purchasing diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, expanding capacity, and enabling adoption of leading-edge technologies.

In addition, the Foundation allocates resources to selected education and research needs that help attract and retain specialized clinicians and support ongoing innovation in care. These investments are typically developed with Island Health to align with regional priorities and evidence-based improvements in outcomes.

By equipping Vancouver Island’s main referral hospitals, Victoria Hospitals Foundation indirectly serves hundreds of thousands of residents each year. Examples shared on the site describe how funded equipment underpins open-heart surgery, minimally invasive and robotic procedures, complex neurosurgery and spine care, cancer diagnostics and treatment, neonatal and pediatric intensive care, and mental health services. Impact stories from grateful patients and clinicians illustrate how donors’ gifts translate into shorter wait times, safer procedures, faster recovery, and the ability for patients to receive advanced care close to home.

Although VHF does not run open-call grant competitions for external organizations, it functions as a crucial funding intermediary between community donors and hospital-based projects. Through ongoing campaigns and targeted initiatives, it continually channels philanthropic capital into high-impact clinical priorities for Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals.